Kosciusko National Park to Benefit from $300,000 Snowy Hydro Enforceable Undertaking

A $300,000 enforceable undertaking from Snowy Hydro after tunnelling created an unintended surface depression in the Kosciuszko National Park will assist with funding the rebuild of five National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) huts in the Park.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has also approved a modification to enable Snowy Hydro to fix the surface depression at a cost of works estimated to be up to $100,000. These works are expected to start soon.

An enforceable undertaking is a voluntary and binding agreement to deliver tangible benefits for the environment and community.

In December 2022, during the operation of tunnel boring machine "Florence", an unintended surface depression formed outside the agreed construction area in the Kosciuszko National Park.

The surface depression has a diameter of approximately eight metres and a depth of five metres.

As part of the accepted enforceable undertaking, Snowy Hydro is required to make a financial contribution of $300,000 to the NPWS Alpine Hut Rebuilding Program, established following the 2020 bushfires, when 11 huts in Kosciuszko National Park were destroyed.

The $300,000 in funding from Snowy Hydro will help to complete the rebuild of five huts with works due to commence soon and be completed by the end of 2025.

Deputy Secretary, Development Assessment and Infrastructure, David Gainsford said: 

"The Department's Compliance Team monitors and enforces large development and infrastructure projects with strict conditions in place to protect the environment and local communities.

"This activity resulted in unintended environmental impacts that Snowy Hydro is addressing through rehabilitation and additionally, we've accepted the enforceable undertaking for a financial contribution to NPWS as an appropriate regulatory response, one that benefits the community.

"The Kosciuszko National Park huts rebuild program since the 2020 bushfires has involved NPWS builders with assistance from Kosciuszko Huts Association Volunteers and family descendants of those who built and used the original huts.

"The $300,000 contribution from Snowy Hydro will provide much needed funds for Four Mile, Happys, Round Mountain and the two Linesman's Huts on 15 Mile Ridge."

A copy of the enforceable undertaking can be found at: Signed enforceable undertaking for Snowy Hydro Pty Limited - January 2024.

For more information, visit planning.nsw.gov.au/inspections-and-enforcements.