The NSW Government is set to remove the legal barriers to national park development and encourage privately-owned accommodation and other facilities in national parks. National Parks tourism is already outperforming the other tourism sectors and the State Plan’s visitor targets will easily be exceeded under the existing park management regime.

The proposed changes include a weakening of the laws governing national park leases to permit the building of new eco-resorts, cabins and semi-permanent camps, and changes to wilderness laws that allow for commercial tours.
Also planned is the creation of a land mechanism for private development inside national parks that would offer land to the tourism industry in an ‘investor-ready’ condition. Another, as yet unspecified, mechanism is mooted to fast track development in relation to park management plans.

The community has not been asked if it wants private developments or a land mechanism for their national parks.  Australians are passionate about national parks and many do not support fast tracking of development plans.

Take action

1. Get the message out - email your friends and colleagues who are passionate about national parks.

2. Volunteer - get involved in the campaign, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 02 9299 000.

3. Lobby - email NSW Deputy Premier and Environment Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or the Premier Nathan Rees at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and say you don’t want national park laws weakened to permit private developments.

4. Lobby some more - call, write or email you local member and let them know your concerns.

5. Become informed - for further information click here .

6. Write a letter to the editor of your local papers and protest that you were not asked about these changes.
 

What's the National Park development agenda about?

The NSW Government will attempt to introduce weaker national park protection laws to permit the development of damaging private accommodation, such as cabins, lodges and ‘eco-resorts’ in our national parks. And we need to stop these laws.

The NSW Government has not even asked the community if they want national parks developed!

Environment groups want a stronger nature tourism industry in NSW and more people enjoying our parks. This can and must be achieved without the development of national park.

Unless we act now increased development in national parks will be allowed by law in March.

Do we need these changes?

National Park visitor growth will easily exceed the State Plan Target, outperforming all other sectors of the tourist industry. Domestic overnight visitors visiting national parks will increase by 100 per cent by 2016, and the State Plan target is for 20 per cent growth. So why push private development into national parks?

It is inappropriate to remove protection from national parks and to offer sites within them to the tourism industry, in an ‘investor-ready’ condition - these public lands are set aside for nature. And our wilderness areas have been protected from commercial use for over twenty years and there is no need to exploit these wild places for commercial gain.

 
Suggestion on what to say to the local paper, NSW Government or backbench member:
 
1.       Don’t weaken the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 to permit private developments in national parks, especially as many more visitors are enjoying national parks just as they are, as set places for nature aside from development;

2.       Wilderness areas should not be commercialised;

3.       Fast tracking accommodation and other private facilities in national parks without asking the public what they think of these proposed changes to national park laws is a giant leap in the wrong direction;

4.       The priority given to nature conservation and protection of wilderness by national park laws is appropriate;

5.       New low key facilities are needed for the increased numbers of visitors coming to national parks; and

6.       Local communities will benefit from park visitation most when accommodation is provided in the towns near national parks.