Leave only footprints ….
Heysen Trail walkers are well aware of the general principles related to walking which are captured by the expression “leave only footprints, take only photos”.
Many sections of the trail traverse National and Conservation Parks. It is therefore a useful reminder that the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 includes regulations about activities in parks that the general public must comply with.
Disregarding these regulations may result in park users being issued a fine.
The following extracts of these regulations are particularly relevant to us:
15 – Fires
- A person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, light, maintain or use a fire in a reserve in contravention of a ban or restriction imposed by the relevant authority.
16 – Possession and use of chainsaws
- a person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, have control of, carry or use a chainsaw in a reserve.
26 – Bringing animals into reserve
- Subject to this regulation, a person who has control of an animal must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, bring it into a reserve or permit it to enter a reserve.
30 – Interference with earth etc
A person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority—
- remove from a reserve any-
- soil, rock, mineral or similar material; or
- wood, mulch or other dead vegetation; or
- fossil or archaeological remains; or
- dig or otherwise intentionally disturb any soil or similar material in a reserve; or
- intentionally disturb any-
- wood, mulch or other dead vegetation in a reserve; or
- fossil or archaeological remains in a reserve.
Need more information?
Before you head off to a park, you can find further information about at the What you need to know section of the Department for Environment & Water website.
Of particular interest to walkers are the sections outlining the rules about the use of BBQs and lighting campfires and which parks dogs are permitted.