Senator Conroy: The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question: 1. The Australian Government provided funds under the Kokoda Initiative to the Kokoda Track Authority, a Special Purposes Authority of the Kokoda and Koiari Local-level Governments, for infrastructure and track maintenance. The Kokoda Track Authority determined that it did not have the human resources to undertake track maintenance itself, and entered into a partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia. The partnership costs were $99,974 AUD. Outcomes were: Local people at each of 6 villages were paid to assist the Conservation Volunteers Australia and undergo training. They are now qualified track builders that the Kokoda Track Authority can draw on for future track maintenance work. Relationships improved between villages and Kokoda Track Authority. Dangerous and degraded parts of the track identified in the Track Analysis document were repaired and made safe, which skilled villagers were able to continue to maintain. 2. Using the definition of a consultant under the department’s procurement guidelines, the following Australian consultants have been engaged by the department as part of the Kokoda Initiative between 2009 and 2012 to assist the Kokoda Track Authority: Graeme Beech $17,434.72 AUD in 2010-11 and $30,124.25 AUD in 2011-12. KPMG PNG in 2010-11 - $39,459.19 AUD. 3. a. The Kokoda Initiative had the following total budget: 2008-09: $5.012 million AUD. 2009-10: $3.472 million AUD - Plus safety package (2009) – $4.9 million AUD. 2010-11: $3.531 million AUD. 2011-12: $4.49 million AUD (includes safety package of 0.76 million AUD). b. The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has engaged the following consultants in the financial years 2008-2009 to 2011-2012 to work on projects under the Kokoda Initiative: ANU Enterprise: $73,063.36AUD for delivery of the “Kokoda Track-Brown River Catchment region Preliminary Social Mapping Study and a draft report on fieldwork in Koiari LLG. Universal Financial Management Solutions Pty Ltd: $85,322.81 for a feasibility study and design of a funding mechanism for accountable cash grants from the department to be provided to PNG Department of Environment and Conservation. Mary Dickie Issues Management Pty Ltd: $52,350.81AUD for development of a report “Engaging Stakeholders around the Kokoda Region and Brown River Catchment Initiative Mr Sandy Holloway AO: $37,500 AUD for developing and securing Papua New Guinea agreement to both the first and second Joint Understandings between the PNG and Australian governments to protect the Kokoda Track. Secured Papua New Guinea Government funding of approximately AU$8.5 million AUD over five years to support the Kokoda Initiative. Aviation Safety Institute: $5,500 AUD for a desktop study on Mt Koiari airstrips. Scenic Spectrums Pty Ltd: $31,795 AUD for development of an Interpretation Scoping Study, expected to be completed in 2012. The Australian War Memorial: $35,000 AUD for development of “The Track: a Historical Desktop Study of the Kokoda Track” http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/index.html Bradley John Manera: $7,000 AUD for research on pictorial evidence of the wartime condition of the track. One of the main outcomes from the report is that the historical evidence in relation to condition is not comprehensive enough to provide a basis for widespread heritage work based on photographs or maps. EcoSustainAbility: $41,611.03 AUD for a Tourism Framework for the Kokoda Region. KPMG PNG: $39,459.19 AUD for an audit of the Kokoda Track Authority. Graeme Beech: $47,558.97 AUD for Interim Kokoda Track Management Guidelines, implementation plan for the guidelines and to support PNG Department of Environment and Conservation to develop a framework to develop a Sustainable Development Master Plan for the Interim Protected Area. 4. Mr Rod Hillman was the Joint CEO of the Kokoda Track Authority, not the TPA. Yes, the Australian Government, under the Kokoda Initiative, engaged EcoSustainability to develop a Tourism Framework for the Kokoda Region. a. $41,611.03 AUD. b. Tourism Framework for the Kokoda Region. 5. Under the Kokoda Initiative the Australian Government has engaged the Kokoda Track Foundation and the Kokoda Track Authority has engaged Conservation Volunteers Australia to undertake projects between 2009 and 2012. a. The Australian Government provided funding to the Kokoda track Authority which used its procurement process to engage Conservation Volunteers Australia. The Kokoda Track Foundation was engaged in 2009 through a formal Request For Quote process run by the former Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. b. Conservation Volunteers Australia: $99,974 AUD; and the Kokoda Track Foundation: $36,905 AUD. c. Conservation Volunteers Australia: -Local people at each of 6 villages were paid to assist the Conservation Volunteers Australia and undergo training. They are now qualified track builders that the Kokoda Track Authority can draw on for future track maintenance work. -Relationships improved between villages and Kokoda Track Authority. -Dangerous and degraded parts of the track identified in the Track Analysis document were repaired and made safe, which skilled villagers were able to continue to maintain. The Kokoda Track Foundation: identification of market-based micro-business development opportunities along the Kokoda Track corridor, primarily tourism and rural (for example, agriculture and forestry) enterprises associated with the existing trekking industry. 6. The Australian Government provided funding under the Kokoda Initiative to the Kokoda Track Authority in 2009 to engage Conservation Volunteers Australia to undertake Track Maintenance work. Twelve volunteers were located in 6 villages along the track. Information on any other projects undertaken by Conservation Volunteers Australia on the Kokoda Track would be held by the Kokoda Track Authority. a. Airfares and charters: $16, 203.08 AUD; and accommodation and food: $29,088.48 AUD. b. Tools: $3,169.75 AUD. 7. Yes. 8. In relation to the Conservation Volunteers Australia work for 2009 Track Maintenance, objectives were to: Identify and remediate dangerous and difficult sections of the Kokoda Track in the immediate vicinity of the six villages selected. Employ and train a team of local workers to assist in completing the track work. Provide skills and motivation to the local workers with the objective of creating the potential for future employment, and maintaining the works beyond the life of this program. Provide volunteers involved with a unique conservation experience. Improve relationships with, and perceptions of, the Kokoda Track Authority along the track.