Dear Beagle Editor Since 1967, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has looked after our National Parks, their precious wildlife, worked for the conservation of native and threatened species, educated generations of school children and played host to countless camping holidays and bushwalks. Their ability to perform these essential public services is now under threat from a restructure by the NSW Liberal/National Government, which will result in a series of cuts and job cuts and loss of expertise. We love our national parks. They receive more than 40 million visits in New South Wales each year, and an overwhelming 94 per cent of visitors describe themselves as satisfied or very satisfied with their experience. Parks like Deua National Park, Eurobodalla and Kooraban National Park are an important part of the community, environment and public space. If the NPWS restructure goes ahead, the NSW community will soon notice the consequences of the Government’s reckless approach to parks management. Fewer rangers, closed tracks, less maintenance of visitor facilities and encroaching invasive species will become the unfortunate norm. There will be a knock on effect on local jobs, tourism and the local economy. I urge readers to contact the NSW Government via your local Member for Bega Andrew Constance and Gabrielle Upton, the NSW Minister for the Environment, and ask them to stop their war on National Parks and treat rangers and all staff with the respect they deserve. Greens NSW MP and Environment Spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC
