KTF News

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Kokoda Spirit Challenge

17/11/2006

Source: http://seven.com.au/todaytonight/story/?id=30246

Author: David Richardson

20061117 Kokoda Spirit Challenge

Milton Prepares to Trek Kokoda Track

28/10/2006

Source: abc.net.au

Author: Chris Kimball

20061128 Milton Prepares to Trek Kokoda Track

Governments Must Protect The Track

02/10/2006

Source: KTF MEDIA RELEASE

Author: Patrick Lindsay, KTF Chairman

Email: chairman@kokodatrackfoundation.org

Old comrades must join forces once again

The Australian and Papuan New Guinean Governments must join forces to develop a Master Plan for the management of the Kokoda Track to protect it from a range of serious threats, according to the Kokoda Track Foundation.

“The Track is under imminent threat from both mining and forestry interests. The homes and the livelihoods of the people from the villages along the Track are also in jeopardy unless governments act swiftly,” the Chairman of the Kokoda Track Foundation, Patrick Lindsay, said today.

“The beloved ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’ helped us in our darkest hour in 1942, now it’s time to repay the debt. We must work with our nearest neighbour to protect this sacred ground,” Lindsay added.

“Our Foundation supports the call by the Chief Executive of the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, Mr Peter Vincent, and WWF Australia for the immediate creation of a Master Plan for the Track,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay said that during the last two years, in conjunction with WWF the global conservation organisation, the Kokoda Track Foundation had conducted workshops and consulted with clan landowners to develop a Strategic Plan for Sustainable Eco-Tourism along the Track aimed at benefiting the people living there.

“We have delivered the Plan to both the Australian and PNG Governments as a suggested starting point for the creation and implementation of a Master Plan for the Track. If we had a Master Plan in place, the current threat posed by the proposed copper-gold mine by Frontier Resources would be able to be dealt with,” he said.

“WWF has secured a tentative World Heritage listing for the Kokoda Track. Their success in this first stage of the Track’s journey to long-term protection indicates that the World Heritage authority recognises the area has the qualities needed to meet the strict world heritage criteria.

“We must all work together to ensure this unique environment is preserved as a living and a spiritual reminder of the titanic struggles that took place there 64 years ago and resulted in the liberty that both our countries enjoy today,” he said.

“The management of the Kokoda Track is clearly the responsibility of the PNG Government and the clan landowners but, while respecting PNG’s sovereignty, the Australian Government can make a substantial contribution by funding the creation of the Master Plan and by helping to fund the Kokoda Track Authority, the local landowners’ body that would administer it,” Lindsay said.

“The Howard Government has recognised the iconic status of the Track in the national psyches of Australia and PNG by sending a high-level delegation to observe the threats posed by the Frontier Resources’ mine. If a Master Plan were operative, such threats would be dealt with and all interested parties would know the rules under which they could proceed.”

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20061002 Govts must protect the Track KTF MEDIA (350kb) (Download copy of above)

KTF Eco-tourism Strategic Plan 20060930 (1.4MB)

WWF Kokoda Historic Reserve REPORT (212kb)

World Heritage Tentative List Submission 20060306 (109kb)

Australians 'Trespassing' On Kokoda Track

02/10/2006

Source: smh.com.au

Author: AAP

20061002 Australians Trespassing On Kokoda Track

Govt Told To 'Back Off' On Kokoda

01/10/2006