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leadership from the front lines of climate change

While the new International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report confirmed recently that climate change is indisputable, it’s something that the winter sports community has been seeing first-hand for years.

This has seen many in the recreational skiing and boarding community get active to tackle climate change. But there are also some interesting things happening amongst professional athletes.

Jeremy Jones
Jeremy Jones

In April, 75 Olympic medalists and other winter sports athletes – including White House “Champion of Change” awardee and pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones – lobbied President Obama, urging the President to take action on climate and clean energy.

The representatives of the global snow sports community signing the letter to the President included X Games champions and World Champion snowboarders, alpine/Nordic skiers and professional climbers, including:

• Olympic gold and silver medalist Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA)
• Olympic silver medalist and four-time X Games gold medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO)
• 10-time Big Mountain Rider of the Year Jeremy Jones (Truckee, CA)
• Olympic silver medalist, three-time World champion, seven-time X Games champion Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton, VT)
• Two-time Olympian and six-time X Games gold medalist Nate Holland (Truckee, CA)
• Olympic gold & silver medalist, six-time X Games medalist, six-time World Cup champion Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT)
• 2010 Olympian, Nordic skier Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK)
• Five-time winner Powder Magazine’s Best Female Performer Ingrid Backstrom (Seattle, WA)
• Two-time World Freeskiing champion Chris Davenport (Aspen, CO)
• Two-time World Freeeskiing champion, Kit Deslauriers (Jackson, WY)
• 2013 World champion, X Games medalist Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO)

For a full list of signers, check here.

The letter states “Without a doubt, winter is in trouble”  “… at risk are the economies of tourist-dependent states where winter tourism generates $12.2 billion in revenue annually, supports 212,000 jobs and $7 billion in salaries.  Those are the jobs and businesses are generators of billions in federal and state income.”

Hot Planet/ Cool athletes program

Meanwhile Protect our Winters (POW) has restarted Hot Planet/ Cool athletes program, which organises Professional skiers and snowboarders to deliver presentations to North American students, encouraging them to become Climate Leaders.
Protect Our Winters re-launched their “Hot Planet/Cool Athletes” program this week to take the first hand perspective of climate change into the classroom to explain climate change from an engaging new perspective and to inspire and empower students to become involved.

Presented by The North Face, the program has been presented to more than 20,000 students at 41 schools nationwide since 2011.  The new format for 2013 continues to educate students about climate change, combining engaging action sports footage and understandable climate science with first hand athlete’s perspectives and a call to action that truly breaks through to students and gives them the tools to be part of the solution.

Pro athletes such as Gretchen Bleiler, Jeremy Jones, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Ingrid Backstrom, Lucas Debari, Danny Davis and Angel Collinson are featured in the video project, with many others scheduled for in-person school appearances.

More info here.

Our time is now

Then there is the the #ourtimeisnow campaign, a call to action that invites students to take meaningful action on climate change.  By connecting with them in a relevant way, via their social media, POW will invite all students to use the hashtag #ourtimeisnow across their social media channels. POW can then track its use and provide meaningful climate actions directly back to each student.  As students become more involved in the campaign by using the hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, they will have opportunities to win prizes and spend time with professional athletes discussing climate change or joining POW representatives to lobby MPs in Washington.

“We’ve got to create a social movement starting with young kids who will be the most affected, and we feel that this component of the program is a critical step in making a difference.  By using social media as a backbone for it, we’re connecting with students on their terms and starting that movement with meaningful results,” said POW’s Executive Director, Chris Steinkamp.

STEPS – a journey to the edge of climate change

rid-greener-screengrab-140x130Then there is this new film from Ride Greener and Coupdoeil which considers how the snow industry can work in harmony with nature to protect the climate we rely on.

The promo says:

“The carbon-neutral approach shown in the film is a new way of thinking with the ever-looming shadow of climate change growing closer year after year. It’s not too late to prevent the oncoming consequences of fossil fuels and the damage that has already been caused”. This film tackles how an industry that revolves around predictable and consistent weather patterns can play it’s part in preventing climate change.

Details here.

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tree removal along the Great Alpine Road

at the Alpine rd / Dargo rd junction, Jan 2013
at the Alpine rd / Dargo rd junction, Jan 2013

Last summer’s fires devastated a lot of the country around Mt Hotham.

