Since 1998, the culture of the organisation has shifted. No longer does it stand up for the protection of the values of the national parks system.

When four-wheel drive groups claim that their access to national parks for wheel slipping, rough and challenging adventures is being curtailed, NPWS engages with the four-wheel drive representatives. The end result is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that legitimises their ongoing use of national parks, and rewards them with access to areas normally off-limits to public vehicles, in the guise of cleaning up.

More than 40% of NPWS coastal reserves north of Sydney still have recreational beach driving —19 national parks and five nature reserves — yet NPWS has not researched the impacts of this, nor attempted to phase it out. NPWS constructed a new car-based campsite only accessible by 4WD beach driving at Yuragir National Park.

Instead of restricting horseriding in sensitive sub-alpine areas in Kosciuszko National Park, NPWS has constructed a network of horse camps and trails.

At a meeting with horseriding lobbyists last year, the NPWS Director-General sought an MOU between the organisers of the Bicentennial National Trail, a long-distance horse trail, and the NPWS. The first draft was prepared by the Bientennial National Trail Pty Ltd!

Following intense lobbying by the horseriding lobby, NPWS has prepared a draft horseriding policy that significantly weakens the existing policy, and even avoids acknowledging the impacts of horseriding.

Supporters of recreational use now dominate some regional advisory committees. NPWS staff then need to defend their need to protect and restrain excessive use, rather than being pressed to properly manage the wildlife and other values that the national parks protects.

NPWS are paralysed whenever recreational use damages a national park. They are afraid to restrict access where unacceptable damage is occurring. Under the MOU with four-wheel driving representatives, no road closure can take place without this group being notified in advance.

NPWS needs to realise that you cannot have it both ways. Either its mission is to protect the national parks system for future generations, or to provide outdoor recreational areas to maximise user enjoyment and convenience and keep the self-interested user lobby happy.

NPA believes that the former is the only viable option. NPWS must respond firmly to degrading uses of national parks. It also needs to increase education about the broad benefits of natural areas and appropriate visitation to our national parks.

Andrew Cox

Executive Officer, NPA