Public exhibition of the draft amendment provided members of the community with the opportunity to have a say in the management directions for the park. Opportunities to comment closed on 5 July 2024.
The park is in the South Coast Region of New South Wales.
The current plan of management was adopted in 2010. Key issues addressed in this draft amendment include:
- enabling establishment of a walk-in camping area at Hegartys Bay.
- amending the name 'Ben Boyd National Park' to 'Beowa National Park' throughout the plan, a change that was gazetted in September 2022
- proposing the name 'North Head' be changed to 'Worange Point' in alignment with the wishes of the traditional owners.
What is a plan of management?
Parks and reserves established under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 need to have a plan of management. The plan includes information on important park values and provides directions for future management. Once the plan is adopted, no management operations can be undertaken in the park unless they are consistent with the plan.
Plans of management may be amended to support changes to park management or proposed works.
Why is an amendment being prepared?
The Ben Boyd National Park and Bell Bird Creek Nature Reserve plan of management was amended in 2021 to enable a hut-to-hut version of the Light to Light Walk to be developed.
National Parks and Wildlife Service has maintained its dialogue with key stakeholders to inform delivery of the project and establishment of the new multi-day walking experience. As an outcome of this consultation, we propose that a walk-in camping area be provided at Hegartys Bay, with Mowarry Point and Bittangabee Bay identified as the location for future walker's hut accommodation. This outcome requires a minor update to the current plan of management to include establishment of the camping area at Hegartys Bay.
The amendment will also recognise the name 'Beowa National Park' and other minor name changes in accordance with the wishes of the traditional owners.
When will the amendment be finalised?
At the close of the public exhibition period, we consider all submissions on the draft amendment and prepare a submissions report. We provide the South Coast Regional Advisory Committee with the amendment, all the submissions and the submissions report. They consider the documents and may provide advice to the Minister for the Environment.
The Minister considers the amendment, submissions and advice and decides whether to adopt the amendment under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. Once an amendment is adopted, it is published on this website and key stakeholders, including those who made a submission on the draft amendment, will be notified.
