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Welcome to the spring edition of Explore. This issue, we announce an exciting new opportunity in Sydney Harbour National Park, with a recent call for Expressions of Interest to develop tourism opportunities in the South Head precinct.
There's a introduction to the IUCN World Parks Congress, to be jointly hosted by the IUCN, NPWS and Parks Australia and held in Sydney in November 2014.
There are also plenty of partnership opportunities to interest tour operators, volunteers and schools as well as the opening of a new wheelchair-accessible track in one of our newest national parks.
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Exciting commercial hospitality and tourism opportunity
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Nine buildings of historic significance at Gap Bluff in Sydney Harbour National Park, are part of an exciting opportunity for community and business to breathe new life into the precinct.
The NSW Government is now inviting Expressions of Interest for the development of community and commercial partnerships for the adaptive reuse of the facilities in this beautiful harbourside location.
Retaining the area's character, heritage-listed buildings and natural environment is a key commitment of the program, and interested parties are encouraged to submit proposals - for individual sites or the entire precinct - that leverage and showcase these unique values.
The nine buildings in the Gap Bluff precinct include The Armoury, Gap Cottage and The Officer’s Mess at Gap Bluff; the Head Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage and Assistant Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottages on South Head; and Green Point Cottage, Constable’s Cottage and 33 Cliff Street in Camp Cove.
More information can be found at the website and EOIs can be lodged online at the e-tender website.
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Join 'What's on' in NSW national parks
Licensed Parks Eco Pass operators are being offered a brand new channel to promote their tours or activities, as the NSW National Parks website continues to grow.
Since launching the website in May last year, it has attracted more than 1.4 million unique visitors and some 10 million pageviews. It includes a 'What's on' section to promote all the great events and nature-based activities within our State's national parks.
If you are one of our licensed tour operators or partners, we encourage you to get in touch for more information about how you can add your tours and activities to the What's On section of the website.
For more information, contact the Marketing and Promotions Unit at marketing.promotions@environment.nsw.gov.au.
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World Parks Congress: People, Parks, Planet - Inspiring Solutions
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From 12-19 November 2014, Sydney is hosting the IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC), one of the world's largest conservation events, and a gathering of minds that will set the agenda for our parks and protected areas for the next decade.
The IUCN WPC, which is held once every ten years, will bring together 3000 delegates from 160 nations at Sydney Olympic Park with aims to generate real and practical ways we can care for our parks, people and planet into the future.
This is an event for all with an interest in our natural environment, and as momentum builds ahead of November 2014, we're calling for your stories and photos about your outdoor experiences - keep an eye out for the WPC Facebook, twitter and social media pages, which will soon be live, and be sure to follow, share and contribute. If you have visited an inspiring place or know an inspiring person working in a national park or protected area, make sure they get the limelight they deserve and contact the World Parks Congress team to tell us a little about them.
Registrations for the WPC open soon. To get involved, or find out more, register for updates on the WPC website.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), founded in 1948, is the the largest professional global conservation network made up of more than 1,200 member organizations including 200+ government and 900+ non-government organizations. For more information on the IUCN visit their website.
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New wheelchair accessible infrastructure at Dharawal
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A new viewing platform at O’Hares Creek Lookout in Dharawal National Park is enabling people with all levels of mobility to access the magnificent view of O’Hares Creek gorge, with a fully wheelchair accessible pathway leading to the viewing platform.
Renowned for its pristine creeks with cool clear rock pools, the northern section of Dharawal National Park can be accessed via Victoria Road, Wedderburn. Visitors can park about 1.6 kilometres from the lookout. Access from the parking area is well signposted along a walking track with a bitumen or smooth gravel surface, with seating benches placed for rest stops and quality interpretation signage at the Victoria Road entry. A bicycle rack has also been installed near the lookout to encourage visitors to explore this beautiful park by bicycle.
More visitor facilities will be developed over the next two years, including picnic facilities, toilets and new car park, as well as an upgraded walking track to the tranquil Minerva Pool.
Spring time is a great opportunity to view and photograph Dharawal National Park’s abundant wild flowers, and the adventurous can explore the famed rock pools of O’Hares Creek, reputed to rival those in Kakadu National Park. The park has many significant Aboriginal cultural values. For more information, visit the website.
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4WD partnership reworks firetrail in Nightcap
A recent three-day project in Nightcap National Park, with the Tweed Valley Four-wheel Drive Club, has demonstrated how strategic partnerships with the community and stakeholder groups can support NPWS to plan for and improve important park infrastructure and visitor facilities.
Club members assisted NSW National Parks crews to measure and record information such as the total length of tracks and loop trails, as well as identify strategic points on the route.
They also provided advice on suitable locations for track signage, directional markers and suitable watering and rest points along 30 kms of fire trails.
More community partnership projects are being planned for the area, as well as many others around the state. Contact your local NPWS office if you are interested in finding out more.
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An educational cultural experience
Rangers at Kinchega National Park, near Menindee in western NSW, have been working with local schools to encourage connection with Aboriginal culture. Students from Menindee Central School have a chance to get back to Country and experience local culture with Aboriginal Elders and NSW National Parks staff at Kinchega National Park.
Park rangers, together with local Elders, share their knowledge with the children, including hands-on activities such as tool making of bark-carry-dishes, carving clap sticks, learning about local bush foods, as well as exploring the environment and partaking in other cultural activities.
NPWS is keen on running the event on an annual basis with the assistance and support of businesses and organisations in the local area. School partnership programs take place around the state, please contact your local NPWS office if you are interested in finding out more.
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