Direction Statement for National Parks Establishment

SUBMISSION GUIDE

Socio-economic assessment in NPWS Acquisition

Community involvement

In response to the final report of the Upper House inquiry into public land management issued in 2013, the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has recently released for public comment:

-Direction Statement for National Parks establishment

-Socio-economic assessment in NPWS Acquisition

OEH is alsoseeking public comment on how to improve community involvement in the reserve establishment process.

Now is your chance to comment on the Direction Statement, Socio-economic assessment and issues of community involvement, and the path that is to be taken for our National Parks over the next five years.

Submissions will be accepted until 12 April 2015

To make a submission:

Email a copy of your submission to:

Post your submission to:

Senior Team Leader, Reserve Establishment
National Parks and Wildlife Service
PO Box 1967
Hurstville BC NSW 1481

This submission guide is intended to assist our members and supporters to make a submission on the Direction Statement and Socio-economic assessment

You may use the dot points included to help you write your own submission.
It is often better to personalise your submission – you are encouraged to use your own words as much as possible and include your own local experiences and own concerns.
Short submissions are acceptable – a one page letter with key dot points is enough to get your message across.

For more information and to download a copy of the Directions Statement and Socio-economic assessment, visit:

DIRECTIONS STATEMENT

The Directions Statement for National Park Establishment replaces the National Park Establishment Plan of 2008 and lists the general principles and conservation priorities to enhance the National Park Estate over the next five years (2015-2020).

Suggested talking points:

The existing 2008 National Park Establishment Plan contains substantial background and contextual information that is still current and relevant to setting future National Park priorities. It would therefore be practical and efficient to review and update the existing Plan, rather than replaced it in its entirety.

The draft Directions Statement fails to incorporate much of the existing background and contextual information contained in the existing National Parks Establishment Plan, including, for example, an outline of conservation challenges or a detailed outline of relevant international and national policy.

The reliance on CAR principles (comprehensive, adequate and representative) is supported.

While addition to existing reserves to improve connectivity is important, this should not be seen as the top priority, particularly when the establishment of new nodes is necessary to meet CAR principles.

The establishment of new nodes in poorly reserved regions of the state, particularly the far west, central west and coastal lowlands, should be given equal priority as the other identified priorities in the draft Directions Statement.

While the draft Directions Statement refers to targets under Australia’s Strategy for the National Reserve System, it does not provide a clear commitment to targets for New South Wales. Setting a binding goal for biodiversity protection is essential to ensure continuity in the political will for National Parks Establishment.

While the draft Directions Statement does recognise potential climate change threats, it does not provide a comprehensive consideration of climate change issues, including the important contribution of reserves to the overall health of the natural environment under a changing climate.

The draft Directions Statement does not recognise the important role that private land conservation initiatives can have in enhancing connectivity and conservation.

The Directions Statement should recognise the pre-eminence of protecting wilderness in order to protect the ecological integrity of natural landscapes. Wilderness assessment criteria should play a prominent role in reserve selection to ensure the health of future reserves.

Reserve establishment should be based around the CAR principles, but must also consider lands that the public want to see protected, which should be assessed as a priority, against the CAR principles to give transparency in the decision making process.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

Suggested talking points

The socio-economic assessment fails to recognise the intrinsic value of ecosystem services.

The socio-economic response indicators set out in the local economy assessment are all financial and do not recognise the other social and ecosystem values of national parks.

The socio-economic assessment does not draw on or reference existing literature on socio-economic benefits and the value of protected areas and National Parks.

The socio-economic assessment does not adequately recognise the potential revenue from increased visitation and regional tourism arising from the establishment of new national parks.

•The social and economic values of competing uses to a national park reserve proposal are already adequately assessed through current government agency referral processes.

•In regard to private land, the social and economic cost considerations are covered in the voluntarily negotiated purchase price for the area.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Suggested talking points

In line with Goals 31 and 32 of State Plan NSW 2021, it is important to involve the community in decision making on government policy, services and project and improve government transparency by increasing access to government information.

Regional Advisory Committees are a useful tool for engaging the community and key stakeholders on the care, control and management of parks and reserves in a particular region, and should also be engaged on issues related to park establishment.

Proposed national parks will only be protected if decision makers do not give in to pressures of exploitation and resolve to expand the reserve system in a region. The question community consultation should answer is how park reservation should happen, not whether it should happen at all.

Decision makers should decide to put nature before competing land uses, prior to community consultation on reserve proposals. The consultation should not change the purpose of national park reservation, which is to restrict damaging uses and protect the natural environment.