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National Parks and Wildlife Service
Can some people please explain to me the structure of the NPWS and who to talk to in a particular region about access? Its the Hornsby area that we are looking at. There is a joint managed recreation park (Berowra Valley) and we need to lobby for permission to run a track through this joint managed section. Is it a local thing? A NSW thing? Who are the decision makers in regards to an issue like this? Would council be better off doing the negotiation or can individuals do it?
We have a meeting in December at Hornsby and I think it would carry heaps of weight to actually have NPWS across the line prior to the meeting.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
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It seems most of the contact we've had to date has not been particularly positive, so it might be worth starting afresh. So...
When you're dealing with NPWS, I'd suggest you start hunting for names each time you converse with them. Ask "Who would be responsible for making a decision on this area" (eg working with council on trail access) *AND* "Who would be responsible for evaluating this proposal?" , and then get in touch with them. It is important to find out who their bosses are, as well. Get to understand their internal structures.
I would then go and see these guys face-to-face and lay out an informal plan, asking "what would be the concerns and issues you would have that we would need to address to move this to the next step?" Once you get your list, Keep asking "Is there anything else" until nothing furhter comes out, and then what's most important and what would be a show-stopper. TAKE DETAILED NOTES.
If you meet with a stony response, you need to encourage them to provide alternatives that they would be happy with - eg, could they suggest an alternate area where it might work?
What you want from this is for them to tell you how to sell them on it. You need to tease out enough information so that you know 100% what you need to do to get an approval. You need firstly to get the buy-in from the the person who will evaluate your proposal (or at least get them warmed up) before you talk to the decision-maker.
Hope this helps.
The NPWS break things up into different levels.
Starting from the ground up you will have a ranger responsible for a certain patch of land. This ranger will have field staff under them, and they are the people you are most likely to com into contact with on the ground.
Above the ranger will be the regional manager, then above that comes the main NPWS office and then DECC.
Any new trail or access will require either a new POM, or an amendment to an existing POM. This process would take in all the levels above but I would start with the ranger for the specific park and maybe cc any correspondence to the regional manager.
Essentially, the regional manager and ranger will be responsible for drafting the POM, but then once it goes on internal exhibition, the internal politics of the NPWS come into play.
There's a list of park offices here:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/contact/
Sydney North (Hornsby) seems to be the one you want:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/contact/Sydney...
That said, I asked the local rangers and they said we want Lower Hawkesbury office (which isn't on the list there). Will let you know if they give a different address than is listed above.
The POM for Berowra Valley from 2005 mentions Bike North was consulted. Might be worth talking to them & seeing if anyone knows anyone?
Also I live in Hornsby Heights, above the Park, & there's a hazard reduction burn happening close by next weekend. I'll try & get down there & see if I can collar someone in the know.
Allegedly you want these guys:
NPWS Lower Hawkesbury Area Office at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
PO Box 3056
Asquith
NSW 2077
Telephone: 02 9472 9006
E-mail: [email protected]