Visitors urged to leave no trace in SA parks

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Executive Director Mike Williams says the upcoming Easter school holidays are a great time to go camping and create memories with family and friends, with South Australia’s beautiful national parks and crown land areas providing unique opportunities for camping and recreational activities.

“Nature is at the heart of what we do at the National Parks and Wildlife Service and we are fortunate in South Australia to have many beautiful national parks to visit,” he said.

“It’s great to see so many people out enjoying them. We want you to enjoy yourself, but to also make sure you help to preserve our parks, so that generations well into the future can enjoy all the natural wonders our state has to offer.

“There’s many different activities that visitors can undertake in parks, however it is important to also remind park visitors to respect our beautiful parks and leave only footprints behind.

“We need to continue to take good care of these reserves, and to leave no trace of our visits, which means taking your rubbish with you when leaving and disposing of it appropriately.

“We’re asking people to be responsible, to respect other campers, our wildlife and our environment.

“While most visitors do the right thing there have been recent reports where rubbish has been dumped in parks or along roadside locations, which is unacceptable.

“Our parks belong to all of us and together we share the responsibility to keep them free from rubbish. If you see litter, please pick it up safely and take it home with you.”

Littering in parks can incur penalties of $165, including a victims of crime levy, while littering on crown land can incur penalties of $405, including a victims of crime levy.

If people are caught leaving or dumping rubbish they can be expiated under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

Preparation is the key, so here’s a few things to remember:

• Book and pay for your campsites and vehicle entry online before you go at parks.sa.gov.au and make sure you set up your camp within the designated area that you have booked
• Keep your vehicles on existing roads, including registered motorbikes, (unregistered motorbikes are not allowed)
• Keep your rubbish secure to prevent it spreading and remember to take it home with you when you leave the park
• Consider hiring a portaloo or taking a camping toilet with you to ensure you have some privacy and keep your campsite clean
• Many national parks do not allow solid fuel fires (wood and charcoal) at any time. In parks where fires are permitted, they are only allowed outside of the Fire Danger Season for that region, to find out more visit www.parks.sa.gov.au/know-before-you-go/fires-and-bbqs
• For those parks where campfires are permitted please remember to bring your own wood as the collection of wood from parks is prohibited
• Please consider other campers and wildlife and keep noise to a minimum
• If you are planning a fishing trip in one of our state’s 19 beautiful marine parks, check the maps available online and at boat ramps to ensure you do not fish within sanctuary zones www.environment.sa.gov.au/marineparks/home
• Although most national parks do not allow dogs (assistance dogs are allowed) there are a number of parks where dogs are welcome. Please ensure you keep your dog on designated walking trails and under your control on a lead of no more than two metres at all times.
• If travelling to remote parks make sure to check road conditions and closures, as a number of roads leading to, or in, outback parks are currently closed

Campsites are booking fast so visit www.parks.sa.gov.au for further information and to book your site.

For more information about your online booking please email DEW.OnlineBooking@sa.gov.au.