Draft Joint Management Plans open for public comment

Bess Price, Member for Stuart
Minister for Parks and Wildlife

The Northern Territory Government has worked in partnership with Traditional Owners to prepare draft Joint Management Plans for three Central Australian parks and reserves.

Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Bess Price, said the draft Joint Management Plans for Iytwelepenty / Davenport Ranges National Park, Napwerte / Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve and Yeperenye / Emily and Jessie Gaps Nature Park are now open for public comment.

“Planning provides the framework for informed decision making and I’m urging Territorians to have their say and input into the future of these parks and reserves,” Mrs Price said.

“The draft plans will work towards raising the park profiles to visitors, attracting more tourism to the NT and providing jobs.

“Yeperenye/ Emily and Jessie Gaps Nature Park sits just outside Alice Springs and will be managed primarily to protect the cultural heritage values and to provide a natural and scenic setting for visitors to see important cultural rock paintings first-hand.

“The park is an important place of recreation for Alice Springs residents and provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to view rock art and develop an understanding of Indigenous culture.”

The main strategies of the draft plan are to:

• provide a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors;
• protect the Park’s rock paintings from damage caused by wildfire, introduced animals and human interference;
• protect the vegetation of cultural and ecological significance; and,
• establish and maintain an equitable partnership between the Traditional Owners and the Parks and Wildlife Commission

“Situated 35km south of Alice Springs, Napwerte / Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve is one of the Northern Territory’s smallest (about 6ha) and most unique reserves,” Mrs Price said.

“The whole reserve is a registered sacred site and includes significant petroglyphs (rock engravings) and other archaeological material.

“The reserve will be managed primarily to protect the rock carvings and to provide a low-key experience for visitors to see first-hand the ancient cultural traditions.

The main strategies of the draft plan are to:

• protect the Reserve’s rock carvings from damage caused by wildfire, introduced animals and human interference
• provide a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors
• enable Traditional Owners to fulfil the cultural obligations and responsibilities; and
• establish and maintain an equitable partnership between the Traditional Owners and the Parks and Wildlife Commission

“Iytwelepenty / Davenport Ranges National Park is about 340km south east of Tennant Creek by road. It is the ideal destination for the independent and intrepid traveller seeking the solitude and tranquillity of the remote outback,” Mrs Price said.

“Supporting a string of permanent waterholes and accessible by 4WD only, the park retains a sense of adventure and isolation with low key infrastructure and interpretation on the administrative, mining and pastoral history of the area.

“The plan proposes the park will be managed and developed as a destination for the intrepid 4WD visitor. Protection of the cultural and natural values is a priority and management will continue to maintain a low key, remote area experience for visitors.”

The draft Joint Management Plans have been prepared under section 25AD of the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act.

Source: ProjectLink.com.au

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