More than 300 Bateau Bay residents have petitioned National Parks and Wildlife Service to protest against a proposed fence along the boundary of Wyrrabalong National Park.
Residents say the fence would limit access to a popular 1.6km Coast Track, which is renowned for its spectacular views and whale watching lookouts between Bateau Bay Beach and Crackneck Point Lookout.
Instead, they say, money spent on building a 500m fence would be better used on fixing the badly degraded walking track and repairing the poor state of this pocket of national park.
“Bateau Bay residents recently discovered, almost by accident, that National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) plans to put a fence along Reserve Dve, from Rushby St to Guyagal St, to stop people gaining access to this section of the park ,” a resident, Denice Barnes, said.
“Instead of wasting money on a fence that will do nothing to stop people walking in the bush, which is public land, it would be good to see some actual improvements to the walking track and some properly constructed access points,” she said.
In their petition to NPWS, residents say that building a fence and blocking all entry and exit to the park along this stretch would endanger residents and visitors, restrict the access of emergency services, damage vegetation during construction and maintenance, compromise the visual amenity of the area, deplete funds that should be used to maintain the badly degraded Coast Track and to eradicate weeds, as well as improve the health of the bushland and habitats.
The 500m fence would block access to a popular side track from Reserve Dve to a lookout point near Burrawong St which has been used for more than 40 years.
Main access to the track is from the Rushby St carpark and residents say blocking the Burrawong St track would only place added pressure on what would be the only other entry/exit point, the heavily eroded Guyagal access track.
They want to see properly constructed and maintained lateral access points for people to take in the spectacular views from the park.
They are also concerned the NPWS has not held any community consultation, nor provided any of the necessary information to residents, emergency services and other parties involved.
Surveyors have already placed markers in preparation for building the fence.
Another resident, Melinda Sheldon, said a fence would endanger residents by forcing them to walk on the road to reach either the carpark entry or Guyagal track, or the Rushby St carpark, particularly in areas where the verge is not maintained and visibility to traffic is limited.
“Another problem is erosion on the main track caused by overgrown vegetation blocking a channel which once funnelled excess water out and over a cliff,” she said.
“Council used to maintain that drain and it worked, but NPWS stopped them doing that, and because it hasn’t been maintained, now the water just runs straight down the main track, eroding it, carrying soil and rocks, and causing a lot of damage and creating the hazard of exposed tree roots,” she said.
“If NPWS would simply put some work into maintaining the main track, that would discourage people from cutting through the bush and eliminate the need for any fence and encourage people to use what is a wonderful asset for our community.”
Barnes said the plan for the popular Coast Track is a stark contradiction to what the State Government announced last year, which was specifically aimed at improving access, picnic facilities and walking tracks. Last year the State Government announced a $150M program to improve access to national parks.
On February 4, 2019, State Environment Minister, Gabrielle Upton said: “As well as international and interstate tourists, we want to make it easier for families to get out there and discover the natural beauty of our State”.
The Minister also said: “The government’s $150M investment to improve access to existing national parks includes upgraded walking tracks, better visitor infrastructure and facilities and new digital tools such as virtual tours and livestreaming cameras”.
This would include improved park visitor infrastructure and facilities, expansion of picnic areas, barbecues, water provision, facilities ($38.7M) and increased support for families and people with restricted mobility ($45M).
Also, an investment in making the network of walking tracks and trails safer and more accessible ($36.4M), expansion of the Think Before You Trek safety program for bushwalkers, and work with other agencies to deliver other priority safety programs such as rock fishing and enhanced mobile connectivity in the parks ($1M).
“A fence at Wyrrabalong National Park, keeping people out, achieves none of the above,” Barnes said.
National Parks and Wildlife Service was contacted for comment.
Sue Murray