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Published by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 43 Bridge St, (PO Box 1967), HURSTVILLE 2220

Copyright © National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000ISSN 0158-0965

Coordinator: Dawn EastonEditor: Keith SuttonDesign and layout: Harley & Jones designPrinted by: Robert Burton Printers

Front cover photo credits: (from left)Warren Lacey; Joel Winter/NPWS; NPWS; Jeremy Little; NPWS Back cover photo credits: (from left) NPWS; Philip Green/NPWS; A Fox; Jeremy LittleInside front cover photo: Warrumbungle National Park (Jeremy Little)

Contact informat ion

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

General inquiries

Phone: 1300-361-967 or (02) 9253-4600

Head Office

43 Bridge StreetPO Box 1967

Hurstville NSW 2220

Phone: 9585-6444

Fax: 9585-6555

Email: [email protected] site: www.npws.nsw.gov.au

Central Directorate

Level 1, 10 Valentine AvenueParramatta NSW 2150

PO Box 95

Parramatta NSW 2124

Phone: 9895-7420

Fax: 9895-7414

Northern Directorate

Level 4, 49 Victoria StreetPO Box 97

Grafton NSW 2460

Phone: 6641-1550

Fax: 6643-4730

Southern Directorate

6 Rutledge StreetPO Box 733

Queanbeyan NSW 2620

Phone 6297-6144

Fax: 6299-6858

Western Directorate

48-52 Wingewarra StreetPO Box 2111

Dubbo NSW 2830

Phone: 6883-5330

Fax: 6884-8675

Annual report 1999 / 2000

W or k i n g w i t h

p e o p l e a n d

communities to

p r o t e c t a n d

conserve natural

a n d c u l t u r a l

heritage in the

N S W l a n d s c a pe

N P W S m i s s i o n

NSW national Parks & Wildlife service

Contents

2

Director-General’s Foreword 6

Ku-ring-gai Tragedy 9

Year in review 10

Overview 12Mission statement 12Role and functions 12Customers 12Legal basis 12Organisational structure 12Lands managed for conservation 13Organisational chart 14Key Result Areas 16

1 Conservation Assessment 17NSW Biodiversity Strategy 18Regional assessments 18Marine assessment 20Wetlands monitoring and mapping 20Wilderness assessment 20Assessment of vacant Crown land in north east NSW 22Vegetation surveys and mapping 22Native fauna surveys and research 24Threat management research 27Cultural heritage research 28Conservation research and assessment tools 29Future directions 30

2 Conservation Planning 31Biodiversity planning 32Establishment of parks and reserves 33Declaration of Aboriginal areas and places 35Plans of management 35Threatened species planning 36Cultural heritage planning 37Marine park planning 37Other conservation planning 38Future directions 38

3 Conservation Management 39Working with Aboriginal communities 40Joint management of national parks 40Future directions 41Outside the reserve system 41Voluntary Conservation Agreements 41Biodiversity conservation programs 42Wildlife management 44Future directions 44Resources for conservation 44Grants and sponsorships 44Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife 46Joint funding initiatives 46Park use fees 46Future directions 47Ecologically sustainable management of NPWS operations 47Threatened species conservation 47Eden Regional Forest Agreement 49Rehabilitation programs 49Waste management 50Future directions 51Managing our built assets 51Buildings 51Roads and other access 52Other park infrastructure 54Thredbo Coronial Inquiry 54Future directions 55Managing site use in protected areas 55Future directions 55Contributing to communities 55Contribution to sustainable rural and regional development 55Tourism awards 56Pest management 58Fire management 60Future directions 62

1999 2000

ANNUAL REPORT

3

4 Conservation Facilitation 63Fostering commitment to natural andcultural heritage 64Acknowledging people’s contributions to conservation 64Educational programs 64Visitor centres 68Media and promotions 68Future directions 69Increasing community involvement inconservation 70Volunteer and community programs 70Future directions 70Enhancing people’s enjoyment of NPWS parks 70New Year’s Eve celebrations 71Dooragan visitor surveys 71Camping in north coast parks 72Future directions 72Supporting community conservation activities 72Information services 72Support for community initiatives 73Conservation partnerships 73Future directions 78

