The New South Wales Nationals’ state conference has called for a freeze on new wind farms and on new national parks.
Delegates have passed a motion calling for a complete audit of national parks, an assessment of the impact of new national parks on regional economies and a moratorium on wind farms.
NSW Nationals’ leader Andrew Stoner says while he understands concerns in his party over the creation of new national parks, the State Government will determine policy on the issue.
Mr Stoner says the Government is not bound by the weekend resolution.
“This is a motion that reflects the frustration of many people in regional NSW about the continued expansion of the national parks estate without the necessary resources to actually look after those national parks,” he told the ABC. “That said, this is not a motion that was supported in any way by the NSW Government.”
Some Nationals’ MPs have been critical of new red gum national parks declared in 100,000 hectares of state forests in the Riverina last year, but government ministers have ruled out reversing the declarations.
