Community involvement in establishing new parks

The land acquisition program will be guided by the conservation priorities outlined in the NSW National Parks System Directions Statement. We periodically review our strategy document.

You can contribute to the planning process and help shape the priorities for the land acquisition program.

We are always on the look-out for ways to improve the future conservation value of the national parks system.

You can also propose land to be considered for acquisition.

Acquisitions to the parks system may involve the:

• purchase of private land
• transfer of public land.

Proposals involving private land purchases

It is usually not possible for the community to be involved in our process of purchasing private land. When land is offered for sale the dealings are commercial-in-confidence and a landowner’s privacy and confidentiality must be respected. Your views on a private acquisition can only be sought when a landowner has agreed to this.

However, there is a level of indirect community involvement in our land purchases via the NSW Environmental Trust. The Environmental Trust is an independent statutory body established by the NSW government to fund and supervise the expenditure of grants. The trust funds most of our land purchases.

Proposals involving public land transfers

The community may be able to be involved in acquisition proposals for public land provided:

• the government agency responsible for the land supports this
• it is not part of a broader public land assessment that requires other consultation mechanisms.

Public land of most interest to us is usually relatively small and sits within or next to an existing park.

We seek community input for our decision-making process when proposals to acquire public land involve:

• large parcels of land
• land that is currently being used for activities that would be unlikely to continue if the land was acquired because they are incompatible with national park objectives
• potential adverse socio-economic impacts on a local community.

When we acquire land for new or existing parks, we invite the community to raise any issues. We also notify the local member of parliament, local government and, where possible, adjoining landholders. Lands recently acquired are listed on our website. The list is updated regularly.

The community and other government agencies can identify conflicting land uses and suggest the category of reserve and the name for a new park that has been acquired. This usually involves park-based committees or consultation processes across government.

Stakeholders involved in informing our decision-making include:

• the relevant National Parks and Wildlife Regional Advisory Committee
• government agencies, such as the Department of Industry and Forestry Corporation of NSW
• non-government stakeholders, such as the NSW Minerals Council, Aboriginal community members, or the Geographic Names Board.

Once land is acquired, a range of park management planning processes begin, such as incorporation of the land into new or existing reserve plans of management, and fire and pest management strategies. The community can provide input into these.

Search for a specific park management plan.