The National Pass at Wentworth Falls will remain closed until two inquiries are finished, according to the environment minister.
The pass was closed in December 2017 after local man, Dave Gliddon, tragically lost his life in a rock fall while working to make it safe. Two others with him were injured.
NSW minister Gabrielle Upton, who was in the Mountains last week, told the Gazette that the National Parks and Wildlife Service had decided to keep the popular walkway closed for the time being.
“The matter is subject to separate coronial and SafeWork NSW inquiries and the NPWS has sensibly taken the decision to keep the site closed until the outcome of these inquiries are known.”
Ms Upton also said the NPWS had “sufficient staff” to meet its responsibilities.
She said a 2017-18 restructure included the creation of 119 additional full-time equivalent roles across NSW.
“There were no staffing or budget cuts involved in the restructure. In fact, the NPWS budget and staffing rate has grown,” she said.
This is at odds with the views of the Public Service Association. Union organiser Kim de Govrik, a former Blue Mountains National Parks ranger and area manager, told The Sun-Herald there were 250 fully funded ranger positions now, down from 315 five years ago.
And NSW opposition environment spokeswoman, Penny Sharpe, said Ms Upton’s assertion about staff levels was wrong.
“Analysis of the minister’s own figures show that up to a quarter of all national parks staff had been cut up to June last year, while on the ground there are fewer park rangers than when this government came to office.
“Whether it is by cutting staff, slashing the budget, or proposing to flood 65 kilometres of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, national parks have never been under greater attack in NSW.”
During her visit, Ms Upton also met National Parks firefighters, announcing they will receive newly upgraded Category 9 all-terrain firefighting trucks.
“This upgrade means the brave firefighters who go into rugged country ahead of the fires can fight fires more efficiently and in safer vehicles,” she said.
“As a result, national parks firefighters will be more effective and have a stronger response to fires... This means animals and trees in national parks as well as the surrounding townships will be better protected.”
Ms Upton later met residents and Blue Mountain Conservation Society representatives to discuss their hopes to have Radiata Plateau in Katoomba purchased by the state government to become part of the national park.
- - with The Sun-Herald