The Secretary,
Taskforce on Tourism and National Parks,
GPO Box 7050,
Sydney 2001
Initial response to the Taskforce on Parks and Tourism.
The limited time for initial submissions has unfortunately constrained the scope and
content of the submission but not detracted form the seriousness of the issues raised.
Aim: The stated aim of the Inquiry is to advise the Ministers for the Environment and
Tourism on practical methods to expedite the realisation of NSW State Plan
The NSW Governments State Plan sets a target of:
 Increasing the number of visits to State Government parks and reserves
by 20% by 2016.
Actions we are already committed to:
 Promoting the engagement of Aboriginal communities in park activities to
strengthen and renew Aboriginal cultural and physical wellbeing
New directions we will consider:
Increase the range of facilities and opportunities for the community to enjoy a diverse
range of recreation facilities in existing national Parks State forests and crown reserves

Better promote the use of existing cycleways and walking tracks in state
forests and National parks and
The full terms of Reference for the Taskforce for Tourism and National Parks are listed
at the back of this submission
False premises
The State plan and indeed the Terms of reference for the Task force are based on a at
least three false premises .These include
1.That there is an existing National Parks and Reserve system that is a
comprehensive, adequate and representative and out there in a suitable condition
waiting to be “used “ by tourism.
This is far from the case, for example.
1. West of the great dividing range NSW has the worst reserve system of any
stat
2. In forest regions the reserves system is fare from complete ,meeting about
50% of nationally accepted conservation targets.
3. The wilderness network whilst largely identified in eastern NSW is far from
complete and has not even been identified in western NSW.
4. The wild river network is not assessed, identified or established to any degree
5. Marine parks and reserves are in their early stages of development.
6. Coastal and inland wetlands are poorly protected
The reserve network must be completed to at least national minimum standards before
major expansion of tourism opportunities can occur. Tourists are not sent across
unfinished bridges, along partly built roads or onto partly built ships or airplanes.
2. That the natural environment as represented by parks and reserves is a robust
stable entity readily able to withstand increased tourism.
This ignores the substantial threats to biodiversity from global warning and other
threatening processes. Eucalypt forest dieback already threatens 4 million hectares of
forests on the North Coast.
3. That State forests and national parks have an established network of existing
cycleways and walking tracks.
An inventory of existing cycleways and walking tracks in national parks would show that
the network with any potential to support expanded tourism is poorly developed,
incomplete, often in poor condition and badly maintained.
Despite an ongoing series off grand political announcements of government intent to
establish major walks and cycleways they are largely non existent or incomplete in New
South Wales. For the example;
1. A coastal walkway along the length of the NSW coastline, announced on
more than one occasion, effectively does not exist.
2. Shorter sections of the coastal walk, announced as long as twenty years
ago (eg the Coffs Harbour to Yamba coast walk, announced by NSW
Government Minister Harry Woods at Corindi in 1986) are incomplete and
reliant on piecemeal funding
3. The NSW Coastal cycleway announced by the NSW Government a number
of years ago has floundered without significant support and appears
dependent on adhoc funding and opportunistic development.
Neither the Coastal Cycleway nor the Coastal Walkway or its components appear to
have received significant government or corporate support.
Parts of the tourism industry appear to be using this process to argue for new
development of our National Parks. There is a clear agenda to seek to remove the very
same legal protections that until now have safeguarded our National Parks and kept
them free of development.
Everybody in NSW and beyond to experience our National Parks while seeking to offer
the same opportunity to people in 100 years’ time. We want sustainable visitation, not
exclusive and commercially driven use.
Incomplete as it is I value our exceptional National Parks system. Management should
be aimed to provide a sustainable experience of our parks without wrecking the parks in
the process. National Parks are for nature and that’s what people appreciate!
nature conservation must remain the primary objective for the National Parks and their
managers, and that tourism must support this nature-focused management.
Expanding visitation to National Parks is supported, provided it is done sustainably.
This involves:
1. completing the reserve system to best international standards and
conservation targets and criteria.
