Issues included in this analysis are -
- NPWS Budget
- Warragamba Dam
- Horse Riding in Wilderness Areas
- Western Sydney Airport
- Radiata Plateau
- Climate Change
Answers have been extracted from the candidates' response. A link to their full response has been provided.
This analysis has been difficult due to the lack of direct answers by some candidates, and the dynamic state of the election period where policy announcements are being made frequently. We will update this analysis when we become aware of changes or any oversight.
We have added Media Releases that we have become aware of.
We encourage readers to make their own assessment.
Q1.1 Do you support increasing the National Parks and Wildlife Service budget by $150 Million by 2022?
- Labor - "The Berejiklian Government has cut funding to the National Parks and Wildlife Service by over $120mil. There has been a 26% drop in staff. I will continue to argue and advocate for the restoration of additional funding for management of our GBMWHA."
[Labor media release: Labor unveils comprehensive plan to rebuild National Parks in NSW.]
- Liberal - "if re-elected ... we will invest nearly $150 million to deliver world-class facilities for our national parks."
[Liberal media release: A new National Park for NSW and a major new package that will improve access to existing national parks.]
- The Greens - "Advocate for an expansion of NPWS to be the primary conservation body"
- Animal Justice Party - "I would support increasing the NPWS budget by $150 million by 2022 in order to facilitate better management with the addition of more front-line staff. Along with the changes proposed by BMCS, I would also like to see a greater focus in the areas of compliance and enforcement."
Comment: The crux of this question is restoring the funding that has been lost over the last three years. This funding should be aimed at strengthening the Service’s core function, that is, nature conservation - not on providing "facilities".
As mentioned in our preamble to this question, the NPWS was once ranked among the top-five park-protection agencies in the world, but funding cuts and the loss of many experienced staff with decades of experience have harmed the organisation’s prestige and hampered its effectiveness. Some key positions in the Blue Mountains remain unfilled.
Here's the candidates' full response.
Q1.4 Plans of Management for a number of national parks in the south of NSW are being amended to allow horse riding within declared wilderness areas. If elected will you work to ensure these amendments are reversed?
- Labor - "I spoke in vehement opposition to the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Bill 2018. Labor has committed to repealing this Bill if elected to Government in 2019."
[Although the Society supports repealing this bill, this wasn't the question asked.]
- Liberals - "A two-year trial of horse riding on trails in wilderness areas in four national parks was undertaken in 2014-16. It found there were minimal impacts from horse riding and that wilderness values were not adversely impacted. A report was published in July 2017 and is available on the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) Wilderness horse riding trial webpage.."
[The Wilderness horse riding trial webpage referred to above states "The trial indicated very low usage by horse riders and wilderness values were protected." So basically, there was little horse-riding, so little impact.
Furthermore, the report concludes in its Executive Summary - "This trial was not able to predict the potential impact prolonged use of tracks and trails by horse riders or an increase in horse rider numbers might have on wilderness values."]
- The Greens - "Ban activities inconsistent with the National Parks and Wildlife Act; Establish Plan of Management under Wilderness Act "
- Animal Justice Party - "These Amendments permitting horse riding in Wilderness areas should be reversed immediately and I would work to ensure that horse riding is never allowed in any declared Wilderness area in NSW. I would seek to inform the Government of the destruction caused by hard-hooved, non-native animals on Australia's biodiversity in order to influence the reversal of the Plans of Management."
Comment: As Justice Lloyd said in his Stealth judgement in 2004, "declared wilderness areas are sacrosanct". It's hard to accept that a 600kg+ shod horse would not have an impact.
Here's the candidates' full response.
Q1.5 A project is currently underway to raise Warragamba Dam by 14 metres. Do you support this project?
- Labor - "Labor’s position on the Warragamba Dam Wall raising has not changed since 1995 when the Carr Labor Government rejected the proposal."
- Liberals - "The Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley has the highest single flood exposure in Australia. The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government supports the dam proposal in order to reduce the significant risk that exists now for downstream communities.
For example, if a flood similar to the valley's worst since European settlement happened again, hundreds of lives would be in danger. Around 90,000 people would need to be evacuated and around 12,000 homes would be affected. ."
- The Greens - "Work with Justin Field MLC, The Colong Foundation and their Give A Dam campaign, the BMCS, The Gundungurra peoples, and other community groups to block the project and voice objection to the project on environmental and cultural heritage grounds."
- Animal Justice Party - "My opposition is based on the undeniable scientific evidence against the proposal and the dire need to protect the area's wild rivers, cultural heritage, threatened species and biodiversity."
