This draft framework sets out the proposed management system for the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage property. Public consultation on the draft framework provides members of the community with the opportunity to review the document and provide feedback.
The Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage property is in far south-west NSW. Located on the traditional lands of the Barkandji/Paakantyi, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa peoples, collectively referred to as the Three Traditional Tribal Groups, this property is internationally recognised for its Outstanding Universal Value and conserves important natural ecosystems, cultural heritage and community values.
The draft framework includes updated management practices and priorities along with consultation requirements for conducting projects within the World Heritage property.
Purpose of the draft framework
The draft framework:
- sets out how the whole of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Property will be protected, managed and monitored over the next 10 years
- brings together current laws, plans and decision-making arrangements. This helps everyone work together in a clear and consistent way across all types of land in the World Heritage property
- helps Australia meet its responsibilities under the World Heritage Convention
- reflects current views that parties should work closely together to manage the property
- focuses on stronger involvement of Traditional Owners, landholders and the wider community and better coordination between governments
- includes outcomes from community consultation in 2023 as part of the Planning for a Shared Future (Future Directions) project.
The draft framework does not add new heritage listings. It identifies potential additional World, National and State heritage values raised during community consultation in 2023. Any formal recognition of these values would require separate statutory nomination and assessment processes.
What happens next
Following the end of consultation, feedback will be reviewed and considered by an intergovernmental committee with representatives from each agency responsible for the protection and management of the Willandra Lakes Region.
The framework may be updated in response to feedback, but while all feedback is carefully considered, not all submissions will necessarily result in changes. Decisions must align with legislative requirements, World Heritage obligations and the objectives of the framework.
The final strategic management framework will then be considered for adoption by the Australian and NSW governments.
Once adopted, the framework will guide coordinated management of the Willandra Lakes Region for 10 years, with a review after 7 years, but will continue to operate until it is formally replaced.
Have your say
Community involvement is an important part of managing the Willandra Lakes Region. The draft framework is open for public review and feedback for 60 days from 13 April to 3 July 2026.
You can submit your written feedback by:
- completing the online feedback form below
- emailing your feedback to [email protected].
Ongoing opportunities for community involvement are also supported through advisory groups and consultation processes outlined in the framework.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is collecting your personal information through this form.
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We are collecting your information so you can provide feedback about a public consultation.
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Online feedback form
Find out more about the draft framework
The draft framework will replace the former 1996 Sustaining the Willandra plan of management as the main document used to manage the property.
The draft framework does not replace individual plans of managements and agreements. These stay in place, including the Mungo National Park plan of management. The draft framework provides high level strategic guidance that sits above individual plans and agreements to ensure consistency across the entire World Heritage property.
The draft framework does not propose any change to the World Heritage property boundary.
The draft framework applies across all land types, including:
- national parks estate
- pastoral leasehold (western lands leases)
- Crown land
- freehold land.
The Willandra Lakes Region is the traditional Country of the Barkandji/Paakantyi, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa peoples, collectively referred to as the Three Traditional Tribal Groups.
Traditional Owners play a central role in governance and management through participation in advisory structures, including the Aboriginal Advisory Group and the World Heritage Advisory Committee. The draft framework recognises Traditional Owners as custodians of Country and primary holders of cultural knowledge, and supports their involvement in planning, research, monitoring and interpretation activities.
A key desired outcome of the draft framework is the transfer of ownership of Mungo National Park and Mungo State Conservation Area to Aboriginal people under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1979, with leaseback and joint management arrangements.
The draft framework also commits to the preparation of a whole-of-property Aboriginal cultural heritage management plan. Existing legal protections for Aboriginal objects, sites and places are reinforced, and activities that may impact cultural heritage will continue to require rigorous assessment.
World Heritage listing and the draft framework do not change land ownership or how land is held, used or managed. Land within the property will continue to be managed as national park, pastoral leasehold, Crown land or freehold.
The draft framework does not add new rules that limit how people can legally use their land. It recognises the need to support pastoral leaseholders and land managers so they can manage their land in a sustainable way and keep their businesses viable, while protecting the area’s heritage values.
There is no requirement for leasehold or privately owned land to be opened to the public. Individual landholders continue to decide who can access these lands.
Future planning and management activities are intended to follow the 'Willandra Way', which brings together Traditional Owners, landholders, government agencies and stakeholders to make decisions early in the design process.
It may be possible to develop areas within the World Heritage property where it does not have a significant impact on World, National, State or local heritage values. All proposals must comply with existing Commonwealth, state and local planning and heritage legislation.
Depending on the nature and scale of a proposal, local councils, NSW agencies and/or the Australian Government may be involved in assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 2019.
The draft framework supports tourism, education and interpretation that help people understand and appreciate the Willandra Lakes Region’s cultural and natural heritage. Any tourism activity must be sensitive to the location and managed to avoid damage to heritage values.
The draft framework does not seek to promote unrestricted growth in visitation. Any increase in visitor numbers must be carefully planned and monitored to ensure cultural sites, landscapes and environmental values are protected.
The draft framework does not approve specific tourism or visitor infrastructure projects. Proposals for new facilities or services would be considered separately through existing planning and assessment processes and guided by a future interpretation and presentation plan.
Visitor impacts will continue to be monitored over time. Access to sensitive or culturally significant areas may remain restricted where this is necessary to protect heritage values.
Climate change is recognised as a major and growing threat to the Willandra Lakes Region. The draft framework commits to creating a plan to the help the region to adapt to climate change. The plan will be based on scientific research, Traditional Owner knowledge and landholder experience.
Because the World Heritage property includes different land types, the draft framework emphasises the need for governments, landholders and land managers to work together across the whole property to manage problems like erosion, feral animals and invasive plants.
Management of the Willandra Lakes Region is shared between the Australian and NSW governments, in line with their respective responsibilities. Day to day management varies depending on land type.
Western Lands leases and privately owned land continue to be managed by leaseholders and landowners. National park areas are managed by the NSW Government, supported by advisory committees that represent Traditional Owners, landholders, researchers, local government and other stakeholders, helping to guide information sharing and working together to make decisions.