South East Forest National Park and Egan Peaks Nature Reserve Draft Amendment to the Plan of Management: Public consultation

The South East Forest National Park and Egan Peaks Nature Reserve Draft Amendment to the Plan of Management was on public exhibition until 16 June 2022.

Public exhibition of the draft amendment provided members of the community with the opportunity to have a say on the management directions for the parks.

The parks are in the South Coast region of New South Wales. Key issues addressed in this amendment include:

• mitigating the major risk to threatened mammals - predation by feral cats and foxes, through the establishment of a feral predator-free area
• the reintroduction of selected threatened and declining animal species into the feral predator-free area
• recognising and improving the Bundian Way, an ancient Aboriginal walking route that passes through South East Forest National Park
• construction of a new walking track at Pheasants Peak and the establishment of a new camping area at Myanba Gorge.

What is a plan of management?

Parks and reserves established under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 need to have a plan of management. The plan includes information on important park values and provides directions for future management. Once the plan is adopted, no management operations can be undertaken in the parks unless they are consistent with the plan.

Plans of management may be amended to support changes to park management or proposed works.

Why is an amendment being prepared?

The native animals in South East Forest National Park and Egan Peaks Nature Reserve have been widely impacted by feral animals despite ongoing feral animal control and management operations. As part of responding to this threat, the NSW Government proposes creating a feral predator-free area for native plants and animals within South East Forest National Park and reintroducing selected threatened and declining animal species. This will help prevent further mammal extinctions and promote the recovery of our most susceptible species.

The amendment will also enable recognition and improvement of the Bundian Way, an ancient Aboriginal walking route that passes through the national park, and allow for other improvements to visitor facilities.

When will the amendment be finalised?

At the close of the public exhibition period, we consider all submissions on the draft amendment and prepare a submissions report. We provide the South Coast Regional Advisory Committee with the amendment, all the submissions and the submissions report. The committee may then provide advice to the Minister for Environment and Heritage.

The Minister considers the amendment, submissions and advice, makes any necessary changes and decides whether to adopt the amendment under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. Once an amendment is adopted, it is published on the department's website and key stakeholders, including those who made a submission on the draft amendment, will be notified.