The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is to launch a digital entry pass for parks across the State, following one of its busiest summers on record.
Executive Director of NPWS, Andrew Nicholls said visitation to parks surged during the pandemic and the new payment method would help reduce queues at entrance stations, ticket machines and visitor centres.
“With more and more people visiting national parks we want to make their trip as enjoyable and relaxed as possible, including streamlining the collection of entrance fees,” Mr Nicholls said.
“From 20 April 2021 digital passes will be available when people purchase or renew their annual or concession pass,” he said.
“This means no more waiting for stickers in the mail or needing to display them on your vehicle, you can get your digital pass from your mobile or other connected device.”
Mr Nicholls said the digital passes would be linked to vehicle registration and NPWS would start to use number plate recognition technology to confirm that entrance fees had been paid.
He said the move to digital passes would occur in stages over the next two years, starting with annual and concession passes, as well as day tickets, in Sydney.
“Ticket machines in Royal, Ku-ring-gai Chase, Lane Cove and Sydney Harbour National Parks will soon have the option to link your day entrance fee to your vehicle licence plates so you don’t need a ticket on your dashboard,” he said.
“Eligible pensioners and concession card holders will continue to get free entry to national parks.”
Mr Nicholls said all passes issued before 20 April, including existing annual passes, would remain valid until their expiry date and were still required to be correctly displayed on the vehicle.
Further information on NPWS’s digital park passes, including how to purchase or renew a pass, can be accessed at this PS News link.
