Australian Alps Awarded National Heritage Status

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett said the Australian Alps National Parks is the largest and most complex National Heritage assessment to date. They stretch across 1.6 million hectares of national parks and reserves including 11 national parks and nature reserves in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria.

A view of the Australian Alps (Photo by Adam Tibballs)

"Known as the High Country in Victoria, Snowy Mountains in New South Wales and the Brindabella Range in the Australian Capital Territory, the listing of the Australian Alps National Parks recognizes the outstanding natural, indigenous and historic values of this iconic landscape," Garrett said.

"The high altitude peaks, some rising above 2,000 metres, and plateaus, glacial lakes and alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems of the Australian Alps are rare in our mostly flat, dry and warm continent," he said.

"The Alps are home to the snow gum and unique alpine species like the mountain pygmy possum, as well as in the summer months providing spectacular arrays of alpine wildflowers," the minister said.

Many environmentalists are pleased with the listing. Humane Society International Director Michael Kennedy said, "This is one of the most significant heritage listings outside of existing world heritage areas and will hopefully be the first of a number of large area heritage listings."

Kennedy said, "HSI is very happy to have been the key NGO helping the passage of the EPBC Act Heritage Amendments, as a member of the inaugural Australian Heritage Council, recommending to the minister that all the alpine regions be assessed for a national heritage listing."

The greatest environmental threat to the Alps is the warming climate.

The Australian Conservation Foundation issued a report on November 2 listing the Alps as one of Australia's 10 most special, iconic places that could be lost without greater leadership from the government and a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least a third by 2020.

"Australia is particularly vulnerable to climate change, but with smart and urgent action, we have a lot to gain," said ACF Executive Director Don Henry.

The new Heritage designation is expected to be good for tourism. In June, the Alps were chosen as one of eight national landscapes to be featured in Tourism Australia's new marketing initiative to international tourists.

A carpet of wildflowers on the Bogong high plains in Alpine National Park (Photo by Tony Marsh)

Peter Jacobs, the Australian Alps Region National Landscapes Steering Committee chairman said, "Touring in the high country and experiencing the vast alpine landscapes, the beautiful, majestic snow gum forest is a feature that really stands out for people."

Yet, tourism operators said the new listing would make it more difficult for their $1.3 billion industry to obtain approval for new developments.

There are currently 80 places in the National Heritage List. Places on the list are afforded protection under the Australian government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Garrett is currently assessing 17 million hectares of the Kimberly in Western Australia for potential national heritage listing, and HSI is about to submit a nomination for the assessment of 16 million hectares of the Great Western Woodland in Western Australia.

Meanwhile, ministers responsible for the cooperative management and protection of the Australian Alps National Parks said that National Heritage listing would provide increased recognition for the mountains.

"Namadgi National Park plays an enormous role in the lives of Canberrans, from the provision of Canberra's water supply to a place of relaxation and recreational activities such as bushwalking and mountain bike riding," said ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.

Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Gavin Jennings said, "On behalf of Victorians, I welcome the greater recognition of the unique natural, indigenous and cultural wonder of the High Country. We are proud of the work we have done together to manage and protect the Alps national parks so that they can continue to be enjoyed and appreciated."

NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Carmel Tebbutt said, "For the people of New South Wales the majestic Snowy Mountains have long been a place of outstanding natural beauty and a key part of our colonial heritage. The Australian Alps well and truly deserve their place on the National Heritage List."

In Victoria the agency responsible for Alps management is Parks Victoria. The parks are:

• Alpine National Park
• Snowy River National Park
• Avon Wilderness
• Mt Buffalo National Park
• Baw Baw National Park

• Kosciuszko National Park
• Brindabella National Park
• Scabby Range Nature Reserve
• Bimberi Nature Reserve

• Namadgi National Park
• Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

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