Frequently Asked Questions about the Draft Plan of Management.

• Where do I get a copy?

  Ring National Parks (Narooma Office) and ask for a printed copy to be mailed to you. Phone: (02) 4476 2888
  Ask to what extent it has been publicized and placed on display.
  
  

• When do Submissions Close?

  November 17 2006
  
  

• Why does the Draft POM seem to be very superficial in putting forward any decent management of fire threats?

  One answer might be that there are a number of separate documents produced by National Parks dealing with Fire Management and therefore it may skip over the fire problem.

  It is a considered and widely held belief that major fire threats is really the major issue and that National Parks do not address this and do not have the resources to fight fires.
  
  

• Are these separate Fire Manuals up to date?

  They were "revised" and issued again in 2005. However, they contain absolutely no reference to any of the major official inquiries conducted in Victoria and by the Federal Government into the major fires of the 2002/03 season.

  It is understood that when a fire in a National Park / Wilderness area becomes of such a size or threat then it is no longer the problem for National Parks.
  
  

• What are some ways to fight fires?

  The simplest is to have ready access to be able to fight the fire before it gets too big.

  Fire detection is critical. Nowadays it is suggested that more reliance will be placed on satelite observations. The images may only be updated daily and may depend on cloud cover and many other factors.

  For the South Coast Escarpment Parks there are a number of fire towers but these are positioned so that they cannot see into a number of valleys (eg Bendethera). More manned fire towers looks like a cost-effective resource.

  The Draft POM makes no mention of what resources are available within National Parks.

  Another technique is to spray fire retardants - generally along ridges. The most effective way (as reported by the recent official inquiries) is spraying from tankers driving along fire trails. Many of these fire trails that are now part of National Parks management are not well maintained, are locked, or maybe are planned to be left so that the area can "return to pre-european conditions".

  New fire breaks are often bulldozed during a fire fighting operation. These would add to the value of wilderness areas?
  
  

• Wilderness areas locked up to permit native fauna to develop?

  This will not stop increasing predators (eg wild dogs, feral cats, foxes) or the spread of noxious weeds (Broom, Fireweed etc).

  Note that most sightings of native animals are along fire trails.
  
  

• What about horse riders?

  The early (European) pioneers opened up this country and there are many bridle tracks which have been destroyed or cut by fire trails and little or no resources are dedicated by National Parks to maintain and make Park users aware of this strong cultural heritage.

  There is also supposed to be a "Recreational Horse Riders Policy" which is not available for study but should be prior to this Draft POM being put out for public comment.

  It would appear that in the KNP, access is limited to only 350 hectares around Pinch River. This will make this activity very unrewarding indeed.
  
  

• Was the Draft POM widely distributed?

  Probably not - for example, a single incorrect copy was first delivered to Braidwood Council Offices on October 27th 2006 - only 2 weeks before submissions close. And some 3,000,000 vehicles pass through Braidwood - most on the way to the coast and passing along the boundary of the areas covered in the Draft POM.

This page is still under construction.
Page last updated: November 1st 2006.