In a significant move to protect the critically endangered Northern Corroboree Frog, Snowy Hydro Limited has agreed to pay $400,000 to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). This commitment is part of an enforceable undertaking (EU) negotiated with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) following a 2023 pollution incident. This incident involved elevated nitrate levels detected in both surface water and groundwater at the Snowy 2.0 construction site at Lobs Hole in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP).
PHOTO: The critically endangered Northern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) CREDIT: ACT Government
The agreement, recently finalised, outlines Snowy Hydro’s responsibility to fund the establishment of two new enclosures in the wild. These enclosures aim to protect the Northern Corroboree Frog from the chytrid fungus, a deadly threat to amphibians globally.
Additionally, the agreement stipulates that Snowy Hydro must cover the EPA’s legal and investigative costs, amounting to $90,000.
Steve Orr, Director of Operations at the EPA, commented on the enforceable undertaking: “National parks, including Kosciuszko, are State protected areas and strict environmental laws are in place to protect their delicate ecosystems.”
PHOTO: Steve Orr, Director of Operations at the EPA CREDIT: LinkedIn
“The EPA expects licence holders to comply with these laws and to take all necessary steps to prevent harm to the environment. This EU was considered an appropriate regulatory response to the incident because it provides tangible and long-term benefits for the surrounding environment.”
In December 2023, Snowy Hydro received a Clean-Up Notice which mandated the cessation of adding nitrate-rich materials to spoil areas at the construction site. As a response, the company implemented a Nitrogen Management Plan, a first for New South Wales, alongside other measures like enhanced monitoring systems and new water treatment facilities.
PHOTO: The EU is expected to provide tangible benefits to the KNP environment in which Snowy Hydro operates CREDIT: Snowy Hydro
There has been no evidence to suggest the pollution incident adversely affected the Northern Corroboree Frog or its close relative, the Southern Corroboree Frog, which is endemic to Kosciuszko National Park.