The North West Spur fire burnt hot up and out of the Upper East Ovens valley, over the St Bernard – Sugarloaf ridge, killing a lot of the remaining Alpine Ash forests along the upper sections of the Great Alpine Road that had survived previous fires, and snow gum forests at higher elevations.

A huge effort was made to get the road open in time for Easter and winter, with massive tree felling operations along the road, and removal of debris.

The final stage in these operations is now underway, and Vic Roads will be doing works on the Great Alpine Road from November 11th through until early December to remove fire damaged trees effected by the 2013 bushfires. One of the problems has been the large number of trees killed in previous fires being burnt again this year, and becoming very likely to collapse.

For anyone that has driven the road in recent months, you will be painfully aware of the visual impacts of these operations.

What is less clear at this point is the environmental impacts of effectively clear felling a large swathe of forest along the road. As noted by VicRoads, this clearing is substantial in some areas, between 10  and 40 metres from the roadside. There have been attempts to reduce the impacts of this work, for instance removing many of the trees being felled beyond what would be normal on the forest floor, and aerial seeding of alpine ash.

But the fact remains that safety considerations for traffic has resulted in a 20 km clearcut, mostly within a national park.

The following info is from VicRoads via Hotham management.

VicRoads advises that access to sections of the Great Alpine Road will be reduced at various times from Monday 11 November until Friday 20 December to enable the safe removal of dead and dangerous bushfire damaged trees.

These works are a continuation of the tree removal works that were undertaken prior to the 2013 snow season. It is essential for VicRoads to remove these hazardous fire damaged trees from the roadside as soon as possible as they present a potential road safety hazard.

From Monday 11 November until early December, the Great Alpine Road will be closed to traffic between Harrietville and Dargo High Plains Road between 8.00am & 1.00pm and 2.00pm & 5.00pm on weekdays to enable tree removal from within 10 metres of the roadside. However, the road will be open at all other times including weekends.

From early December until Friday 20 December, tree removal will continue in an area 10-40 metres from the roadside in the Alpine National Park. This work is being undertaken in consultation with Parks Victoria. Local traffic closures will be in place with delays expected.
 
In addition to the tree removal, VicRoads will also be replacing fire damaged guardrail at 11 locations.

The Alps Link bus service between Omeo and Bright will continue to run during this time.

During the road closure period, Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain will remain accessible via Omeo and Dargo at all times.

Access between Bright and Omeo will be available via Bright-Tawonga Road (C536), Kiewa Valley Highway (C531) to Mount Beauty, then along the Bogong High Plains Road (C531) and the Omeo Highway (C543) to Omeo.

VicRoads encourages motorists travelling through the area to plan ahead and allow for significant additional travel time.

Motorists are requested to observe the changed traffic conditions for their own safety and the safety of workers nearby the road, including adhering to reduced speed limits.

VicRoads thanks the community for their patience while these important works are carried out.

For enquiries or more information about the works, please contact VicRoads on 5761 1827.

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a truck load of dumb ideas. Libs back development on Mt Wellington

Yeah, I know they're not planning this. But seriously guys, this is a dumb idea.
Yeah, I know they’re not planning this. But seriously guys, this is a dumb idea.

According to the ABC,

The Tasmanian Parliament has “moved to open up Hobart’s Mount Wellington (indigenous name Kunanyi) to development, with one MLC happy to see shopping on the summit”.

All but one Upper House MP have backed a Liberal plan to remove the Mount Wellington Park Management Trust’s power to veto developments.

The Independent Member for Western Tiers, Greg Hall, hopes that will clear the way for developers to build a cable car to the summit. This idea has been proposed for some time and includes major developments, including a ‘choice of dining experiences’ on the summit. The proponents describe their idea in this way:

Hobart has an opportunity to show deeper respect for our beloved backdrop. At the Park’s primary destination, the pinnacle, MWCC is offering to include space for a free-to-access, public visitor space that provides deeper interpretation of our mountain’s past; it’s ​​colonial adaptation, aboriginal heritage ​and geological formation​.

