THE NEED FOR REGIONAL RECREATION PARKS AND RESERVES IN NEW SOUTH WALES

L. Rieder

I do not want to specifically discuss the subject of cave tourism in my paper, but rather to make you more aware of some of the broader issues concerning recreation within which cave tourism lies. I think that because there is a very strong relation between the two, (in fact tourism is a part of recreation activity) the succeeding paper will be quite relevant to the central theme for which you are here.

Tourism is a part of recreation activity and is a concept that is not readily definable. Broadly speaking however, it represents the movement of people during their leisure time. Leisure and the related activities of tourism, holiday-making and the other recreational forms involve a total philosophy representing powerful economic and social forces. You can see that I have more or less brought tourism and recreation together under one system. If you reflect a little upon the kinds of systems that make provisions for this philosophy, we find that tourist centres, parks and reserves have traditionally not developed together. Indeed, there is a long history of separate legislation which has created a division of administrative responsibility for the provision of facilities, with the result that coordinated planning, allocation of recreation and other resources and any serious attempts at comprehensive research over the whole field of recreation is almost impossible to achieve. There is thus a need to bring them together. Also, too often tourism is seen purely as an economic proposition in which the service aspects and conservation of the resources that give the area its particular attraction are ignored. Yet, in the long term the important point is to recognise that outdoor recreation is a matter of economic and social welfare and that the allocation of resources for the provision of new facilities, new areas and the rationalisation of current barriers to the use of existing facilities are likely to lead to a more efficient use of the nation's recreation resources and thereby to better satisfy those who actively seek an opportunity to obtain unique experiences and as well, to relax and recover from the stresses of modern urban society.

We are today faced with a rising tide of demand for all forms of recreation of which tourism is perhaps the spearhead followed and often coupled with holiday making. I would now like to point to a number of salient features which will I hope, provoke some thought among you about the future.

1. The area of the State is finite (approx. 803,000 km2) but the population is not and further growth will be determined by as yet, a number of intangibles related to socio-economic pattern.
2. The present population is 5,000,000 (including the ACT) and forecasts have indicated that this could increase to 10,000,000 by the turn of the century only 26 years away. However, the widening acceptance of the philosophy of zero population growth and changing policies in relation to immigration will probably cause a short fall of this estimate. Yet that there will be a substantial increase is certain.
3. Not only will population increase, but leisure time will increase through progressive decrease in working hours. Estimates have been made that a working week of from 32 to 35 hours will become general and that a three day weekend is a distinct possibility. Most of you know what this will mean to areas such as Jenolan. The increased leisure time coupled with improved transport and higher incomes will encourage people to seek more outdoor recreation opportunities. This very place is already beginning to feel the pressure of year by year increases in visitation and is reflected in the carparks that have been built and added to here over the last five years. Indeed, there are times when tourists (I prefer to call them recreationists) must be turned away. This serves to illustrate my point, it is happening now, not just in the future.
4. We are no longer dealing with a passive leisure seeker, in this case a tourist, but with an individual or group who knows what he/they want and how to go about getting it. The evidence from observation both here and abroad shows that the tourist is taking is taking on an active roll in which diversity is the keyword. This has resulted primarily from improved education and interpretation programmes. He demands better and more diverse facilities in the areas he visits whether it be a cave tourist area or otherwise. For example self-guidance, cave tours, nature walks, study sites etc. There is greater visitor participation.
5. The major recreational pursuit here in Australia as well as abroad is and will continue for some time to be touring and driving for pleasure in the countryside. This is naturally facilitated by increased leisure time, income and mobility as well as education. We have only to observe the thrust of visitors into the rural and mountain areas outside of Sydney's metropolitan area in the past five years to appreciate this point. By way of illustrating the point, the average weekend traffic flow out of Sydney's metropolitan areas via the major highway systems has increased at an average rate of 9.75% per annum since 1965. This is three times that of the population increase and serves to remind us that recreation pursuits are increasing at rates faster than natural growth. This phenomena has also been observed abroad in the United States and in Britain.

With these points in mind, I want to tell you by way of summary what there is available and how it sizes up for the future and what should be done so that it can better face the future.

The history and development of the park system in New South Wales is a many faceted one which is at times difficult to portray.

The Department of Lands has administered the crown estates for more than a century. It has provided for the immediate future needs by reserving lands for public purposes. It is continuing to carry out this function and I understand that a major step in the planning of resources and management of reserves will be the introduction of new legislation.

The first real step in the allocation of recreational resources was the identification of outstanding natural features and those of scientific importance that should be preserved in their native state. In October 1967, the National Parks and Wildlife Act became law in New South Wales and proclaimed 19 national parks and the National Parks and Wildlife Service was formed to administer them.

Unfortunately, while one would not like to see a constriction of opportunity for recreation in national parks, it is clear that scientific requirements should be satisfied before recreational requirements. From a scientific viewpoint, the substitutes for national parks are negligible but those to meet recreational needs are in most cases available and/or may be fabricated when needed. Also, although present usage of national parks places much emphasis on outdoor recreational values, it is apparent that in many cases the special national park value of completely undisturbed natural landscape is not essential and that largely natural surroundings would suffice. However, with respect to tourism per se, national parks do provide special values and these must be closely guarded. It is thus essential that the fullest possible advantage be taken of the scope for outdoor recreation in other areas which brings me to the concept of a regional park.

Below the level of national and state parks there are a great unknown series of recreation areas of various size but usually quite small. They may be under the care, control and management of trustees appointed by the Minister for Lands and include natural areas, sporting areas, showgrounds and racecourses. They are of only local significance and do not adequately provide for the needs of tourism and holiday makers. It is thus clear that there is an important gap in the park system and therefore, the next step is to meet the active recreation needs of these people and to make adequate provision for the future. To this extent, it should be realised that the state's major recreational resources are centred on its seaboard and it is only the extra special and peculiar features in the inland areas that attract large numbers of people. Of course this movement of people into the countryside is being accelerated by interpretive programmes and facility developments under agencies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Department of Lands. Some 82% of New South Wales population of 5,000,000 is confined to the coastal strip 100km in width.

It will be therefore apparent that a pressing need is to provide recreation areas along the coast where most of the pressure is. Thus, the whole coastline (1450km) must be critically appraised for tourism and recreation purposes.

Given the considerations that I have outlined, it is apparent that there will be some considerable pressure placed upon us in the future for all types of recreational pursuits. You particularly will feel the pressure because you have here a centre which suffers the 'finite space syndrome' in an acute sense. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next ten years.

Because of these pressures, it is clear more so now than ever before, that we must plan in anticipation of them. There is now the suggestion for a new type of park to be called "State Recreation Areas ". These areas will include the larger reserves established at inland water storage dams, high visitation areas near Sydney, coastal areas and areas with particular or special interest to the general public. Their significance will be regional rather than national or local and they will provide the diversity that many seek.

They are intended for development as major tourist and holiday centres where the emphasis will be on diverse recreation as a primary purpose and will not only fulfil a long term need but also meet the rising demand for such facilities in New South Wales. The number of State Recreation Areas should be increased progressively as the demand indicates and as new areas can be developed. These areas will he given protection along somewhat similar lines to national and state parks with planning to be carried out in two stages:

1. Production of a master development plan
2. