Cassy O’Connor’s claim in Estimates’ hearings that flights over the World Heritage Area were restricted under the previous TWWHA management plan is plain wrong.
All aircraft overflying reserved land are, and have been, regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
The Parks and Wildlife Service has developed voluntary fly friendly guidelines that are generally adopted by operators who fly in the area.
The only control the Parks and Wildlife Service has ever had in relation to flights is landing authorisation.
To protect wilderness values, under the current TWWHA Management Plan landing is prohibited in the “Wilderness Zone” that covers 82 per cent of area.
Compared to the old plan, the “Wilderness Zone” has grown by 7 per cent or approximately 78,000 hectares, something Ms O’Connor could never bring herself to admit.