In a slightly bizarre twist,

Independent Apsley MLC Tania Rattray, who admitted she has never been up Mount Wellington, said she would like to see shops on the summit. She said “It would be a fantastic opportunity” (for what? The great consumer experience? Because we have a shortage of shops in Tasmania?).

there is already substantial viewing infrastructure on the mountain
there is already substantial viewing infrastructure on the mountain

Government MLC Craig Farrell also backed the change, with Rob Valentine the only MP against it.

In the Lower House, the Greens also voted against the veto being removed.

Hobart is blessed to have such a beautiful mountain right above it. It is the backdrop to the city and although it has very easy access via a road to the summit, it is easy wander off into a fairly wild alpine environment. There are already large carparks and a viewing centre and associated walkways and platforms, and massive communications towers on the summit. In my opinion, proposing shops on the summit is a significant over development of a mostly wild landscape, and indicative of the mind set that is endlessly greedy and which has no sense of enoughness. Why create further impact on such a gorgeous, natural environment?

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Got a problem with weeds? Blame the emus

emuRadio National today reported on new research from Griffith University about the potential of horses to spread weeds in national parks. The Griffith University findings were published in the journal Ecological Management and Restoration.

Researchers found that weeds germinate from dung and are spread by activities like riding.

Researchers looked at the number and type of weeds that are spread through horse manure and found that 16 of the plants were listed noxious weeds in Australia.

Associate Professor Catherine Pickering says governments around Australia should take heed of her team’s findings before opening national parks to horse riding.

She said that researchers had examined 15 studies from around the world and found many weeds germinate in horse manure, enabling their spread.

They also found that horses cause disturbance by trampling the ground, further helping weeds to thrive.

In a ‘nothing to see here, move along’ response, the former president of the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria, Mark Coleman, said horses are not solely to blame, as many other native and introduced species also spread weeds. In response, Ms Pickering pointed out that native animals are not generally grazing in pasture – which is where the weeds are being introduced from.

He says riding horses in national parks can actually help control weeds (yeah, ok, would you like to elaborate on that one Mark?)

And in another strange twist in the ‘blame someone else’ strategy, Mr Coleman said ‘other native and introduced species also spread weeds’.

“With the introduction of blackberry into Australia, which is a horrific weed, you couldn’t get a better spread of blackberry than the emu, followed probably by the deer.”

“We were still the eyes and ears of these areas and once we were removed you remove man out of management” he said. Does that mean that all park rangers and other land managers are women? Or are they some strange form of alien? Or perhaps there is just no land management in our national parks …. that may come as some surprise to many of you

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alpine grazing and the inconvenient truth of science

Images of mountain grazing tend to be positive, often evoking the frontier ethos
Images of mountain grazing tend to be positive, often evoking the frontier ethos

From my earliest days of walking in the Alps, cattle were a prominent feature of many places I visited. I would often meet cattlemen (almost invariably men), who would assure me the cattle were a benign influence on the environment.

But what I saw was trampled wetlands and stream beds. I saw cattle standing in the headwaters of crystal clear streams, crapping and stomping the stream banks. I saw them spreading weeds. And I saw them selectively eating the succulent low lying vegetation in meadows rather than the flammable shrubs on the edges of those systems. More than once I was chased by a herd, and a scarey and heart thumping run and scramble up a tree got me out of a few situations. At Mt Stirling I saw that the ‘exclusion zone’ around the alpine summit was somewhat aspirational – the fence was normally damaged and there were almost always cows wandering around up on the summit. I drank from streams that had been polluted by huge animals with damaging hard hooves. At Macalister Springs we were warned of intestinal worms that had been introduced by cattle years before.

But my experience of alpine grazing was more like this.
But my experience of alpine grazing was more like this.

At 16, I wanted a sticker that said ‘cattle grazing increases blazing’.

Cattle were finally removed from the Alpine National Park in 2005 by the Bracks Government after a thorough investigation by the Alpine Grazing Parliamentary Taskforce. Cattle continued to graze in state forest next to the park.

In recent years I have witnessed the recovery of alpine systems as cattle caused erosion slowly healed.

That should have been the end of the matter. But we all know that it was plain old politics that saw the newly elected Coalition government try to fulfil a promise to the mountain cattlemen for their support in ousting East Gippsland independent MP Craig Ingram at the 2010 state election. They allowed the cattlemen to return cattle to the Alpine national park in a sneaky operation under the guise of ‘scientific grazing’. Thankfully that was thwarted by the federal government.

As has been noted on this site, the election of the Coalition to federal Coalition to power has changed the dynamic, and the president of the Mountain Cattleman’s Association, Charlie Lovick, says alpine grazing is ‘back on the agenda’.

He says there is no other way to effectively control fire fuel loads above an elevation of 1,200 metres.

“How else do you reduce the fuel load because grass and scrub grows,” he said.

“We’re saying that cattle are a perfect balance to manage the higher stuff, to chew it down and keep it nice and green and you can more confidently burn the other areas.”

Back to the future? Cattle at Blue Lake in about 1900, photographed by Charles Kerry and part of the Tyrell Collection held by the Powerhouse Museum http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Australian_High_Country_History
Back to the future? Cattle at Blue Lake in about 1900, photographed by Charles Kerry and part of the Tyrell Collection held by the Powerhouse Museum
http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Australian_High_Country_History

Mr Lovick red tape is the only thing stopping the federal and state governments from moving ahead with the plan.

If you’ve never been to the high country, it might seem sensible to argue that there will be less fire where cattle graze.  But the idea doesn’t actually stack up when you look at the science.

The most significant research on alpine grazing and fire was carried out shortly after the 2003 fires swept across Victoria’s Alpine National Park, and was published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The conclusion was that grazing is not scientifically justified as a tool for fire abatement.

Many earlier studies have shown the damage cattle cause in the Alps.

Alpine grazing was not recommended by the Bushfires Royal Commission.

Victoria’s 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission was an inquiry of unparalleled thoroughness. It had no limits to the subjects it could address, was granted a $40 million budget, and sat for 155 days between May 2009 and May 2010.

The Commission made ten recommendations for research into fire related matters. The effectiveness of alpine grazing on reducing fire was not one of them.

  • The Commission recommended, as a high priority, extensive research into the monitoring of the effectiveness of fuel reduction burning programs across Victoria, and monitoring of the impacts of bushfires and fuel reduction burning on biodiversity.
  • The Department of Sustainability and Environment’s own Code of Fire practice says that ‘(domestic stock) grazing is appropriate only for significantly modified habitats’, such as roadsides.
  • There is compelling peer-reviewed evidence showing that alpine cattle grazing has no significant effect on mitigating bushfires.

So, as Mr Abbott works his way through his top order list, like ‘stopping the boats’ and winding back the price on carbon, cutting ‘green tape’ and so on, will he eventually get to the wish list of the mountain cattlemen?

It seems to me that alpine grazing would be entirely consistent with the world view of Tony Abbott and the mountain cattlemen: if you don’t like what the science is telling you, ignore it and do what you wanted to do in the first case.

If you’re not a huge fan of this world view, you may want to send a message to the federal environment minister, Greg Hunt.

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iron ore mine proposed for East Gippsland

Image: Eastern Iron Ltd
Image: Eastern Iron Ltd

Gippsland Iron Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Limited) is planning to develop and operate the Nowa Nowa Iron Project (known as the Five Mile Deposit).

The proponent hopes to gain final approvals by late 2013.

Some salient points about this proposal:

  • It will be on public land (state forest to the north of Nowa Nowa)
  • It will be an open cut mine and the footprint of the actual mine will be approximately 25 hectares
  • approximately 146 hectares of land will be cleared
  • The mine will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and an expected operating mine life of between 8 and 10 years.
  • Approximately 24 Mt (mega tonnes) of waste rock will be mined over the life of the mine and permanently disposed within a waste rock stockpile adjacent to and upstream of the open pit. The final waste rock pile will be revegetated on mine closure.
  • One site of cultural heritage sensitivity has been identified within the vicinity of the mine access road.
  • Eastern Iron has decided not to use a wet separation process to separate the iron ore. Instead, Dry Low Intensity Magnetic Separation (“Dry LIMS”) will be used. This means that water use will be limited to dust suppression and is estimated at approximately 164 ML per annum.
  • The proponent says that there will be no down-stream impacts on creeks and catchments, including Lake Tyers
  • Trucks will be used to transport the ore to an existing bulk loader on the southern side of Two Fold Bay at the Port of Eden in NSW. The scale of the operation will mean that there would be around 74 vehicle return trips per day  of large trucks on a winding road used widely by local and tourist traffic.
  • When the mine is finished, the open pit will be allowed to flood via groundwater and surface water inflows.

