Murramarang South Coast Walk draft master plan and review of environmental factors: Public consultation

Public consultation on the draft master plan and draft review of environmental factors provides an important opportunity for members of the community to have a say in the future management of the proposed Murramarang South Coast Walk.

What is being proposed?

The Murramarang South Coast Walk is a 48-kilometre multi-day walking track located on the South Coast of New South Wales. The walk will start near Batemans Bay and traverse the spectacular coastline of Murramarang National Park and Murramarang Aboriginal Area. The walk will connect the coastal villages of Maloneys Beach, Durras, Depot Beach, Kioloa and finish at Bawley Point near Ulladulla.

The walk route has been developed with advice from leading walking track designers. New track sections will be built to connect existing tracks which will be upgraded to deliver a high-quality and consistent trail experience. Some tracks will be relocated to avoid sensitive areas, remove ongoing maintenance issues or capitalise on the area's outstanding natural beauty.

The walk will be meet Grade 3 and 4 classification as per the Australian Walking Track Grading System. For the most part, the track will be suitable for most ages and fitness levels with some bushwalking experience recommended.

Works are expected to begin (following assessments and approvals) in 2020. The track will be constructed and opened in stages with the final section of the walk planned for completion by June 2022.

What is a Master Plan

A master plan is a non-statutory document that outlines a vision to guide how an area may change over time. It is important to note that our draft master plan is conceptual. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is seeking community input to refine our vision in advance of the detailed design and final approval stages.

What is a Review of Environmental Factors?

A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is an environmental assessment under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. It examines the significance of likely environmental impacts of the proposal and the measures required to mitigate adverse impacts. Review of Environmental Factors assist the determining authority to decide whether an activity should be approved and assists in the development of appropriate conditions should approval be given.

What happens next?

Due to COVID-19 NPWS will not be holding community information sessions as originally planned but instead will host a series of small meetings with representatives of key stakeholder groups throughout the consutation period.

At the end of the public consultation period, the Department will review all submissions and prepare a submissions report that will be provided to the determining authority and will also be made available to the public for information.

How can I comment on the master plan and review of environmental factors?

The draft Murramarang South Coast Walk master plan and draft review of environmental factors are available for review and comment until Sunday 23 August 2020.

While all submissions count, they are most effective when we understand your ideas and the outcomes you want for the precinct. Some suggestions to help you write your submission are:

• Write clearly and be specific about the issues of concern to you.
• Note which section and which of the plans your comments relate to.
• Give reasoning in support of your points – makes it easier for us to consider your ideas and helps avoid misinterpretation.
• Tell us specifically what you agree/disagree with and why.
• Suggest solutions or alternatives to managing the issue if you can.

Your comments will be used to finalise the master plan before further assessments are undertaken and be used to assess the likelihood of the proposed activity causing a significant impact.

Your privacy

Your comments on the master plan may include personal information. The Department complies with the NSW Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 which regulates the collection, storage, quality, use and disclosure of personal information. For details see our privacy page. The inclusion of personal information with your submission is voluntary but information that in some way identifies you may be gathered when you use our website or send us an email.

A summary of issues raised in public submissions may be made publicly available. If you wish your identity and personal information in your submission to be treated as confidential you must request your name be treated as confidential, and not include any of your personal information in the main text of the submission or attachments so that it can be easily removed.

If an application to access information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 requests access to your submission, your views about the release will be sought if you have indicated that you object to your submission being made public.