5 Capacity Building 79Financial management 80Staff management and development 81Information management and technology 82Corporate governance 83Future directions 84

6 Appendices 85A Lands managed for conservation and other

NPWS-managed lands 86B Significant statutory bodies and committees 93C Infringements and prosecutions 99D Consultants engaged 100E Employee statistics 101F Performance statement: Director-General of NPWS 104G Code of Conduct 105H Statement of Affairs and Freedom of Information 107I New NPWS publications 110J Papers published by NPWS staff 111K Overseas visits by NPWS staff 113L Risk management and insurance 114

7 Financial Statements 117Notes to and forming part of financial statements 126Other financial information 141

Index of statutory requirements 144

4

1999 2000

ANNUAL REPORT

5

The Hon. Bob Debus, MP

Minister for the Environment

Level 25

59-61 Goulburn Street

SYDNEY NSW 2000

Dear Minister

I have pleasure in presenting the thirty-second Annual Report

for the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service

for the year ended 30 June 2000, in accordance with the

Annual Reports (Departments) Act 1985.

Yours sincerely

Brian Gilligan

Director-General

Director-Genera l ’s foreword

6

This past year has been one of change, challenge, achievement and sadness for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Throughout the year we have been implementing anorganisational renewal program to improve the efficiency anddelivery of our services and to ensure we are better placed toachieve our strategic objectives. This renewal program hasinvolved a major restructure of the organisation and a change of direction, marked by a shift in focus towards greatercommunity involvement and by the adoption of three keyconservation themes:• movement beyond the formal reserve system, towards

achieving conservation goals across the whole landscape• management of the reserve system within a regional

landscape context• enhancement of the reserve system by agreed conservation

criteria.

This change of direction is reflected in the new NPWS corporate plan which establishes the strategic priorities forNPWS for the period 2000 to 2003.

This NPWS Annual Report 1999-2000 is linked to the newcorporate plan, in that it:• is organised around the key result areas identified in the plan• focuses on key achievements and major activities in each of

these areas• identifies future directions and key performance targets for

the organisation.

One of the main priorities for NPWS over this past year has beento build our capacity and focus our management to target keyconservation priorities. This ensures that NPWS is an efficient

1999 2000

ANNUAL REPORT

7

and effective organisation focused on the achievement ofconservation outcomes for NSW. This is reflected in this report.

This year’s range of achievements includes:

• the establishment of a new senior management team• the development and adoption of our new corporate plan• the publication of an NPWS Reconciliation Statement,

initiated and developed by a team of NPWS staff• the completion of the Southern Comprehensive Regional

Assessment (CRA) which resulted in 316,839 hectares beingidentified for additions to the reserve system

• the commencement of the Western CRA• the addition of Peery National Park and other western

reserves to the NPWS estate• the completion of the Inard Oongarli Aboriginal oral history

project• engaging with the community to enjoy the visit to Sydney

Harbour of Alex the whale• sharing in the community’s celebration of New Year’s Eve

and the new millennium.

These achievements, together with many others, are addressed indetail in the body of this report.

Sadly, this past year was also one marked by tragedy when ahazard reduction backburning operation at Mt Ku-ring-gai on8 June went unaccountably and horribly wrong. Four NPWS staffhave lost their lives and three others were seriously injured. This was a devastating experience for those involved and theirfamilies, friends and colleagues. All of us were moved andcomforted by the many hundreds of messages of sympathy andsupport received from people and organisations around theworld. I would like to take this opportunity to again

acknowledge the courage, strength and generosity of spirit shownby all NPWS staff in their comfort for one another and for thefamilies of the dead and injured officers, and in their practicaladvice and assistance in the period after this tragic event.

