Townsends Hut is one of many huts affected by the six-month closure of parts of Kosciusko National Park. Photo: Tom’s Outdoors.
Hikers, cyclists, skiers and campers will have to make new plans for the winter due to the closure of a large area of the Kosciusko National Park.
The closure, in effect until 4 October 2024, takes in 20 per cent of the park.
The area covers most of the northern part of the park from the Snowy Mountains Highway and east of the Goobarragandra Powerline Road. This area runs parallel to the ACT border and Namadgi National Park. The Bimberi Nature Reserve is not affected.
All tracks, trails, campgrounds, huts, picnic areas and accommodation in the area will be closed with the exception of Kiandra Courthouse and Delanys Hut, which remain open.
“Campsites within the affected areas will be temporarily closed,” the NPWS said.
“Anyone who made a booking has already been informed and refunded.”
The closure will also affect through passage on both the Australian Alps Walking Track and the Hume and Hovell Walking Track.
The closure covers the northern areas of the park, parallel to the ACT border and Namadgi National Park. Image: Environment NSW.
All major ski resorts and tourism areas south of the Snowy Mountains Highway will remain open, including Mount Kosciuszko, the alpine resorts of Perisher, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Selwyn Snow Resort, Yarrangobilly Caves and sections of the recently completed Snowies Alpine Walk.
The park has been closed so animal control methods, including aerial shooting, can take place in the park.
The animal control operations will seek to reduce the populations of deer, pigs and wild horses in the park.
“All feral animal control operations are carried out in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards,” the organisation said.
“In relation to the control of wild horses, this includes compliance with standard operating procedures that have been developed with input from independent vets and the RSPCA NSW.”
In a statement, the NPWS said the closure was to ensure the public’s safety during this process.
“Seasonal closures occur each year in the northern section of Kosciuszko National Park and vehicle access is restricted over winter every year, starting at the June long weekend, and reopening at the October long weekend,” the NPWS said.
“This is because many parts of the park are inaccessible during the winter season.”
This northern closure follows a separate closure in the southern parts of Kosciuszko National Park, which has since seen the park re-opened.
View the full map of current closures here.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.
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