Page 1947 - Week 05 - Thursday, 6 May 2010
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that the Department of Territory and Municipal Services comply with the ACT Government Community Engagement Manual.
The government acknowledges that providing feedback to the public when submissions are made to a draft plan is required.
The government notes matters concerning the interim Namadgi advisory board. These matters, included in recommendations 4, 5 and 6, relating to updating members of the interim Namadgi advisory board, establishing a permanent board and ensuring that any future advisory board is appropriately resourced and supported, are matters of process and governance beyond the scope of the plan of management.
The government agrees with recommendation 3:
that the Department of Territory and Municipal Services finalise the future role, if any, of the interim Namadgi Advisory Board.
The government is committed to fostering Aboriginal involvement in land management. For example, the forthcoming review of the Nature Conservation Act, a process which is being progressed by the Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water, will canvass community views on this matter. Separately I have requested that, following individual discussions with signatories to the 2001 agreement between the territory and ACT native title claimants, a meeting of former members of the interim board of management is convened by TAMS to discuss progression towards a permanent board of management for the park.
The government also agrees in principle with recommendation 8:
that Schedule 3 from the 2005 Namadgi National Park draft plan, ‘indicative guide to events in Namadgi’ be reinstated in the final plan of management.
The government fully agrees with recommendations 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. The majority of these recommendations have led to amendments to the revised plan and strengthen protection measures for the park, particularly in relation to horse riding and recreational use. These include reference to the distance horses are to be tethered from historic huts and water courses and detail on the requirements for horse-feed both prior to and during travel through the national park.
The plan has also been amended so that more stringent measures will be applied to commercial recreational providers. They will need to prepare environmental management plans for their operations within Namadgi and new operators will have a one-year trial period to ensure satisfactory performance.
It is important that the Assembly notes the considerable efforts made by the Department of Territory and Municipal Services to consult the ACT and wider community to ensure that the plan of management will reflect fairly the views of those who have an interest in and care about the protection and management of Namadgi national park.
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