I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of NPWS staffduring the restructure and renewal of the organisation over this past year. Staff commitment and consistent hard work throughout that period enabled NPWS to continue to carry out its functions, to meet the needs of the communityand make substantial progress towards conservationachievements across the state.

This past year proved more challenging than any of us expected.However, NPWS must now move forward, inspired by thememory of those we have lost from the team. They would bedisappointed if we didn’t get on with the job with a renewedvigour – if we didn’t rise to the challenges and take advantage ofthe opportunities before us. I am confident that, with the supportof the people and communities of NSW, the NPWS will do justthat and will perform as Australia’s most effective natural andcultural heritage conservation agency.

Brian GilliganDirector-General

8

1999 2000

ANNUAL REPORT

9

Ku-r ing-gai t ragedy

On 8 June 2000 three NPWS officers –Claire Deane, George Fitzsimmons andEric Furlan – lost their lives whilecarrying out routine hazard reductionwork in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Parkto protect the local Mt Kuring-gaicommunity. Another officer, Mark Cupit, died on 4 August 2000 as a result of the injuries he sustained in the incident. Three other officers – Luke McSweeney, Natalie Saville andJamie Shaw – were seriously injured.

Other government agencies, emergencyservices, volunteers and the communitywere quick to respond to assist NPWS todeal with the incident and its aftermathand this was much appreciated. Inparticular, NPWS is grateful to the RuralFire Service for the practical assistance,resources and support it has provided.

Special incident counsellors and thesenior chaplain of the Rural Fire Service,Captain Ron Anderson, worked withNPWS to assist staff and the families ofthose directly affected by the tragic event.Counselling and support services arecontinuing to be provided, and will be aslong as they are required.

A Thanksgiving Memorial Service for thedead and injured officers was held at St Andrews Cathedral on Tuesday 20 June. This was attended by anestimated 700 people, including theGovernor-General of Australia, theGovernor of NSW, the Premier of NSWand the Minister for the Environment.NPWS staff formed an honour guardoutside the cathedral before and after theservice, as well as providing honourguards at the funerals for each of theofficers who lost their lives. A movingtribute was the laying of a gumleafcarpet in the cathedral by all whoattended the service.

The Ku-ring-gai incident attractedwidespread media attention and messageswere received from around the world,honouring the NPWS officers who losttheir lives and those who were seriouslyinjured and sharing in the grief andsorrow at their loss and suffering.These expressions of sympathy andsupport were very moving, and ofconsiderable comfort to families, friendsand colleagues.

The establishment of a memorial fund to assist the victims of this tragedyand their families was announced by the Premier on 9 June. Allocation of the funds raised (which totalled over $110,000 at the end of September) isbeing managed by the State Disaster Fund within theDepartment of Community Services.

The cause of the Ku-ring-gai incident is yet to be determined. From allappearances the operation was a standard,scheduled burn-off carried out in favourable cool, still weatherconditions. Investigations into theincident commenced immediately. These are being undertaken by NPWSitself, by the NSW Police on behalf of the Coroner and by WorkCover. The findings and outcomes of theseinvestigations will be reported in the nextNPWS annual report.

GE

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10

07 July 1999

Minister approves the

gazettal of Nungumirar

in northern NSW as an

Aboriginal Area

09 July 1999

Planchonella Nature

Reserve gazetted

19 September 1999

Don Johnstone

Lookout on summit

of North Brother

Mountain dedicated

in memory of this keen

conservationist and

former Director-

General of NPWS

1 October 1999

additions to

Big Bush Nature

Reserve gazetted

02 November 1999

Voluntary Conservation

Agreement signed

with Uralla Shire for

Racecourse Lagoon,

a significant wetland

in the Uralla area

23 November 1999

plans of management

for Wallaga Lake and

Bongil Bongil national

parks and Goura,

Lake Innes and

Bermagui nature

reserves formally

adopted by Minister

November 1999

redevelopment of

Mumbulla Creek Falls

in southern NSW,

managed jointly by

NPWS and the local

Aboriginal community,

completed

01 December 1999

recovery plan for

Eleocharis tetraquetra

approved by Minister.

