Restoring key protections in Queensland’s nature conservation legislationThe Palaszczuk Government took the crucial first step in re-introducing conservation safeguards into legislation covering the state’s significant protected areas, including national parks. Minister for National Parks Dr Steven Miles introduced the Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 in Parliament, which reinstates the conservation of nature as the sole object of the Nature Conservation Act, so national park land is treated primarily as land for conservation. Dr Miles said the Bill also provided enhanced protection for nine national parks with special values. “Unique places such as Raine Island (north-north-west of Cairns) where thousands of turtles come to lay their eggs each year would once again be elevated to the highest level of protection.” In addition, Dr Miles said rolling term leases for grazing on national parks would be removed under legislative changes. The State Government consulted widely about the proposed changes with conservation groups. “NPAQ strongly supports the return to public consultation with national park management plans,’ said NPAQ principal advocate, Paul Donatiu.
Falls Creek to Mt Hotham Alpine CrossingParks Victoria and North East Tourism have a proposal for a new walking track in Victoria’s alps, between the ski resorts of Falls Creek and Mt Hotham. The proposed alignment includes Tawonga Huts, Blairs Hut, Diamantina Spur, Mt Feathertop and The Razorback. The plan has a new track near Diamantina Spur, and it seems that new hut on Twin Knobs is proposed. A preliminary plan has been prepared and is open to submissions until 11 December 2015. Please click here for an outline of the plan. You can fill out a survey (link here) or you can send a response to Cameron Bergmeier at FHAC@parks.vic.gov.au. Posted submissions can be sent to Parks Victoria, 10/535 Bourke Street, Melbourne Vic 3000. Written submissions by email or post carry more weight than the online survey, which is anonymous. There’s discussion on the forum at bushwalk.com. This discussion is well worth reading.
Exploring the Jagungal Wilderness bookWhile the 2003 fires in Kosciuszko National Park, destroyed 23 huts and did enormous environmental damage, there were beneficial effects. By clearing the undergrowth the fire revealed things which had been hidden or forgotten. This book tells of the hut ruins, graves and other features which were found, and also the old dray tracks and bridle trails.A real revelation was that the bridle trails and dray tracks, used by graziers and miners for over 100 years, were very sensible routes, which are just as useful for bushwalkers today as they were then. Even if the tracks fade away, as many have, we now know where they went, making it a lot easier to traverse the same country. This book gives precise details of routes and interesting locations. It makes recommendations for short and long walks in the Jagungal Wilderness. Klaus Hueneke, author of “Huts of the High Country” and “Kiandra to Kosciusko” described it as: “The most detailed coverage of track and hut sites in the Jagungal Wilderness ever compiled. Chapter after chapter, map after map, reveal numerous routes and sites between Snowy Plain in the east and the Grey Mare Range to the west, and between Island Bend in the south and Happy Jacks Plain to the north.”The book has been published as an ebook on Amazon and iTunes. The printed version will be available in December.
Bushwalk
