Hon Mark Latham - Member of the NSW Legislative Council has asked NSW Environment Minister James Griffin some questions on notice about the closure of the Mt Warning National Park.
It's clear from those answers (ed - what answers?) that the NSW Liberals have lost the plot and have handed over government to a group of activist bureaucrats. Follow the link or read them below - "answers" in italics.
9670 - Environment and Heritage - ABORIGINAL PLACEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Latham, Mark to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs,
Minister for the Arts, Minister for Regional Youth, and Minister for Tourism
representing the Minister for Environment and Heritage
(1) Will the
Aboriginal Place Management Plan (APMP) for Mount Warning effectively prevent
the public from accessing that region?
(a) If not, can the Minister please provide the details of
the APMP, specifically those details that impact on the public’s rights to
enter the subject area?
ANSWER
(1) Wollumbin was
declared an Aboriginal Place above 600 metres to the summit by the Government
in 2014 to protect its cultural values and formally recognise it as a place of
special significance to Aboriginal people.
The Wollumbin
Aboriginal Place Management Plan (APMP) formally sets out the Aboriginal community's
advice on access to the summit and documents Wollumbin's significant Aboriginal
cultural heritage values.
The future of
Wollumbin National Park will be guided by Aboriginal custodians after the
development of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Wollumbin
Consultative Group (WCG), which represents a range of Aboriginal groups and
families with a connection to the site.
(2) Which
Aboriginal group will be the manager of this APMP?
(a) How was this group identified as the most appropriate to
be involved in the APMP?
(b) Was this contested by any other Aboriginal groups?
(i) If so, which Aboriginal groups contested it?
(ii) What were the grounds of the contestation?
(iii) How was the contestation dealt with?
(c) How was the Aboriginal group assessed on its ability to
manage the APMP?
(i) Did the Aboriginal group or any of its members demonstrate
specific management skills suitable for administering the APMP?
(ii) How were those management and administration skills demonstrated
and tested?
(iii) Were any educational or training programmes offered to
the Aboriginal group or its members with respect to their future management and
administration of the APMP?
(iv) Who delivered this educational or training service?
(v) How much did the educational or training service cost
the taxpayer?
ANSWER
(2) NPWS will manage Wollumbin National Park consistent with relevant legislative requirements, and guided by the APMP, in consultation with the WCG through the MOU.
(a) Wollumbin is a
place of highest significance to the Bundjalung people. The WCG has
representatives from the Bundjalung and adjoining Aboriginal nations community
members, Elders, Native Title claimants and corporations, the Local Aboriginal
Land Council, ancestral families and knowledge holders.
(b) No.
(i-iii) Not applicable.
(c) Refer to the
answer at (2).
(i-v) Not applicable.
(3) Can the
Minister provide details of any public consultations or liaison that occurred
before the decision was made with respect to the APMP over Mount Warning,
specifically:
(a) How was it advertised to the community?
(b) When did it take place?
(c) What form did it take?
(d) Who participated in it?
(e) What public concerns were put on the record?
(f) How were these concerns addressed?
ANSWER
(3) Access to the
summit has been closed since March 2020 due to COVID-19, safety risks, and
further consultation with the Aboriginal community.
The WCG developed the
APMP to detail the Aboriginal cultural heritage values of Wollumbin summit for
the Aboriginal community. The WCG includes Aboriginal representatives as detailed
in the answer to (2)(a).
On 20 October 2022,
the Government announced that the future of Wollumbin National Park will be
guided by Aboriginal custodians after an MOU is developed with the WCG.
The MOU will be a
first step to joint management with Aboriginal custodians, and will provide a
framework for Aboriginal decision-making about the national park, including
decisions regarding access to the summit track and new visitor infrastructure.
This announcement followed a long process of engagement and consultation by
NPWS, involving a range of stakeholders, including Tweed Shire Council,
Destination North Coast and Tweed Tourism Company. Consultation and engagement
with all stakeholders will continue and will be ongoing.
(a-f) Not applicable.
(4) Were any
submissions, objections or other concerns received from community groups or
individuals with respect to the APMP over Mount Warning before the decision was
made with respect to the APMP?
(a) If so, who raised these submissions, objections or other
concerns?
(i) When were these received?
(ii) How were they dealt with?
ANSWER
(4)
(a)
(i-ii) Refer to the
answer at (3).
(5) Can the
Minister confirm that the image of Mount Waring will be copyrighted as a result
of the APMP decision, or allow the image to be copyrighted in the future as a
result of the decision?
(a) If so, who will be the holder of the copyright?
(b) If so, how is this justified considering the image is a
commonly used identifier for the region by generations of its residents?
ANSWER
(5) The Government has
not restricted the use of images of Wollumbin mountain. The APMP includes a
request by the Aboriginal community that images taken within the Wollumbin
Aboriginal Place are not used for tourism or advertising purposes.
(a-b) Not applicable.
(6) In relation
to any public infrastructure currently existing on the subject land:
(a) What infrastructure may be subject to removal under the
APMP?
(b) What cost will be associated with the removal of this
infrastructure?
(c) Who will bear the cost of the removal?
ANSWER
(a) The development of
an MOU with the WCG will provide a framework for Aboriginal decision-making
about management of the national park, including the future of the summit track
and installation or removal of visitor infrastructure.
(b-c) Not applicable.
(7) What other
regions in New South Wales may be subject to similar APMPs?
ANSWER
(7) There are 51
Aboriginal Places on the NPWS estate. Nine of these Aboriginal Places currently
have APMPs.
Question asked on 25 October 2022 (session 57-1) and
published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 854
Answer received on 15 November 2022 and to be published in
Questions & Answers Paper No. 869
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