The Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan

The AVA regularly makes submissions to governments across a broad range of issues to advocate on behalf of the profession. AVA’s submissions are grounded in evidence and aim to represent the wider membership. To achieve these aims, working groups are developed that call on subject matter experts across a number of special interest groups and divisions to inform the submission.  

An excellent example of this is the AVA Submission to the Draft Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan. 

The veterinary conservation and biology special interest group coordinated the submission to the NSW Government’s Draft Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan in October 2021. The working group included representatives from the welfare special interest group, equine special interest group student and external representation, as well as AVA team members. 

“The making of submissions by the AVA to governments is a time consuming and at times stressful occupation, but it is one way the voice of veterinarians can be heard and has an important role in lifting the profile and respect of the profession,” says Veterinary Conservation and Biology special interest group executive committee member Dr Michael Banyard.   

Background 

In 2018 the NSW Government introduced and enacted the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018. The objective of the act was to recognise and elevate the heritage value of wild horse (brumby) populations in Kosciuszko National Park and give them a primary importance in the management of the park through the Wild Horse Community Advisory Panel set up under the new Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018. In matters of conflict with the existing National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 the new Act and hence advice of the Advisory Panel has precedence. 

This structure turned on its head the primacy of nature conservation management in the park and recognised the importance of the wild horse (brumby) heritage values and that of the early European settlement including homesteads, stock routes, types of horses and history. This change generated great concern in conservation bodies including action from the Australian Academy of Science as significant numbers of feral horses in the park impact on threatened species and fragile alpine habitats. It has the potential to bring undone conservation efforts developed over decades.  

Submission overview 

The AVA Submission recommended: 

• The importance of implementing the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan without further delay 
• The need for peremptory and additional monitoring of selected threatened species within the Retention Zones prior to the scheduled and thorough review on 30th June 2027 
• The need for annual performance targets to assess progress of the planned removal of horses 
• To review of the methods being used if the targets are not being achieved 
• The formation a new Wild Horse Advisory Body 
• The provision of adequate financial support is essential; insufficient funding could result in failure of The Plan.

This issue has generated much community conflict and has delayed the orderly management of the park for years in which time the number of wild horses has increased to an estimated in Spring 2020 of 14,380 (8,798-22,555 95%CI).  

Outcome

Over 4000 submissions were received, which were processed rapidly by the NSW government. Minimal changes were made to the draft plan which seeks to retain 3000 horses in retention areas and remove, with lethal means if required, horses from the remainder of the park. 

While the adopted management plan rejected most public recommendations, the following recommendations suggested in the AVA submission were accepted: the need for action without delay; monitoring and research to be undertaken over the life of the plan; establishment of the Wild Horse Advisory Body. These changes while proposed by AVA may also have been included in other public submissions.