There are community consultations going on now (mid November 2013).

Please check here for further details.

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‘Trekking 4 Autism’ along the Australian Alps Walking Track

Image: Peter Hosking
Image: Peter Hosking

Peter Hosking, 31 lives near Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains.

In the summer of 2014/15 Peter will be trekking from Walhalla in Victoria to Tharwa in the ACT. He will be walking along the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT), to raise money and awareness for Autism.

Peter says:

After nearly losing my life in a blizzard in 2012 and being a sufferer of ASD, I want to raise money for Aspergers and Autism. My cousin is full autistic. I want to raise awareness not just for Autism but also for anyone who wants to go into the backcountry, to be prepared for all weather conditions and eventualities. My intention is to raise awareness for ASD sufferers so the general public see our condition in a positive not negative or “taboo”.

You can find out more, and support the walk via his website.

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long term tree-sit established in Toolangi forest

On sunday 10 November, 2013, a young activist called Hannah Patchett launched the beginning of what is intended to be a long term tree sit to highlight the immediate threats to the Leadbeaters Possum through continued destruction of its habitat.

969385_10151799133659001_829810885_nKeep up to date via the treehouse facebook page.

Check here for background information on this long running campaign.

Friends of the Earth – Media Release

Saturday 9 November 2013

Tomorrow at 12 noon Hannah Patchett will formally launch her time dwelling in Toolangi’s treetops.

The Little Red Toolangi Treehouse has been built 50 metres up into the canopy of an area of forest habitat for the critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possum.

“I’ve chosen to stay in the Little Red Toolangi Treehouse because I want to see real action taken to save the Leadbeater’s Possum from extinction,” says Hannah Patchett.

“Removing clearfell logging from these forests is the first step.”

Logging of the remaining unburnt forest area following the 2009 bush fires has become increasingly controversial, and the subject of extensive community opposition.

Today the Toolangi forest continues to be logged, mostly for pulp for paper.

Leading expert on the Leadbeater’s Possum, Professor David Lindenmayer, has called for an end to clearfell logging by the end of 2013.

“The Little Red Toolangi Treehouse is a vital and brave initiative to protect the Leadbeater’s Possum habitat that the Napthine state government continues to log against expert recommendations,” says spokesperson for Friends of the Earth, Lauren Caulfield.

“Friends of the Earth support Hannah’s efforts because like her, our organisation and our supporters want implementation of management changes our forests so desperately need,” says Lauren.

“As it stands current industrial scale clearfelling will see our wildlife emblem managed into extinction’,” says Lauren.

“Real and urgent action must be taken to protect the Leadbeater’s Possum and its forest habitat from logging.”

“Forestry Minister Peter Walsh and environment Minister Ryan Smith must ensure the new management recommendations laid out by Professor Lindenmayer are implemented if the Leadbeater’s Possum is to stand a chance,” concludes Lauren.

What: Launch of the Little Red Toolangi Treehouse
Photo opportunity: Little Red Toolangi Treehouse from the ground, or assisted ascend to tree platform
When: From 12 noon, Sunday 10 November
Where: Toolangi State Forest – contact Amelia Young for directions 0404 074 577

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eco arts retreats at Baw Baw

This comes from Baw Baw resort. A nice bit of low impact value adding to the resort.

eco_arts_retreats-703x1024The ECO Arts Retreat program consists of Studio and En Plein Air workshop elements inspired by the Pristine Alpine Environment which surrounds you at the Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort. Mixed in with some of the fundamental theory aspects of landscape painting and photography, this years program will be facilitated by the current Mt Baw Baw Arts & Culture Ambassador, Educator and Environmental Expressionist, Peter Biram.

A series of Photography and Painting retreats will be available during summer on the mountain:
9/10 November 2013 : Eco Arts Retreat #1 : Painting
14/15 December 2013 : Eco Arts Retreat #2 : Photography
11/12 January 2014 : Eco Arts Retreat #3 : Painting
1/2 February 2014 : Eco Arts Retreat #4 : Photography

For further information contact:
Caroline Hammond, Mt Baw Baw Arts and Culture Manager on 5165 1136
or email artsandculture@mountbawbaw.com.au

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Private development push threatens Victoria’s national parks

The following comes from the Victorian National Parks Association.

