Below is the recent media release on recreational shooting in listed and identified world heritage areas. A letter was sent to the Commonwealth and all north east NSW Federal members on World Environment day detailing this request.
Letter to Burke_World Heritage
MEDIA RELEASE 1/6/2012
The North East Forest Alliance is calling on the Federal Government to intervene to exclude shooting from World Heritage listed national parks and proposed additions.
NEFA spokesperson Dailan Pugh, said Premier Barry O’Farrell’s decision to renege on his promise of a year ago to exclude recreational hunting from national parks will do little to control feral animals and puts at risk the lives of visitors and neighbours.
“‘The fact that Premier O’Farrel can say in one breath that they will exclude world heritage and in the other identify six World Heritage listed parks for shooting shows how ill-conceived his backflip is.
“In the same statement announcing the 79 reserves proposed for shooting Mr O’Farrell said shooting of feral animals will not be permitted in any wilderness area or world heritage area.
‘Yet his announcement includes the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage listed parks of Nightcap National Park, Richmond Range National Park (in part), Gibraltar Range National Park, Dorrigo National Park, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, and Barrington Tops National Park. Oxley Wild Rivers and Barrington Tops are also identified wildernesses.
“The Federal Government needs to intervene to over-ride the State Government’s announced intention to allow shooting in world-heritage properties’,
“World Heritage is the jewel in the crown and should not be debased. Other national parks now being considered for addition to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia properties should similarly be excluded”. Mr Pugh said.
CONTACT Dailan Pugh 66 807063