The End of bushwalking – As I Knew it
By Brian D. Saunders
Ron Woodland – Blanch, (Bushwalker Nov. 2000) is the first person to bring some common sense to the debate on public use of Sydney’s great National Parks. He should be commended. This debate has obviously touched a raw nerve amongst outdoor loving people and exposed the resentment that often occurs toward our Park Service.
I find this resentment exists amongst people deprived of old and innocent usages of, especially Royal and Healthcote Parks. Kosciusko Park management is visibly much more user friendly, despite much heavier client usage.
When Ron W. Blanch protests about the loss of firelighting rights, I really wonder whether he knows the full extent of bans existing today on youthful campers. A horrible form of group camping is now only allowed in two places instead of bush camping.
This new camping is eventually to be on land to be reformed and re-hardened. This is an ecologically dangerous practise used previously by N.P& W.S and as in the case of Pebbly Beach with disastrous and permanent damage. God spare us from that at beautiful North Era, especially as it is directly below and in full view of Governor Games busy tourist lookout.
Uloola Falls is less important as they can only improve on the previous destructive work done there before, some years back (1968). This damage they readily suggest was done by bushwalkers and campers, which is incorrect.
Bans unfortunately have become the modus operandi of the Park Service. They have been doing it steadily in 5 year bites ever since they came to power in 1967. They started by banning Verturer Scouts from their First Class Journeys in Royal. Then came the Blue Gum Forest ban bringing to it the over grown condition it is today. Next came Little Marley Beach, claiming that kids were caught cutting and stacking green bush pieces, to dry for future use (Cirea 1982). That’s worth a public ban apparently.
Since 1993 I have been addressing occasional meetings whenever possible about these bans. So with the first publication of the N.P.W.S. Brochure called "The Future of Bush Camping" we read the famous words "…we believe the best way to offer enjoyable camping in Royal National Park is by phasing out uncontrolled bush camping over five years…". I’m still puzzling over this contradiction.
Well with these veiled accusations being made about campers doing their worst I once took a New Zealand Medical Doctor and tramper to inspect it all. At the end of considerable coastal walking he asked me "…. where is all this damage?"
Again after my address one night the then President of the Bushwalker’s Federation (name available) summarised my talk on the proposed bans, by saying "…this is the thin end of the wedge. They’ve gradually been closing and never re-opening places in the Royal National Park for many years".
When next … Boyd Plateau? Grose Valley? Budawangs? Kosciusko Tops? Its time for angry responses; like the fishermen and surfers did, "(with 7am opening)".
I’m surprised the large clubs don’t publicly protest. However like myself they have gravitated away from the coast to the Blue Mountains and beyond. They’re not safe there though, as the service now controls the main entrance to the Warrigal Mountains with potential for insisting you carry a stove and liquid fuel. It’s okay perhaps but by 7pm you’ll need to be in bed for warmth and a long boring night.
Well those eighteen year olds on the coast may look like amateurs with their K-Mart packs and tents, but clubs should see them as tomorrow’s members and not have them chucked off now. And furthermore, it did once seem a great idea to have this Parks Service. The main activists who pushed for it were none other than the Bushwalker’s Federation with Myles Dunphy and Alan Strom of N.P.A as advocates. Well I don’t know why they bothered. One of the great and most enduring successes of this Service now after 35 years has been to steadily exclude traditional bushwalker/campers, including me.
So you see the irony. Bushwalkers almost entirely influenced these great jobs for Rangers yet their own children and great grand children are turfed out like ferals. In fact feral deer get a better go as grass cutters for those "charmed life" cabins and their privileged lease holders. No question of bans here.
So Ron, I noticed no letters to support you so here I am. Are they fair dinkum? We now have Service officers who are going to teach us Bushwalking. But believe me, this is just a way to control us, and if we agree then we’re agreeing we’ve been naughty boys and girls who deserve it . Don’t cop this.
Another gentleman says we are contributing to the degradation of the National Parks. The hide of him. Not around my camp friend, but I’m ready for any tour of inspection you care to organise to make your point. Set a date.
Yet another tells us that National Parks were founded by far sighted people to protect our unique flora and fauna". This is incorrect, and ample sources tell us Sir John Roberston dedicated it specifically for "rest and recreation". Any way the real reason was because the fragmented valleys and large rivers kept the developers out. They did though hack into Heathcote East, Bundeena, Maianbar etc with no concern for flora and fauna.
Well I don’t offer any agreements with authorities Ron and I’m aware the public’s been bluffed. False claims have been made about damage attributed to us and erroneous statistics quoted to support it. I resent this and so feel entitled to criticise back. Is that vitriolic too?
Mr Brian Saunders, Cronulla, NSW. 18/04/01
As a conservation agency the National Parks Wildlife Service (NPWS) has a duty to ensure our natural heritage is managed in a sustainable manner so future generations have the opportunity to enjoy the bush as much as Mr Saunders so obviously does.
In Sydney, the NPWS works hard to balance conservation and the needs of an ever-growing number of people, local residents and international visitors, wanting to visit and enjoy the natural environment on the doorstep of Australia’s biggest city.
Royal National Park receives more than three (3) million visitors a year. Before the 1994 bushfires the park had more than 300 bush camping sites that developed on an ad hoc basis, many of which were showing signs of serious erosion.
As part of a Plan of Management for the park formalised last year, the Service is consolidating camping into select areas to allow damaged sites to rehabilitate and minimise visitor impact in the wider reserve. Great effort is going into upgrading these sites so everyone can enjoy them, however bushwalkers can still enjoy bush camping in neighbouring Heathcote NP.
The park cannot sustain the unchecked collection of firewood by a growing number of park visitors. Dead and fallen timber provides important habitat and protection for small native mammals. It is also a source of nutrients as it decays.
To help conserve the environment, ensure visitor comfort, and of course, reduce potential fire hazards, the NPWS has provided gas and electric barbecues in many parks, including the Royal. In all parks, even in remote areas, campers are encouraged to adopt minimum impact cooking techniques such as fuel stoves.
Far from being deterred or campers being barred as suggested, more and more people are visiting national parks every year. An independent visitor survey carried out in National Parks in Sydney’s south found that 97 per cent of visitors to Royal NP were satisfied with their visit.
To encourage people to enjoy our natural heritage and help visitors find the level of camping they desire, the Service has just produced a new brochure outlining options in more than 70 national parks, from remote parks offering bush camping to busy reserves close to the major population centres which offer a range of facilities. Camping information is also available on our website, www.npws.nsw.gov.au.