Comment: The point of this question, as stated in the Questionnaire, is that if this goes ahead large areas of world heritage national parks and wild rivers will be inundated. This flooding will seriously and permanently impact on the incredible biodiversity and many threatened species that contribute to the Blue Mountains National Park’s world heritage listing.
It will also destroy significant cultural heritage sites of the Gundungurra people, including artwork, camps and ceremonial sites.
Here's the candidates' full response.
Q1.6 Western Sydney Airport – Not Needed or Wanted. Do you oppose Western Sydney Airport?
- Labor - "I will continue to raise awareness of the ill-effects of this project and encourage decision makers to hear alternative proposals for ‘jobs’ and ‘transportation’ that are sustainable and not environmentally disastrous; healthier, economically viable alternatives such as High Speed rail and real jobs for the west."
[It should be noted that both State and Federal Labor support a Western Sydney Airport.]
- Liberals - "The NSW Government supports the Commonwealth Government’s investment in a new airport for Western Sydney. The flight paths for Western Sydney Airport will be finalised much closer to operations commencing in 2026. This will include public exhibition and community consultation on the preferred design.."
- The Greens - "The Greens is the only party with a "no WSA" policy.
Focus on longer term transport policies especially High Speed Rail development from Melbourne – Sydney - Brisbane ( incl regional cities in between, which would completely obviate the need for an airport in Western Sydney .. and lower demand for air travel on the Eastern seaboard
Force public commitments from both candidates and major parties for opposition to WSA, no 24 hours, reduce emissions and carbon foot print, flight paths, noise protection, and waste water runoff from the WSA. "
- Animal Justice Party - "If elected, I would fight hard to encourage the Government to abandon the construction of Western Sydney Airport in favour of less environmentally damaging infrastructure such as High Speed Rail. In the event that the project goes ahead, I would ensure that minimal environmental impact occurs with a focus on aircraft movements being concentrated away from the Western aspect of the proposed airport, including GBMWHA, our residents and unique environment, strict time curfews and maximum flight altitudes on approach and departure. "
Comment: With the Western Sydney Airport now under construction, and with both the Labor and Liberal parties, at State and Federal levels, supporting this construction, it seems inevitable.
Our attention is then drawn to electing parliamentarians that will endeavour to mitigate the airport's impact of the Blue Mountains environment.
Here's the candidates' full response.
Q2.2 Do you support the acquisition of Radiata Plateau and for it to be added to the Blue Mountains National Park?
- Labor - "For some years I have personally supported the campaigning efforts to secure the Radiata Plateau and add this last piece of the World Heritage Area to our BM National Parks estate."
[On the 19 February, Deputy Opposition leader Penny Sharpe announced "that Labor will negotiate for the purchase of the last remaining undeveloped peninsula-plateau in the upper Blue Mountains - the Radiata Plateau.".]
- Liberals - "The NSW Government acquires land for national parks to reflect and protect the wide variety of landscapes and environments in NSW. New parks and additions to parks are created through land acquired by purchase, donation or transfer. All land suggested for new or additional park land is assessed and approved before it is acquired. ."
[On the 13 February, the Minister for the Environment, Ms Gabrielle Upton, visited the Radiata Plateau. No commitment to purchase has been made by Minister Upton.]
- The Greens - "Greens Policy supports this addition as part of the expansion of the National Estate"
- Animal Justice Party - "I wholeheartedly support the acquisition of Radiata Plateau in order that it be added to Blue Mountains National Park."
Comment: The news that Labor will negotiate for the purchase of Radiata Plateau is a big step forward in this 30 year campaign.
Here's the candidates' full response.
Q4.1 Do you accept that anthropogenic* climate change is real and severe? What steps will your party take towards addressing climate change? [* anthropogenic - caused by humans or their activities.]
- Labor - "Most educated, compassionate people will agree that climate change is one of the main pressures on our environment, globally. In December 2018, NSW Labor made adjustments to its shadow portfolio and acknowledged climate change as an issue the community is demanding all governments tackle. Blue Mountains local, former Mayor and MLC Adam Searle is now Labor’s Shadow Minister for Climate Change."
- Liberals - "The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to action on climate change. The NSW Climate Change Policy Framework includes objectives to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and for NSW to be more resilient to climate change."
- The Greens - "Ensure 100% renewables by 2030 is maintained"
- Animal Justice Party - "I accept that anthropogenic climate change is real and severe."
Comment: It is noted that it is a Federal Government responsibility to lead the way in addressing climate change.
