The successful 1998 plan describing management of the Lower Gordon River is being reviewed in the context of the new TWWHA Tourism Master Plan, but it is disappointing the scope of new Draft Plan is limited to recreation and tourism use, rather than broader issues that affect the river.
Wild feral deer are a significant threat to the natural values of Tasmania’s unique and valuable national parks and protected areas. While there are some positive initiatives in the draft Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan, fundamentally, wild deer should be managed as an invasive species and biosecurity risk.
Fire is perhaps the greatest challenge for the management of the TWWHA, particularly in the context of a changing climate. A fire management plan is being prepared. We comment on the the various PWS fire issue discussion papers released in September 2020.
The proposal is totally inappropriate in an area where the provision of recreational and tourism uses and opportunities is expected to be ‘consistent the preservation or protection of the natural beauty of the land or of any features of the land of natural beauty or scenic interest’.
The review of the Maria Island National Park management plan has finally commenced. Visitor numbers have been rising rapidly and further increases are anticipated, but it seems no consideration is being given to limiting visitor numbers.
A review of the tenure of all land other than national parks within the TWWHA is long overdue. National park should be the default tenure for a World Heritage Area.
A Biosecurity Strategy for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is under development. We hope that it will direct some much needed attention and resources onto biosecurity, which has been seriously neglected in recent years.
The population and range of wild fallow deer in Tasmania is expanding. These feral animals are an increasing risk to some parks and reserves. The Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan must prescribe and provide for the eradication of deer from conservation reserves.
The TNPA agrees that the foothills of kunanyi provide a popular and valued resource for local mountain bike riders but their interests should not be considered in isolation from kunanyi’s high natural and cultural values, including a long history of recreational use by walkers.
Most of the proposals are supported but they implement only selected components of a package of related recommendations – all infrastructure based – while PWS shows no sign of acknowledging or addressing the crucial other component of recreation management – managing visitor numbers.