plan of management

for Kinchega National

Park formally adopted

by Minister

December 1999

mapping of the

Murray-Darling basin

wetlands completed

31 December 1999

NPWS hosts

celebrations of the

new millenium in

Sydney Harbour

National Park,

Mt Warning,

Mt Kosciuszko and

other locations

01 January 2000

new NPWS structure

officially comes

into being

January 2000

Integrated Forestry

Operations Approval

for Upper and Lower

North East Regions of

NSW comes into force

19 January 2000

plan of management

for Nocoleche Nature

Reserve formally

adopted by Minister

04 February 2000

plans of management

for Royal and

Heathcote national

parks and Garawarra

State Recreation Area

formally adopted by

Minister

25 February

Montague Island

wins IUCN, British

Airways ‘Tourism

for Tomorrow’ award

for National Parks

and Protected

Areas category

March 2000

Minister releases

vegetation maps for

the Cumberland

Plain in Sydney’s

western suburbs

Year in rev iew

1999 2000

ANNUAL REPORT

11

29 March 2000

Janet Cosh

Memorial

Room

opened at

Fitzroy Falls

Visitor

Centre in

memory of

this local

conservationist

and botanist

31 March 2000

Peery National Park

gazetted

14 April 2000

Premier announces

major 316,839-hectare

expansion of national

park system in

southern NSW – ‘dawn

of 100 new parks’

April 2000

green and golden bell

frog – believed to

extinct on the

Southern Tablelands –

discovered near the

Molonglo River east of

Queanbeyan

05 May 2000

plan of management

for Narran Lake Nature

Reserve formally

adopted by Minister

10 May 2000

recovery plan for

Allocasuarina

portuensis approved

by Minister

15 May 2000

recovery plan for

Persoonia mollis

subsp maxima

approved by Minister

19 May 2000

Kwiambal National

Park gazetted

22 May 2000

first Voluntary

Conservation

Agreement to

specifically protect

Aboriginal heritage

values signed with the

Suttor family for their

property outside

Bathurst

02 June 2000

recovery plans for

Hakea pulvinifera and

for Neobatrachus

pictus (painted

burrowing frog)


20 June 2000

recovery plan for

Grevilliea kennedyana


30 June 2000

Minister announces

Walker Inquiry into

management of urban

communities and road

maintenance in

national parks, in

response to Thredbo

Coronial Inquiry

findings and

recommendations

May 2000

Minister announces

funding for 91 new

NPWS positions for new

southern NSW national

parks, with 15 per cent

of these to be filled by

Aboriginal staff.

Smoky Cape Lighthouse

complex in Hat Head

National Park wins NSW

Tourism Award for Mid

North Coast Region,

and is runner-up in

state section

first stage of Western

regional assessment in

Brigalow Belt South

bioregion completed.

Dooragan National Park

wins Mid North Coast

Region’s Tourism

Excellence Award

Overv iew

12

MISS ION STATEMENT

Working with people and communities to

protect and conserve natural and cultural

heritage in the NSW landscape

ROLE AND FUNCT IONS

The role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) isto lead the community in the development of a system ofecologically sustainable and integrated landscape managementwhich conserves nature and cultural heritage and has as itscentrepiece the public reserve system.

The functions of NPWS are:

• to ensure the conservation of protected native animals andplants throughout NSW

• to protect and manage Aboriginal sites, objects and places ofspecial significance to Aboriginal people

• to promote community awareness, understanding andappreciation of the conservation of nature and our culturalheritage

• to investigate and acquire land for inclusion in a system ofnational parks and nature reserves to conserve a completerange of the natural environment of the state

• to manage historic places within the NPWS estate and toacquire historic places of significance

• to manage these areas and culturally significant features forenjoyment and conservation

• to identify, protect and manage wilderness throughout NSW.