IMGP5971The Victorian Government’s decision to open up the state’s national parks to development and private investment sets a dangerous new direction for our conservation reserves.

The policy essentially puts a ‘for sale’ sign on two thirds of Victoria’s national parks estate.

National parks and other conservation reserves protect our already depleted natural areas. They do not exist as money-making ventures for private hoteliers and or proponents of large-scale tourist accommodation.

National parks are the jewel in the crown of Victoria’s tourism industry, but we need to be careful that we don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

Exposing our parks to tourism development could lead to irreversible damage to some of our most precious natural areas and undermine the integrity of our magnificent system of parks and reserves.

The primary role of national parks is the conservation of nature on behalf of all Victorians. Our parks were not created to end up as building sites for hotels and large-scale infrastructure that can only be used by a privileged few who can afford it.

Now, a group of 21 eminent Victorians including a former state governor, Nobel prize winner and leading academics have written an open letter to Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, describing the privatisation of our national parks as a betrayal of public trust.

What can you do

Sign the petition: By signing the petition you will be joining the fight to protect Victoria’s national parks. Your name will be listed among thousands of others who stand together to win the campaign.

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Dinner Plain Alpine Funduro

1378040_678070452218125_1833954454_nThis is the first year of the family focused 3 hour funduro riding in and around Dinner Plain Alpine Village. A unique accessible enduro focused on fun and participation, race through houses, back onto bush tracks, fire roads and some sneaky single track, weaving in and around the alpine village of Dinner Plain which is nestled amongst the Alpine National Park and sitting 1560m above sea level, so come on, test your legs!

details

 Saturday 2nd November:

Dinner Plain Bike Club Guided Rides
Come and explore around DP with the crew and let us show you some hidden gems.
Departs DP Hut 1pm and 3pm.
Live music @ DP venues

Sunday 3rd November is Race Day:

Two races: Open and Children with multiple categories.
Start and finish @ DP Hut & BBQ

11:00am -11:30 am

Show & Shine Awards, so pimp your ride.

11:30am – 12:30pm

Kids 1 hour Funduro
Under 14years cut some hot laps on their own course

1:00pm – 4:00pm

The Open 3 hour Enduro, 4km track. How many hot laps can you cut?
Overall race winner male & female
Wildest ride, crazy wheels.

4:30pm – 5pm

DP Riders Event Awards and get together.
Live music @ DP venues

Find out more here.

Entries Close: Midnight Wednesday 30 October

Register here.

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new fees for staying in National Parks

snowy mountains 052The Victorian government has announced that it is intending to introduce charges for overnight hiking and camping in more than 100 of our state and national parks.

In addition to increasing existing fees at car camping spots that have basic services, there is a proposal to introduce “overnight walking” fees for Alpine NP, Baw Baw NP, Grampians NP, and the Great Ocean Walk. This would mean for instance you will need a permit for hiking and camping within the Alpine National Park. For example, it will cost $30 to walk from Hotham to Falls, plus a $10 admin fee.

The Government has prepared a regulatory impact statement (RIS) to assess the impact of introducing a user pays approach to camping fees for all parks and reserves managed by Parks Victoria. It says ‘this is part of the Government’s efforts to make sure that Victorians continue to have access to these beautiful places and that the costs of providing safe, visitor-friendly facilities and services are sustainable and affordable’ and ‘these changes will provide longer-term financial sustainability for these special places’.

The new approach is expected to be introduced in Victoria’s parks and reserves from 1 March 2014.

People are invited to provide feedback on the RIS, which is available here.

Written submissions should be forwarded by 5:00pm Friday 22 November 2013 via either of the following:

Post

Camping and Accommodation Fees
Land Management Policy Division
Department of Environment and Primary Industries
Level 3, 8 Nicholson Street
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002

Online

Email: camping.RIS@depi.vic.gov.au

What do you think?

Please feel free to leave a comment below or on the Mountain Journal facebook page.

