The NSW Parliament is conducting a Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways Inquiry. This is an opportunity for the public to provide their views about ‘access restrictions’ to public lands and waterways. Submissions are due by the 1 August 2025. FOKE as well as many in the environment movement are concerned that this Inquiry is a push from vested interests to access to public lands for their own recreational or commercial interests, rather than the broader public interest. The Inquiry could recommend opening up access which would degrade our protected places. It is important for the voices for nature, community and the public interest be heard loud and clear at this Inquiry. The threats posed by this Inquiry are real. Over the decades there have been strong calls to allow high-impact activities (hunting, mining, unauthorised track construction and commercial development) in our national parks, reserves and public places. Some of these high-impact activities have already weakened existing protections and environmental controls. The implications for NSW’s National Parks – including Ku-ring-gai’s Lane Cove National Park, Garigal National Park and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park – are alarming. In the midst of an extinction and climate crisis, it is more important than ever to have strong protections for our national parks. We cannot afford to lose them for commercial exploitation, resource extraction and environmental degradation. It is important to make a submission to this Inquiry. We need to safeguard not only our National Parks but Marine Parks, heritage sites, national parks, crown reserves, state forests, Crown land, state conservation areas, conservation areas, water catchment areas, aquatic reserves, unallocated crown land, fire trails and management of roads, foreshore areas, riverbeds and riverbanks, local government managed parks & reserves, scientific research, educational or cultural activities. Make a submission today. Submissions close 1 August 2025.

Submission Guide

Please read the Inquiry Terms of Reference and consider the following points in your submission:

• NSW National Parks, Marine Parks and other conservation reserves are places that are highly valued by the public.
• National Parks are important to local and regional communities with more than 60 million visits each year. Park visitors contribute over $19 billion per annum to the NSW economy.
• There are abundant existing opportunities for environmentally sustainable public access.
• National Parks support a vast range of low-impact activities, including walking, picnicking, camping, cycling, sightseeing, swimming, diving, sailing, kayaking and boating.
• The idea that conservation lands are not publicly accessible is demonstrably untrue.
• National Parks, Marine Parks and other conservation reserves are places where natural systems are safeguarded and yet allow abundant ‘tread lightly’ recreational activities.
• It is important to oppose the introduction of any activities that damages the environmental values of parks, diminishes the experience of the millions of visitors seeking quiet enjoyment in nature, or endanger public safety.
• Shooting, unauthorised track construction, mining, and inappropriate commercial development have no place in parks.
• Existing parks must be fully protected for their natural and cultural values.
• The NSW Government should also be establishing new National Parks, Marine Parks, green open spaces, urban bushland to combat the climate and extinction crises.

Send a copy your submission to your local Member of Parliament, the Premier, and the Minister for the Environment. Find your local MP’s contact details 

Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways

This Select Committee was established on 28 May 2025 to inquire into and report on ‘access restrictions’ to public lands and waterways.

Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways

Members

Chair:	Banasiak, Mark, Shooters Fishers & Farmers Party, Legislative Council Member
Deputy Chair:	Buckingham, Jeremy Legalise Cannabis Party, Legislative Council Member
Members:	Barrett, Scott  The Nationals NAT, Legislative Council Member)
	Buttigieg, Mark  Australian Labor Party, Legislative Council Member)
	D’Adam, Anthony Australian Labor Party, Legislative Council Member)
	Higginson, Sue  Greens, Legislative Council Member
	Merton, Rachel  LIBERAL, Legislative Council Member
	Primrose, Peter  Australian Labor Party, Legislative Council Member

Terms of Reference

FOKE Response to Inquiry into access restrictions to public lands and waterways

In progress.