CUSTOMERS

NPWS customers are a large and diverse group. They includepark visitors, educators, neighbours, rural landholders, industry, conservation groups, recreational use groups,Aboriginal communities, volunteers, the media, governmentdepartments and other agencies such as local councils andtourism associations.

LEGAL BAS IS

The basis for the powers, duties and functions of NPWS is theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, the Wilderness Act 1987

and the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 the Director-General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service isresponsible for the care, control and management of all areasreserved or dedicated as national parks, historic sites, naturereserves, Aboriginal areas and state game reserves. Staterecreation areas, karst conservation reserves and regional parks

are also administered under the Act. The Director-General isalso responsible, under this Act and certain provisions of theThreatened Species Conservation Act 1995, for the protectionand care of native fauna and flora and Aboriginal places andrelics throughout NSW.

Under the Wilderness Act 1987 NPWS is responsible for theinvestigation, protection and management of wilderness in NSW.

In addition, the Marine Parks Act 1997 established the MarineParks Authority, which comprises the Director-General of the Premier’s Department (chairperson), the Director-General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Director ofFisheries. The Authority reports to the Minister for theEnvironment and the Minister for Fisheries, and undertakesfunctions imposed or conferred by the Marine Parks Act 1997,the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, and the Fisheries Management Act 1994. The Authority is responsiblefor declaring and managing activities in marine parks for the purposes of conserving marine biological diversity,maintaining the function of marine ecosystems and permittingecologically sustainable use.

ORGAN ISAT IONAL STRUCTURE

Following on from a 1998 review known as Visions for the NewMillennium, NPWS has undertaken a process of organisationalrenewal, resulting in the establishment of a new corporatestructure effective from 1 January 2000.

NPWS is now a highly decentralised organisation, with some 75

per cent of staff now based in the field. The NPWS structurecomprises four corporate directorates based at Hurstville andfour field directorates which have their main centres in Grafton,Queanbeyan, Parramatta and Dubbo.

The field directorates incorporate 19 regions, made up of morethan 50 areas, with offices located in local towns. There are alsoa number of visitor information centres and works depotsstrategically located to meet the needs of the community and tomanage protected areas.

Field directorates are responsible for achieving the conservationof natural, historic and Aboriginal heritage at a local andregional level, not only with respect to park and reserveplanning and management, but across their geographic area ofoperation. To do this, field directorates develop partnershipswith the community and other governments and agencies, andprovide leadership and direction through conservation programsin accord with government initiatives and NPWS priorities.

Corporate directorates coordinate the development and review ofService-wide priorities, policies, standards, systems andprocedures; provide policy advice to the executive and theMinister for the Environment; advise and support field

1999 2000

ANNUAL REPORT

13

directorates on policy, technical, educational, communication,marketing and administrative matters; and provide legal advice.

The NPWS organisational structure at 30 June 2000 is shown bythe chart on page 14.

LANDS MANAGED FOR CONSERVAT ION

Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 there are eight categories of land managed for conservation – nationalparks, nature reserves, historic sites, Aboriginal areas, state game reserves, karst conservation areas, state recreationareas and regional parks.

National parks are relatively large areas of land set aside fortheir predominantly unspoiled natural landscape, flora andfauna. They are permanently reserved for conservation and forpublic education and recreation and, apart from essentialmanagement, are preserved in their natural state.

Nature reserves are areas of special scientific interest,containing wildlife or natural features. Management practicesaim at maximising the value of the area for scientificinvestigation and educational purposes.

Historic sites are areas of national importance that are preserved,and include buildings, objects, monuments or landscapes.

Aboriginal areas are places of significance to Aboriginal people or sites containing relics of Aboriginal culture.

State game reserves are areas set aside for propagating game species.

Karst conservation reserves are areas managed to protectsignificant surface and underground land formations inkarst regions.

State recreation areas are lands reserved for outdoor recreationand enjoyment.

Regional parks are areas substantially modified since European occupation that offer open space and recreationalopportunities for major regional population centres.

