The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) is calling for feedback on a draft plan to manage wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park.
Opening public consultation on the Draft Plan, Minister for the Environment, Matt Kean said the DPIE’s Draft Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan struck the right balance between protecting the fragile alpine ecosystems and recognising the cultural heritage values of the wild horses.
“Everybody cares about Kosciuszko National Park, it is a very special place for all of us,” Mr Kean said.
“I recognise there are very strong and diverse views on this issue, but at the heart of these views is a common desire to sustainably manage the Park for the future,” he said.
“For too long we have been deadlocked on this issue and unable to find a way forward.
“This has served no one’s interest, least of all the environment.”
Mr Kean said the Draft Plan provided protections for one of the nation’s most precious environments and all of the animals that called it home, “but more importantly it provides that much needed way forward”.
The Minister said under the Plan, the Park would be divided into three broad zones: Areas where wild horses could continue to roam, 32 per cent of the Park; areas where wild horses would be removed, 21 per cent of the Park; and areas which were currently free of horses and would be kept free, 47 per cent of the Park.
“The areas in which horses may continue to occur are those areas with the strongest links to wild horse heritage values and are areas with links to historic pastoralism, brumby running and include wild horses derived from historic pastoral populations,” he said.
“The removal and exclusion of wild horses from designated areas, and the reduction in the overall population, will provide effective protection from the impacts of wild horses for many threatened species.”
Mr Kean said animal welfare, in line with the highest national standards, would remain the priority when deciding what animal management technique was employed.
He said people could have a say on the Draft Plan until 2 November.
The DPIE’s 30-page Draft Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
