Source: Resource and Conservation Assessment Council

No Invasion Of Freehold Land In Commonwealth-State Assessments

16 July 1997

No private freehold or leasehold land in the Eden region -- or anywhere else in NSW - can be declared as wilderness without the voluntary agreement of the landholder.

The joint Commonwealth-State comprehensive regional assessments (CRAs) are being conducted over all forested lands. Wilderness assessment is a standard part of these assessments, the terms of which have been formally agreed to by the Commonwealth and State Governments.

For the first time, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has agreed that the requirements of the Wilderness Act be coordinated with the CRA process and not be independent of it. The NPWS is just one of a number State and Commonwealth Government agencies (and non-Government organisations) involved in the assessments.

The CRA process in Eden will

• contribute to a national assessment of forests, including wilderness areas, which is taking place across Australia

• ensure future certainty for landholders, land managers and the general community in Eden.

The outcome of the CRA process should put an end to decades of uncertainty in the Eden forests and establish a viable and vibrant forest industry for the region.

Rex Bowen, Director of the NSW Resource and Conservation Assessment Council, said two possible additions to the Brogo Wilderness Area were the only areas in the Eden region warranting further detailed examination.

"This is because they are the only areas which might meet the criteria for wilderness under the Wilderness Act," Rex Bowen said.

The existing Brogo Wilderness Area is within the southern end of the Wadbilliga National Park. The area to be investigated by the Commonwealth/State assessments includes some small areas of private leasehold land.

"Assessing wilderness values is part of the process of getting an overall and accurate picture of the region," Rex Bowen said.

"That does not mean that areas assessed will necessarily be declared as wilderness. Quite simply, that cannot happen without the full and voluntary consent of the landholder.

"Private land cannot be declared wilderness without agreement. The law makes this absolutely clear," he said.

"Futhermore, once this wilderness nomination is assessed, we can be confident no new areas of possible wilderness remain in the Eden forests."

CRA Commonwealth/State Steering Committee member and NPWS Technical Services Director, Tim Shepherd, reassured local landholders that the NPWS had made every effort to contact by telephone all landholders whose properties might be part of the assessment process.

"Those phonecalls will be followed up by letters, and if we’ve missed anyone it is purely inadvertent and not for want of trying," Mr Shepherd said. "Please contact us or your nearest NPWS office for more information."

Detailed maps of the assessment area will be available at our offices at Narooma, Queanbeyan and Hurstville.

Mr Shepherd said assessment for wilderness values was a preliminary step.

"If the values meet the criteria set out in the Wilderness Act, then an area is classified as ‘identified’ wilderness and subject to public exhibition and comment. Parts of nominated areas which do not meet the criteria are rejected," Mr Shepherd said.

"It is a long and exhaustive process which is considered alongside the rest of the CRA assessment."

Gillian Higginson (Resource and Conservation Division) 02 9228 3166

Linda Silmalis (National Parks and Wildlife Service) 02 9585 6591 or pgr: 016 285 809

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