[SUBW-A] Meeting at Footbridge Theatre - Thursday evening

[David Noble]

Help Stop the Commercialisation of National Parks
ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING
Speak up today or our parks will pay … only days to go!
WHEN: Thursday 26th February, 6.30-8.30pm
WHERE: Footbridge Theatre, Parramatta Rd, Sydney University

TAKE ACTION!
1. ATTEND THE PUBLIC MEETING AT SYDNEY UNI 26th Feb, starts 6.30pm  
Footbridge Theatre
2. Get the message out! email your friends and colleagues who are  
passionate about national parks;
3. Volunteer! Get involved in the campaign, contact  
notforsale at npansw.org.au or phone NPA on 02 9299 000;
4. Lobby! email Environment Minister, Carmel Tebbutt  
dp.office at tebbutt.minister.nsw.gov.au or the Premier, Nathan Rees  
thepremier at www.nsw.gov.au and say you don’t want national park laws  
weakened to permit private developments;
5. Lobby some more! Call, write or email you local member and let him  
know your concerns (CALL NPA to find your local member);
6. Become informed! For more information visit the National Parks  
Association’s website at
http://www.npansw.org.au/web/conservation/tourism/tourism.htm
7. Write a letter to the editor of your local papers and protest that  
you were not asked about these changes.

WHAT’S THIS NATIONAL PARK DEVELOPMENT AGENDA ABOUT?

NSW Government will attempt to introduce weaker national park  
protection laws to permit the development of damaging private  
accommodation, such as cabins, lodges and ‘eco-resorts’ in our  
national parks. And we need to stop these laws.

The NSW Government has not even asked the community if they want  
national parks developed!

Environment groups want a stronger nature tourism industry in NSW and  
more people enjoying our parks. This can and must be achieved without  
the development of national park.

Unless we act now increased development in national parks will be  
allowed by law in March.

THE CHANGES ARE NOT NEEDED

National Park visitor growth will easily exceed the State Plan  
Target, outperforming all other sectors of the tourist industry.  
Domestic overnight visitors visiting national parks will increase by  
100 per cent by 2016, and the State Plan target is for 20 per cent  
growth. So why push private development into national parks?

It is inappropriate to remove protection from national parks and to  
offer sites within them to the tourism industry, in an ‘investor- 
ready’ condition - these public lands are set aside for nature. And  
our wilderness areas have been protected from commercial use for over  
twenty years and there is no need to exploit these wild places for  
commercial gain.

WHAT TO SAY TO THE LOCAL PAPER, NSW GOVERNMENT OR BACK BENCH MEMBER:

1.       Don’t weaken the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 to  
permit private developments in national parks, especially as many  
more visitors are enjoying national parks just as they are, as set  
places for nature aside from development;
2.       Wilderness areas should not be commercialised;
3.       Fast tracking accommodation and other private facilities in  
national parks without asking the public what they think of these  
proposed changes to national park laws is a giant leap in the wrong  
direction;
4.       The priority given to nature conservation and protection of  
wilderness by national park laws is appropriate;
5.       New low key facilities are needed for the increased numbers  
of visitors coming to national parks;
6.       Local communities will benefit from park visitation most  
when accommodation is provided in the towns near national parks.

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