National parks and historic sites are managed in such a way that their natural and cultural features are conserved while still allowing visitors to use and enjoy them. State recreationareas and regional parks are managed to maximise theirrecreational potential while preserving and protecting theirnatural features. Because nature reserves and Aboriginal sites are conserved for scientific and cultural values and aresmall in area, public access is often limited.

At 30 June 2000 5,099,674 hectares were reserved under theNational Parks and Wildlife Act. This represents approximately6.4 per cent of the total land area of NSW.

Summary of land reserved at 30 June 2000

Category No. Area (ha)National parks 146 4,212,982

Nature reserves 302 739,676

Historic sites 13 2,635

Aboriginal areas 11 11,634

State game reserves 0 0

Karst conservation areas 4 4,408

State recreation areas 19 123,674

Regional parks 7 4,656

Total area 5,099,674

A full list of lands managed for conservation and other NPWSlands appears at Appendix A.

Members of the NPWS executive. Standing from left: Dawn Easton, Executive Officer to Director-General; John O’Gorman, Director Northern; Arthur Diakos, DirectorCorporate Services; Bob Conroy, Director Central; Sally Barnes, Director Education and Community Programs; Tony Fleming, Director Southern.Seated: Michael Wright, Director Policy and Science; Vivienne Ingram, Director Legal Services; Brian Gilligan, Director-General; Terry Korn, Director Western.

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continued page 16

Organisat ional chart

14

Manager Conservation Programs &Planning Division

Russell CouchUnits

Conservation PlanningConservation Assessment & Data Threatened Species

Manager Blue Mountains Region Geoff LuscombeAreas

HawkesburyKanangraMudgeeUpper Mountains

UnitOperations Coordination & Support

Manager Central Coast Hunter Range Region

Tom BagnatAreas

GosfordHunter RangeLakesYango


Manager Sydney Region Jennifer CarterAreas

Cumberland NorthCumberland SouthHarbour NorthHarbour South


Manager Sydney North Region Chris McIntoshAreas

Lane Cove RiverLower Hawkesbury Northern Beaches


Manager Sydney South Region Mike PatrickAreas

Botany BayIllawarraRoyal

Unit Operations Coordination & Support

Directorate UnitsCentral Directorate Operations Coordination & Support Flight ServicesOlympic CoordinationRegional Parks

Director CentralBOB CONROY

Director NorthernJOHN O’GORMAN

Director SouthernTONY FLEMING

Director WesternTERRY KORN

Director-GeneralBRIAN GILLIGAN

MINISTER FOR THEENVIRONMENT

Manager Strategic &Executive Services Unit

Dawn Easton

Manager Conservation Programs & Planning Division

Gary DaveyUnits

Conservation Assessment & DataConservation PlanningThreatened Species

Manager Hunter Region Robert Quirk

AreasBarrington TopsGreat LakesHunter CoastUpper Hunter


Manager Mid North Coast Region Greg CroftAreas

HastingsMacleayManning


Manager North Coast Region Alan JefferyAreas

Clarence NorthClarence SouthCoffs CoastDorrigo Plateau


Manager Northern Rivers Region Mark JohnstonAreas

KyogleRichmond RiverTweed


Manager Northern Tablelands Region Bob FriederichAreas

ArmidaleGlen Innes EastGlen Innes WestWalcha

Units Operations Coordination & Support

Directorate UnitNorthern Directorate Operations Coordination & Support


Ian PulsfordUnits

Conservation Assessment & DataConservation PlanningCommunity ProgramsReserve ConservationThreatened Species