2. buffering the reserve system against impacts of climate change
3. providing well planned, constructed and managed infrastructure
preferably located outside or within the perimeter zone of National Parks, ideally
in nearby towns, benefiting local economies.
The Wilderness network should be completed throughout NSW .Wilderness areas
should remain undisturbed and free of all infrastructure, commercialisation and large
numbers of people, where natural processes can thrive and visitors can renew their
spirit.
There are plenty of other opportunities to enjoy the natural environment in places
besides National Parks, such as State Forests, private land and other public lands.
These lands are more suitable for some of the higher impacting forms of recreation such
as horseriding and four wheel driving and for infrastructure-based tourism.
Government investment in a comprehensive and well-managed National Parks can
deliver substantial benefits to local economies through jobs, increased tourism and
further private investment, and in the amelioration of the effects of global warming.
The role for the commercial sector in assisting visitors to enjoy our National Parks
without damaging them and changing the experience for everybody else should involve
education and be focused around restoration and repair programs.
National Parks should be funded from core government funds. Investment in wellmanaged National Parks delivers a large range of ecosystem services including clear
air, clean water, safe refuge for native plants and animals, intact water tables, carbon
capture and climate resilience.
Government investment in well-managed National Parks can deliver direct benefits to
the people who visit them such as healthy lifestyles, spiritual and mental wellness and
awareness of the environment.
The NSW Government should forever manage National Parks for the conservation of
nature on behalf of all people in NSW. They are not for sale to any bidder.
Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission
Ashley Love
2 Alkina Street
SAPPHIRE BEACH NSW 2450
17/07/08
email: shalkola@bigpond.com
Attachment
Terms of Reference
Aim: To advise the Ministers for the Environment and Tourism on practical methods to
expedite the realisation of NSW State Plan objectives by:
• identifying ways to promote and protect our state’s biodiversity and cultural heritage
values through appropriate use of the national parks;
• creating a platform whereby visitor numbers and tourism expenditure can be
increased; and
• identifying ways to increase management resources and conservation benefits from
tourism in national parks.
Terms of Reference:
1. Propose conservation, visitation and tourism objectives, targets and measures for
Parks and related land tenures over the next 1 to 3 years to support State Plan targets
and identify planning, development and promotional strategies to support those
objectives.
2. Identify and consult with other potential partners, including industry, other land
managers such as Forests and Lands and other States to assist in making
recommendations on the delivery of agreed tourism objectives.
3. Review existing research and information, especially from other relevant jurisdictions,
necessary to inform tourism in parks including information to understand potential
impacts of tourism on conservation and biodiversity values of parks and commission
new research, where appropriate.
4. Identify any legislative, regulatory and structural constraints to the achievement of the
State Plan visitation objectives and make recommendations on overcoming any such
barriers.
5. Assess a wide range of considerations including but not limited to:
a) Develop opportunities associated with the Parks estate, including adaptive reuse of
existing facilities, volunteering opportunities, and opportunities for other new
tour/experience based products;
b) Ticketing and pricing structures to promote tourism;
c) Licensing and accreditation standards for commercial operators, and
d) Training needs for guides and visitor services to support the visitor experience and
commercial objectives.
6. Articulate the benefits of tourism in contributing to conservation, including case
studies and development models of successful tourism activities in protected areas in
Australia and overseas (including comparisons with parks in VIC and QLD, highlighting
aspects that work, similarities and differences).
7. Make recommendations as to appropriate terms for a Memorandum of Understanding
between DECC and Tourism New South Wales encompassing:
a) Stated visitation objectives;
b) Ensuring the appropriate conservation and biodiversity values remain protected; and
c) Removing any unnecessary legislative, regulatory and structural constraints to State
Plan tourism objectives.
d) Identifying mechanisms to increase management resources and conservation benefits
from tourism in national parks.
8. The interim report to be presented to the Ministers for Environment and Tourism by
the end of September 2008 and a final report by November 2008.