The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is calling for cycling enthusiasts to have their say on a draft strategy to help NPWS provide some of the best cycling experiences anywhere in Australia.
Announcing the release of NPWS’s Draft Cycling Policy, Minister for the Environment, Matt Kean said the Parks network would be turned into “must-do destinations” for riders of all ages.
“We are in the middle of a bike boom and there is now no better place to jump on two wheels than in our National Parks; it’s a great way to experience and see our natural biodiversity first hand,” Mr Kean said.
“But the key is to make sure it’s sustainable and sensitive to the environment, we don’t want to see damage to our precious biodiversity and cultural heritage,” he said.
“Cyclists love the great outdoors and we want to work with them to incorporate their ideas on how to ‘tread’ lightly and move forward with this Strategy.”
The Minister said the new Strategy outlined how to balance the demand for a variety of cycling experiences with NPWS’s responsibility to protect national parks’ natural and cultural values.
“Not all cycling activities will be appropriate in all national parks, unauthorised tracks in parks can be dangerous and this Draft Strategy looks at how to manage illegal tracks to prevent further ecological or cultural damage,” he said.
Mr Kean said people could have a say on the Draft Strategy until 30 January.
NPWS’s six-page Draft Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.
