Perisher Range Resorts Environmental Management System (PRREMS) Performance Report 2006-2008 Vision Statement “The Perisher Range Resorts will be widely recognised for exemplary environmental management of the area’s natural, cultural, aesthetic and social values in the national park setting, and for sustainable, recreation-related development that respects, conserves, enhances and restores those values” 2006-2008 PRREMS Report Stakeholders Club Lodges: The organisation known as SLOPES (Ski Lodges of Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes and Guthega Incorporated) was founded in 1992 to represent the interests of the 88 club lodges in the Perisher Range Resorts. Country Energy (CE): Country Energy manages Australia's largest power supply network across 95 per cent of NSW and offers retail electricity in five states and territories. Their product range includes bottled gas, Internet services and energy efficiency advice. Country Energy is a major purchaser of solar, hydro and wind energy, for green power customers. ELGAS: Are the biggest distributor of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Australia. Elgas has 3 supply modes in use in the PRR area - Exchange Cylinder Deliveries and Tanker Deliveries (including winter oversnow deliveries) and regular installation inspections. NSW Department of Planning (DoP): Assess all development proposals in the ski resorts in Kosciuszko to ensure they comply with relevant planning controls and are environmentally and socially sustainable. NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA): Manage, maintain & upgrade the main public roads in Kosciuszko National Park including snow and ice removal using salt, high speed truck mounted snow blades, graders, loaders and snow blowers. Perisher Blue Pty Ltd (PB): Own and operate Perisher Ski Resort comprising the ski areas of Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Blue Cow. They provide lifting, slope grooming, snow making, snowclearing, snowsports school, ski patrol, passenger and freight transport, accommodation, food and beverage, ski and snowboard hire, retail shops, workshops, fuel storage and the Skitube (alpine railway). Perisher Resorts Chamber of Commerce (PRCoC): An Incorporated Association with 41 members who operate tourism businesses in Perisher that provide accommodation, restaurants, liquor outlets and retail services to recreational users. The Chamber represents the commercial interests of the Perisher Resorts and promotes sustainable growth. Telstra: Offers a full range of services in all telecommunications markets throughout Australia. Within the Perisher Range Resorts area they provide infrastructure for wireless radio and mobile phones as well as copper and optical fibre cables. The Nature Conservation Council (NCC): Are a non-profit, non-government organisation representing 120 community environment groups across NSW. They work to conserve nature and protect the water we drink, the air we breathe and the places we love. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS): (Part of the NSW Dept of Environment, Climate Change and Water, DECCW) Coordinate environmental services, lease management and administration of resort operations in Kosciuszko National Park including the facilitation of the PRREMS. They provide municipal services including reticulated water supply, sewage treatment, waste management, road management, snow clearing/ snow grooming (x country trails), fuel storage and visitor information & services. 2006-2008 PRREMS Report Introduction This report contains information in relation to the environmental performance of the Perisher Range Resorts Environmental Management System (PRREMS) against the PRREMS objectives and targets for the two year period from the 1st May 2006 to 29th Feb 2008. The goal of the PRREMS is to ensure that all activities and development in the Perisher Range Resorts (PRR) are carried out in a controlled and sustainable manner. The PRR boundary is consistent with the Perisher Range Management Unit of the Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management 2006 (shown on the ‘Environmental Aspects’ map in this report) and includes the interlinked ski areas of Perisher, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega. Each PRR stakeholder has agreed on 13 common objectives representing the shared commitments of all operators to reduce their impact on the environment. The objectives are achieved by working towards targets set within the framework of the PRREMS. Some objectives do not have targets due to a lack of baseline information and difficulties in setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure effectiveness. However these objectives are still extremely important and can be realised in other ways as documented throughout this report. In keeping with the EMS concept of ‘continual improvement’ the PRREMS objectives and targets were reviewed and modified during this reporting period to try and address some of the shortfalls and establish additional targets. These will be reported against in subsequent annual reports. The following stakeholders provided the information contained in this report: Club Lodges, Commercial lodges, Department of Planning (DoP), Elgas, Perisher Blue Pty Ltd and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The lodge information has been drawn from the ‘All Lodge’ summary report compiled by EC3 Global using the data submitted by lodges via the ‘Earthcheck’ on-line data management and benchmarking system. This is the second PRREMS report based on the environmental performance against the objectives and targets. The first report covered the first 4 years of PRREMS implementation from 2002-2006. Future reports will be prepared annually. Flora & Fauna Objective: To achieve a high quality environment for indigenous flora and fauna in the Perisher region and to conserve the biodiversity of the area. Target: No specific target set Protection and enhancement of the biota of Kosciuszko National Park remains the core responsibility of the NPWS. However as the major lessee in the PRR and a stakeholder of the PRREMS, Perisher Blue Pty Ltd (PB) also undertook numerous activities and programs which assisted in conserving and enhancing the biodiversity of the area. The following is a summary of the programs and activities that were undertaken during the reporting period in the PRR area: 2006-2008 PRREMS Report Feral animal control Cat control - Trapping programs were undertaken during winter 2006 and 2007.The program removed 6 cats in 2006, 4 cats in 2007. The extent of cat populations in the perisher range is unknown. Given reductions in snow depth and duration in recent years, cat populations may now be better able to survive winters. The cat trapping program has recently been expanded to include other times of year in response to cat sightings. Fox management - Strategic fox control using 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) baits has been undertaken at Charlotte Pass since winter 1996 and extended since winter 1999 to cover the top of Thredbo, through Charlotte Pass, Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and up Whites River Valley from Guthega to Schlinks Hut. The program incorporates monitoring of key indicator species populations (Broad-toothed Rat) and fox tracks (before and after baiting) along transects to determine the programs effectiveness in reducing fox populations. Since the introduction of the baiting program fox populations have been reduced by 75% compared with pre- baiting numbers. Perisher Blue recorded feral animal sightings and reported these sightings to the NPWS. In cases where it was possible and practical to set traps PB did so in consultation with the NPWS. Any animals trapped were handed to the NPWS. The following table records the number of sightings and reports from Perisher Blue staff to the NPWS. Animals Sighted & reported 2006 2007 2008 by PB staff Cat 5 4 6 Dog 53 9 2 Fox 0 4 3 The bulk of the sightings were within the resort boundary. The large amount of dog sightings in 2006 can be attributed mainly to the one dog (nicknamed “Fluffy”) seen very regularly around the Perisher Centre in the lead up to the 2006 winter. The dog was trapped and subsequently euthanised by the NPWS. Weed Management Weed control activities - Weed control within the Perisher Range Resorts during the reporting period has focussed on the implementation of a coordinated program to reduce Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Control of this species has been successful following a research project which evaluated the most effective herbicide treatment (Sanecki et al 2003). Monitoring of the sampling sites in 2006 demonstrated a 90 percent reduction in the milfoil infestation. Other weed control has targeted isolated populations of Vipers Bugloss (Echium vulgare) St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Russel Lupins (Lupinus polyphyllus), Winter Cress (Barbarea verna) and Juncus effuses. Records of weed control have been maintained and recorded on ArcGIS. In consultation with the NPWS, PB engaged contractors to conduct weed control activities within the resort area. PB monitors dollars spent on weed control as an EMS target measure. PB spent in excess of $15.9K on weed control in the 2007/08 summer period. 2006-2008 PRREMS Report Threatened species monitoring Mountain Pygmy-possum population monitoring - This monitoring has been on- going in the Blue Cow area commencing in 1986. Since 2000 there has been a decline in populations which is continuing today. The direct cause of this decline is unknown but a number of factors have been identified as possible contributors including: an increase in cat populations (although