Sitting ducks: Wanderers Bushwalking and Outdoors Club president Ian Grieve (second from left) stands with fellow group members (l-r) Bev Barnet and Ken and Judy Woodward. Picture: Mike Szabath
What is the best way to control game animals in national parks?
A LOCAL bushwalking group has spoken out about the state government's plans to allow amateur hunting clubs to use 79 national parks in NSW.
The decision comes into effect from March and is likely to hit community groups which use the national parks with increased insurance costs.
"It's certainly a concern as I've heard this both independently and in the media," Wanderers Bushwalking and Outdoors Club president Ian Grieve said.
"I don't see why we should be put in potential danger or have our insurance costs go up when this small interest group is dictating government policy."
The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is expected to announce next month which national parks will be affected by the changes.
Although yet to be confirmed by OEH, it's believed no metropolitan national parks will be made available to amateur shooters.
A spokeswoman said a detailed announcement outlining how hunting in national parks will be managed and rolled out will be made by OEH shortly.
Mr Grieve said his club regularly use national parks in the country areas and warned that the changes will be very difficult to manage. "You're dealing with huge areas of bushland with multiple entry points," he said.
"I've heard stories that the morning after they [the government] announced their plans that hunters turned up with guns to a national park on the Gosford side of the Hawkesbury."
Mr Grieve stressed he and his fellow Bushwalking Group members "aren't greenies but rather environmentalists" who want to see National Parks protected.