Bushwalks booked out
ONE of the state’s most popular bushwalks is booked solid after the Parks Service introduced a permit system, limits on walker numbers and restrictions on camping.
Only 10 walkers are being permitted to set out on the Frenchman’s Cap walk each day and are being limited to staying for three nights.
A new voluntary permit system for that walk is fully booked for weeks in advance. The system came into effect with little fanfare earlier this month for 14 popular walks after consultation with local bushwalking clubs.
Numbers have been capped at 48 walkers for the popular Walls of Jerusalem with a maximum stay of three nights and at 20 for Lake Rhona, with a maximum stay of two nights.
Walkers on the Overland Track and the Three Capes Track are already required to pay for a permit before departure on top of park entry fees.
Permits are not yet required for the South Coast Track or for daywalks.
Parks and Wildlife Service chief Jason Jacobi said the permit system was introduced as walker numbers boomed.
“We know that our walks are incredibly popular at the moment for Tasmanians and
even with border restrictions across many states, we are expecting high numbers,” Mr Jacobi said.
“This will only increase when borders reopen.
“We have to take reasonable measures to manage daily departures to match available campsites.
“In consultation with walking clubs, climbers, and based on specialist advice from our ranger staff, we have designed a registration system that maintains the … volume of use as in previous years, but limits daily departures to numbers we know will be sustainable”.
A Parks spokeswoman said the registration system was voluntary but encouraged
“PWS will not be enforcing departures through fines or penalties,” she said.
“The registration system serves to inform and educate walkers on when a walk is full and the online system makes it easy to register or change a booking. Camping outside of designated campsites is actively discouraged. Penalties will apply to walkers deliberately damaging vegetation or creating new campsites.
“This is why the registration system is being implemented to avoid the chance.
“PWS track rangers will be deployed on remote walks over this season to provide safety information and to monitor walker numbers.”
Tasmanian National Parks Association president Nicholas Sawyer said the plan appeared well intentioned, although its execution had been rushed.
“They should have been developing this 12 months ago,” Mr Sawyer said. “It would have given them far more opportunity to make people aware of it, explain to people why it was necessary and how it was going to work, test out the IT infrastructure.
“It’s free and it’s voluntary at the moment.
“But the most obvious direction for it to go … the long run is that bookings going to become mandatory to reduce overcrowding and once it becomes mandatory, there’s going to be at least a temptation to stick up a fee on it.”
Parks Minister Jacquie Petrusma said there were no plans to charge people to walk on the affected tracks.