Manager Far South Coast Region Tim ShepherdAreas

BombalaCentralMerimbulaNorth


Manager Resorts Division Penny SpoelderUnits

Concessions & LeasingHealth & BuildingMunicipal ServicesPlanning & Environment

Manager South Coast Region Diane GarroodAreas

HighlandsNowra/Jervis BayUlladulla


Manager South West Slopes RegionSteve HorsleyAreas

MurrumbidgeeQueanbeyanRiverina-Highlands


Manager Snowy Mountains Region Dave DarlingtonAreas

AlpineSnowy RiverUpper Murray

UnitsOperations Coordination & SupportBusiness ManagementRoads

Directorate UnitSouthern Directorate Operations Coordination & Support


John PickardUnits

Conservation Assessment & PlanningThreatened SpeciesWestern Regional Assessments

Manager Central West RegionNick RigbyAreas

LachlanMacquarie

Manager Far West RegionSteve MillingtonAreas

Broken HillLower DarlingTibooburra

Manager Northern Plains RegionWayne DornbuschAreas

CoonabarabranNarrabri

Manager Riverina Region Ross McDonnell

Manager Upper Darling Region Bill FittlerArea

Cobar

Directorate UnitWestern Directorate Operations Coordination & Support

1999 2000

ANNUAL REPORT

15

Structure of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service as at 30 June 2000

Director Legal ServicesVIVIENNE INGRAM

Director Corporate ServicesARTHUR DIAKOS

Director Education andCommunity Programs

SALLY BARNES

Director Policy and ScienceMICHAEL WRIGHT

Manager Biodiversity Research & Management Division

Caroline LemerleUnits

Biodiversity Management: Biodiversity Research Group Pest Management CoordinationScientific Committee/BDAC SupportWildlife Management Coordination

Manager Strategic Policy Division Angela LangdonUnits

Conservation EconomicsMajor Programs Policy Development Group

Manager Cultural Heritage Division Jason ArdlerUnits

Cultural Heritage Policy & ProgramsCultural Heritage InformationCultural Heritage Research Central Aboriginal HeritageNorthern Aboriginal Heritage Southern Aboriginal HeritageWestern Aboriginal Heritage

Manager Geographic Information Systems Group

Malcolm Stephens

Manager Landscape Conservation Division

Jo WhiteUnits

Conservation Assessment & PrioritiesConservation Management Conservation Planning Fire Management

Directorate UnitDirectorate Management Support

Manager Education & Community Involvement Unit

Lynn Webber

Manager Marketing & Information Division

Andrew MitchellUnits

Information Centre LibraryPublishing Services

Manager Ministerial Liaison UnitSandra Everett

Public Affairs DivisionWarwick Brennan (A)

Directorate UnitDirectorate Management Support

Manager Business Development Division David RomanUnits

Business AnalysisBusiness OperationsNew Business Projects

Manager Finance Division Clarel CastagnetUnits

Administrative Services Corporate FinanceManagement Accounting System SupportFinance Service Centres

Manager Information Management & Technology Division

Muhammad Khan (A)Units

DevelopmentOperations & SupportRecords Management

Manager Workforce Services Division Helen AndersonUnits

Employee Relations & ConditionsHuman Resource Information SystemsOccupational Health & SafetyWorkforce Development Workforce PlanningHuman Resources Service Centres

UnitsInvestigationLegal OperationsPolicy & Law

Other protected areasSix other types of areas are identified for protection under theprovisions of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

Aboriginal places are areas of significance to Aboriginal culturewhich, after gazettal, have the full protection of the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1974.

Protected archaeological areas contain significant Aboriginalrelics and are declared with the consent of the owner or occupier of the land on which they occur. They may be openedfor public inspection with the owner’s consent, under conditionsdesigned to protect the Aboriginal relics they contain.

Wildlife refuges are declared over Crown land and privatelyowned land with the owner’s consent to preserve, conserve, propagate and study wildlife and to conserve, study andsimulate natural environments.

Wildlife management areas (formerly game reserves) aredeclared over private or Crown land for game conservation in its broadest sense, including game hunting for recreationduring a proclaimed period.

Conservation areas may cover privately or publicly owned land with the consent of the owner and, in accord with theconservation agreement for the area, may protect natural orcultural features, wilderness or areas of special scientificinterest. Conservation agreements are registered and run withthe title of the land.