Some thoughts on the proposed changes

In considering how much to increase camping fees, the Department of Environment and Primary industry created a weighting system, based on a mix of considerations: efficency, equity, and effectiveness. After considering the implications of these 3 categories on possible fee increases, they suggested 3 options:

·         Full cost recovery

·         A system equivalent to rates charged by private operators outside parks

·         One based on improved revenue yield (which is the preferred option, called option 3)

Option 3 is expected to generate $15.3 million per year (camping fees at present generate around $6.5m, and the system is estimated to cost $17.8m to run on an annual basis). Implementing option 3 would mean there is a shortfall of $2.5m per year –  at present the annual shortfall is $11.3m).

The supporting documents make it clear that the funds generated from camping fees will go into managing the parks rather than consolidated revenue, so in that sense I would support the proposal.

However, if the government will now receive an estimated additional $8.8m a year in camping fees, a key question is whether they will commit to using the money they have now saved in other Parks related activity, or will it just get subsumed into the state budget?

It rates camping sites according to the type of facilities offered and has a sliding scale of fees proposed. For car camping style sites, these are mostly based on sites of 6 or 8 people, making them very expensive if travelling as a couple or family. I would argue they should have a basic per person fee for smaller groups

It proposes the creation of an annual camping pass for hikers and bike riders. This would mean that remote and backcountry camping will require a fee for the first time.

Some suggestions on what you might like to say in your feedback

·         The money saved from existing state budget by new camping fees should be re-invested into Park management, not subsumed into the state budget. Eg interpretive services, weed management, restoration activity, management of threatened species, etc

·         The system should consider a concession for card holders (students, unemployed, pensioners, etc)

·         The per person fee for remote camping (called Overnight hiker permits) is quite high. Overnight hiker permits in places like the Alpine National Park will be $10 per person per night, with a $10 booking fee per booking. It will be higher for Mt Buffalo and Wilsons Prom ($12.50 per person) and for the ‘Hotham to Falls Creek Crossing’ ($30 per site- with per person option not available). This could become very costly for people, especially given this is generally decentralised and non designated camping with low impact. A lower rate should be considered for camping in remote, unserviced sites.

·         There is no per person option for high quality sites, making camping very expensive for single people, couples and small families. A per person option should be introduced.

·         There should be some assessment of whether these changes will impact on the economy of regional centres and towns in areas around the key national parks

Parks where it is proposed that fees for camping would change from 1 March 2014:

  • Wilsons Promontory National Park
  • Cape Conan Coastal Park
  • Mount Buffalo National Park
  • Grampians National Park
  • Great Otway National Park (Western)
  • Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park
  • Buchan Caves Reserve
  • Croajingolong National Park, Peachtree Reserve
  • Lower Glenelg National Park
  • Mt Eccles
  • Discovery Bay
  • Lake Eldon National Park
  • Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Parks
  • Cathedral Range State Park
  • Hattah Kulkyne National Park
  • Wyperfeld National Park
  • Upper Yarra Reservoir
  • Little Desert National Park
  • The Lakes National Park
  • Plenty Gorge Parklands
  • Ewing Morass W.R/Orbost
  • Yarra Valley Parklands
  • Kinglake National Park
  • Brisbane Ranges National Park

Parks where it is proposed that fees for roofed accommodation would change from 1 March 2014:

  • Buchan Caves Reserve
  • Cape Conran Coastal Park
  • Gabo Island Reserve
  • Murray Sunset National Park
  • Plenty Gorge Parklands Nioka Bush Camp
  • Wilsons Promontory National Park

Parks where it is proposed that fees for camping would be introduced from 1 March 2014:

  • Alpine National Park
  • Baw Baw National Park
  • Bunyip State Park
  • Broken Boosey State Park
  • Cape Liptrap Coastal Park
  • Cobboboonee National Park
  • French Island National Park
  • Lerderderg State Park
  • Mornington Peninsula National Park
  • Mount Samaria State Park
  • Mt Buangor State Park

The supporting documentation says “it is Victorian Government policy to specifically consider the impact of proposed amendments to legislative proposals on small business in RISs. However, in this case, the proposed Determination primarily imposes costs on individual visitors rather than on businesses. The businesses likely to be affected by the proposed fees are private providers of camping grounds and some licence tour operators who utilise camping and accommodation in parks”.

This seems to miss the point that there may be economic impacts on business operators outside the parks who may be adversely impacted by any change in people travelling through their region/ town on their way to national parks.

 

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