Hunters won't be in our parks, says Holstein

Member for Gosford Mr Chris Holstein has confirmed that no local national parks would be affected by legislation put to NSW Parliament which would allow recreational shooting by amateur hunters in national parks.

Mr Holstein said 12 parks and reserves had been listed for consideration of over 750 state parks and reserves, none of which are on the Central Coast.

"No parks anywhere on the Central Coast are affected by the legislation and any scaremongering in the media would be nothing short of reckless misrepresentation of the facts," said Mr Holstein.

Central Coast Greens representative Ms Kate da Costa said the Greens were absolutely opposed to the proposal to allow amateur, recreational shooters in national parks.

"We join conservation groups, GetUp!, the staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other environmentalists in calling for Barry O'Farrell to abandon the legislation planned to be put to Parliament this month.

"Amateur shooting in national parks will not reduce feral animals but will increase the risk that staff of National Parks and Wildlife Service or other users of parks could be injured or killed.

"This plan is unscientific and dangerous.

"The people of NSW fought for decades to have areas of great natural beauty and value set aside for passive recreation for everyone to enjoy.

"What right do shooters have to take over parks?

"There are thousands of hectares of State Forest now available for hunting, for those who feel compelled to do so.

"The claim that amateur hunters will help control feral animals has no basis in fact.

"While feral animals in national parks are a real problem, National Parks and Wildlife Service staff do not use hunting for this, they have carefully managed programs which random amateur hunting will disrupt.

"We are concerned, based on the New Zealand experience, that campers and bushwalkers will be at risk from hunters who cannot tell the difference between an animal and a person.

"Furthermore, even though we understand the plan is to close a national park when shooters are using it, there are many entries to parks and the risk is very high that a walker will unknowingly move into a hunting zone.

"We are concerned about animal welfare, as unsupervised amateur hunters may maim rather than kill outright.

"If passed, this legislation will be seen by the irresponsible end of the shooting community as a license to kill at any time.

"We should maintain a ban on amateur recreational hunting of any type at any time in any national park.

"We are told by the Government that no national parks in Gosford or the Peninsula are on the list for shooters, but they told us in 2011 that no national parks would be opened for shooting.

"The only safe way is to stop the proposal for hunting in national parks," said Ms da Costa.

Media statement, 10 Oct 2013

Kate da Costa, Central Coast Greens

Media statement, 9 Oct 2013

Chris Holstein, Member for Gosford