Department for Environment and Heritage

Home : Management : Management Plans

Management Plans

Cover of Gawler Ranges National Park Management PlanThe parks reserve system includes all reserves proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 and conservation reserves dedicated to the Minister under the Crown Lands Act 1929.

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 and the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 outline the requirements for preparation of management plans. A management plan must be prepared as soon as practicable after the constitution of a reserve.

Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, a management plan "must set forth proposals of the Minister in relation to the management and improvement of the reserve" and "set forth any other proposals by which the Minister proposes to accomplish the objectives of the Act in relation to the reserve". A management plan for a co-managed park must also deal with such matters as required by regulation, and will also be adopted by the Minister.

Under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992, a management plan must "as far as practicable, implement the policies set out in the Wilderness Code of Management (250Kb PDF) so far as they are relevant to the wilderness protection area", "set forth proposals of the Minister in relation to the management of the wilderness protection area" and "set forth any other proposals by which the Minister proposes to accomplish the objectives of the Act in relation to the wilderness protection area".

Where a Minister has adopted a management plan under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 or the Wilderness Protection Act 1992, the provisions of the plan must be carried out in relation to that reserve and operations must not be undertaken in relation to that reserve unless the operations are in accordance with the management plan.

Cover of Memory Cover Wilderness Protection Area Management PlanThere is no legal requirement, under the Crown Lands Act 1929, that a management plan be prepared for a conservation reserve. As a general principle, a management plan will only be prepared for a conservation reserve if it is proposed that the conservation reserve be constituted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 at the same time as the management plan is prepared.

A management plan is the most important source of clear management direction for a reserve. It is prepared to anticipate management directions over a ten-year period; as a strategic document, a management plan must identify the vision for the reserve and the objectives and strategies necessary to meet that vision. Plans contain concise background information that supports the objectives and strategies. Native plants and animals of conservation significance can be of particular importance when determining strategies for most reserves. The Conservation Status Codes (50Kb PDF) assigned to species that are threatened are based on a variety of information sources.

Each year park managers, taking regional and district priorities into account, draw up work programs to implement the strategies proposed in management plans. Implementation of these projects is determined by, and subject to, the availability of resources (eg staffing and funding).

Public consultation

Cover of Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park Management PlanDEH is responsible for preparing management plans and undertaking the prescribed community consultation process. A standard management planning process is mandated, to ensure that all statutory obligations are met. Help and guidance with plan preparation is sought and obtained from individuals, community groups or relevant advisory committees, although ultimately the decision on whether or not to adopt a management plan remains a ministerial prerogative. The type and nature of community consultation for each management plan will depend upon community expectations, the nature of the reserve, and the nature of the issues to be addressed by the management plan.

All draft management plans are required to undergo three months of public consultation. All submissions are considered and assessed before recommending changes to the management plan and adoption by the Minister. An analysis of public submissions and the manner in which the submissions were considered will be made available on the internet following adoption of the management plan.

For further information, please contact the Manager Policy and Planning on telephone (61 8) 8124 4707 or email Jason Irving.

top of page Top

Adopted management plans

Cover of Island Parks of Western Eyre Peninsula Management Plan

As at 25 July 2008, there were management plans for 189 of the 305 reserves under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 and the Wilderness Protection Act 1992.

See alphabetical listing of all reserves and links to adopted management plans.

Recently adopted management plans

The following management plans have recently been adopted by the Minister. Copies are available from the links below, the DEH Information Line (telephone (61 8) 8204 1910 or email DEH:Information Line), or relevant park office.

An analysis of public submissions is also available for some of the recently adopted management plans.

Draft management plans - consultation closed

The following management plans have undergone public consultation. Public submissions are currently being analysed and the management plan will be submitted to the Minister for adoption in the near future.

Draft management plans - in preparation

Management plans are currently in preparation for the following reserves. Advertisements are placed in The Advertiser and regional newspapers seeking pre-draft submissions on issues that should be addressed by the management plans.

  • Billiatt, Karte and Peebinga Conservation Parks and Billiatt Wilderness Protection Area
  • Bimbowrie Conservation Park (proposed)
  • Caroona Creek, Hopkins Creek and Pandappa Conservation Parks
  • Conservation Parks of the Coorong District (incorporating Martin Washpool, Messent, Mount Boothby, Tilley Swamp Conservation Parks, and Bunbury Conservation Park)
  • Conservation Parks of Eastern Eyre Peninsula
  • Coorong National Park (including Salt Lagoon Islands Conservation Park)
  • Ediacara Conservation Park
  • Granite Island Recreation Park (including West Island and Pullen Island Conservation Parks)
  • Island Parks of Eastern Eyre Peninsula (incorporating Lipson Island Conservation Park, Gambier Islands Conservation Park, Neptune Islands Conservation Park, Sir Joseph Banks Group Conservation Park, and Tumby Island Conservation Park)
  • Lake St Clair Conservation Park
  • Parks of the Yellabinna Region (covering Yellabinna Wilderness Protection Area, Yellabinna Regional Reserve, and Boondina, Pureba and Yumbarra Conservation Parks)

Friends Top