Annual general meeting Namadgi National Park agreement Walking in northern Kosciuszko NPA BULLETIN Volume 38 number 2 June 2001 CONTENTS Annual general meeting 3 An urban pioneer 11 Len Haskew Reg Alder A busy three months for the Violent times on Milford Sound 12 Environment Sub-committee 3 Graeme Barrow David Large Wildlife at the Prom 13 Namadgi National Park agreement 4 Eleanor Stodart Syd Comfort Protecting and insuring your camping gear 14 NPA briefed on Namadgi management plan 5 Justine Block Eleanor Stodart On climbing mountains 15 Managing the southern region 6 Reg Alder Len Haskew Parkwatch 16 Walking in northern Kosciuszko 7 Len Haskew Robyn Barker NSW National Parks Association meets in Canberra 18 Funding Gudgenby regeneration 8 Cliue Hurlstone Legal eagles for the environment 9 Book Review 19 Len Haskew Calendar 19 NPA reports on implementation plans 10 Eleanor Stodart General meetings 19 National Parks Association (ACT) Incorporated The NPA (ACT) office is located in MacLaurin Crescent, Inaugurated 1960 Chifley, next to the preschool. It is staffed by volunteers Aims and objectives of the Association but, at present, not on a regular basis. Callers may leave • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the phone or email messages at any time and they will be protection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and attended to. Mail from the post office box is cleared daily. cultural heritage in the Australian Capital Territory and elsewhere, and the reservation of specific areas. Telephone/Fax: (02) 6282 5813 • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation Email: [email protected] areas. Address: PO Box 1940, Woden ACT 2606 • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment of, Membership such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised New members are welcome and should enquire through the field outings, meetings or any other means. NPA office. • Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) interests and objectives. Household members $40 Single members $35 • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the Corporate members $30 Bulletin only $30 planning of landuse to achieve conservation. Concession $25 Office-bearers, committee and convenors For new subscriptions joining between: President Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592(h); 1 January and 31 March - half specified rate 040 778 3422(w) 1 April and 30 June - annual subscription Vice President David Large 6291 4830(h) NPA Bulletin Immediate Contributions of articles, line drawings and photographs Past President Eleanor Stodart 6281 5004(h) including colour prints are welcome and should be lodged with Secretary Len Haskew 6281 4268(h) the office or Syd Comfort (02) 6286 2578. Treasurer Mike Smith 6286 2984(h) Deadline for September issue: 1 August 2001. Committee members Steven Forst 6251 6817(h) 6279 1326(w) Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect Judy Kelly 6253 1859(h) association opinion or objectives. Timothy Walsh 6285 1112(h) This bulletin was produced by the NPA Bulletin Working Group Eleanor Stodart 6281 5004(h) with assistance from Green Words & Images. Max Lawrence 6288 1370(h) Printed by Ausdoc On Demand, Canberra, ACT. Neville Esau 6286 4176(h) Jacqui Cole 6241 9984(h) ISSN 0727-8837 Convenors Cover photo: Mike and Babette negotiating the Environment Sab-committee David Large 6291 4830(h) Outings Sub-committee Max Lawrence 6288 1370(h) Queanbeyan River during Mike Smith's Compo Bulletin Working Group Syd Comfort 6286 2578(h) Canyon walk. Photo Max Lawrence Annual general meeting 8.00pm Thursday 16 August 2001 committee members have indicated machine (6282 5813) for more Forestry House, Yarralumla that they will not be seeking re­ information. election. We are fortunate to have Judith Business set down for the AGM Membership of committees is both Webster as the guest speaker at the includes the President's report on stimulating and rewarding, and AGM. Judy has made many progress during the year just offers you the opportunity to make presentations at NPA meetings and concluding, presentation of the a significant and personal they are always interesting, annual financial statements, and contribution to conservation and the informative and well received. election of a new committee to steer national parks movement. Recently Judy has spent a lot of time us through the coming year. Come along, have your say, get walking the southern end of the All office-bearer and committee involved, and help us make a real Alpine Walking Track, so will positions become vacant at the AGM difference in advancing the things entertain us with anecdotes and so that members may be elected to that really matter to us. We would slides about the Track. be pleased to discuss with you, and the following positions: President, See you there. Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, to arrange a nomination, if you are Immediate Past President (ex- a volunteer. Please phone Clive officio), and up to eight other (6288 7592), or Len (6281 4268), or Len Haskew members. Several 'veteran' leave a message on our answering Secretary A busy three months for the Environment Sub-committee The past three months have been these changed arrangements. This You may have seen or heard about busy, with members of the Sub­ submission will probably be the the calling of public meetings by committee completing submissions most significant document we local (NSW) political figures who on implementation plans for produce in the second half of this take the opportunity to denigrate Murrumbidgee River Corridor, year. Anyone wishing to assist in the work done by the NSW NPWS. Canberra Nature Park and research will be made very welcome. This opposition is driven by populist Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Please contact me if you can help. sentiments and has no scientific A significant response to the Nature A major worry is the orchestrated base. We will need to monitor this Based Tourism Strategy was and concerted activities of people activity closely and respond where forwarded to Environment ACT opposed to the declaration of appropriate. which, in particular, detailed our Southern NSW Wilderness areas. David. Large concern about the proposal to utilise Gudgenby Homestead Gudgenby Homestead as an accommodation facility. In this regard, we are surprised to see in the recent ACT Budget further expenditures proposed prior to there being a prehminary assessment plan developed. We are continuing to make representations about this issue. We were concerned, also, about the manner in which the ACT Government, without notice, signed an agreement with the indigenous community for the joint management of Namadgi National Park. A further report on this issue is contained in this Bulletin. We had started work on developing our input to the Second Namadgi National Park Management Plan and our Group of hearing-impaired walkers who accompanied Mike Smith's NPA work will have to take account of walk to Compo Canyon. Photo Max Lawrence Namadgi National Park agreement On April 30 an agreement between the Long term management Interim arrangements Australian Capital Territory and two The instrument to be used to Upon withdrawal by the Aboriginal ACT native title claim groups involve the Aboriginal parties in the Parties to this agreement of their concerning the management of management of Namadgi National native title claims, and until the Namadgi National Park, was signed Park is termed the Namadgi NSAL commences, the territory in Canberra. The Chief Minister, Special Aboriginal Lease. The agrees to implement interim Gary Humphries, signed for the territory offers to grant a Namadgi arrangements for the involvement of territory and Nurri Arnold Williams Special Aboriginal Lease (NSAL) the Aboriginal parties in the and Agnes Shea signed for the over Namadgi National Park management of Namadgi National Aboriginal parties. Another native subject to all native title claims Park. (For the NSAL to be granted title claim group did not sign this being determined or withdrawn. it is required that all native title agreement. In this article I have The Aboriginal parties will be claims be withdrawn or determined.) attempted to summarise the main incorporated as a statutory An Interim Namadgi Advisory terms of the agreement, and in a corporation and legislation will be Board will be established comprising further article Eleanor Stodart makes developed to establish the NSAL. 10 members, five Aboriginal a commentary on it with particular The NSAL will not be a lease within (representing the Aboriginal parties) reference to the NPA. The summary the meaning of the Land (Planning and five non-Aboriginal, appointed has been made under the three and Environment) Act 1991 but will by the Minister. This board must be headings of general matters, long be subject to negotiation to consulted in the preparation of the term management and interim incorporate the following rights and draft plan of management for arrangements. privileges: Namadgi National Park and in relation to any decision about General • acknowledgement of the consenting to particular activities in The agreement recognises that Aboriginal parties as people the park under section 56 of the Aboriginal Australians have had an with an historical association Nature Conservation Act 1980. historical association with the ACT with the area; Section 56 prohibits a number of region which has been constrained in • participation of the Aboriginal activities in a reserved area without