Wilderness protection agreement areas under the WildernessAct 1987 may cover land owned or controlled by a statutoryauthority or government department to protect and provide formanagement of wilderness outside the park and reserve system.

KEY RESULT AREAS

In late 1999, NPWS developed a new corporate plan for theperiod 2000/2003. This plan is firmly based on the Service’slong and proud history in natural and cultural heritageconservation in NSW, but incorporates some important changesin both direction and emphases, primarily in adopting a holistic approach to conservation which integrates natural,cultural and community values. This approach to conservation isdescribed as ‘landscape conservation’, and involves working to achieve conservation outcomes across all lands, not onlythose managed by NPWS.

Achievement of landscape conservation is dependent onoutcomes in four key areas: assessment, planning, managementand facilitation. A fifth key result area – capacity building – is an essential prerequisite. These five key result areas providethe framework for the planning and programming of activities,for annual budget submissions to Treasury and for the evaluationof NPWS performance.

Conservation assessment covers the gathering of knowledge,and the development and application of tools and techniques for assessing and monitoring both natural andcultural heritage across the landscape and communityconservation attitudes and values.

Conservation planning covers the making of judgments aboutwhat to conserve (priorities for conservation) and how best to dothis, and the development of processes by which this is done.

Conservation management covers the management of naturaland cultural heritage values across the state, incorporating:• conservation incentives, education and advice• regulation and enforcement• the nurture and rehabilitation of the natural and cultural

heritage landscape, including protected areas and beyond• the establishment of appropriate reserves• the ecologically sustainable use of protected areas.

Conservation facilitation covers the encouragement andsupport of community stewardship of the natural and culturalheritage across the landscape, and the sharing of appreciationand enjoyment of this heritage.

Capacity building covers the development and retention ofcommitted and skilled staff, and the development andimplementation of policies, systems and procedures to ensurethat NPWS is an effective organisation focused on theachievement of conservation outcomes for NSW.

Allocation of resources to key result areasNet cost of services 1999-2000

Net cost of services in relation to capacity building is subsumedunder other key result areas.

OVERVIEW

16

WA

RR

EN

LA

CE

Y

40% Conservation Facilitation

12% Conservation Assessment

12% Conservation Planning

36% Conservation Management

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Published by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 43 Bridge St, (PO Box 1967), HURSTVILLE 2220

Copyright © National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000ISSN 0158-0965

Coordinator: Dawn EastonEditor: Keith SuttonDesign and layout: Harley & Jones designPrinted by: Robert Burton Printers

Front cover photo credits: (from left)Warren Lacey; Joel Winter/NPWS; NPWS; Jeremy Little; NPWS Back cover photo credits: (from left) NPWS; Philip Green/NPWS; A Fox; Jeremy LittleInside front cover photo: Warrumbungle National Park (Jeremy Little)

Contact informat ion

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

General inquiries

Phone: 1300-361-967 or (02) 9253-4600

Head Office

43 Bridge StreetPO Box 1967

Hurstville NSW 2220

Phone: 9585-6444

Fax: 9585-6555

Email: [email protected] site: www.npws.nsw.gov.au

Central Directorate

Level 1, 10 Valentine AvenueParramatta NSW 2150

PO Box 95

Parramatta NSW 2124

Phone: 9895-7420

Fax: 9895-7414

Northern Directorate

Level 4, 49 Victoria StreetPO Box 97

Grafton NSW 2460

Phone: 6641-1550

Fax: 6643-4730

Southern Directorate

6 Rutledge StreetPO Box 733

Queanbeyan NSW 2620

Phone 6297-6144

Fax: 6299-6858

Western Directorate

48-52 Wingewarra StreetPO Box 2111

Dubbo NSW 2830

Phone: 6883-5330

Fax: 6884-8675

Documents

NPWS Annual Report 1999-2000 - intro/overview (PDF 599 KB)...work in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to protect the local Mt Kuring-gai community. Another ofﬁcer, Mark Cupit, died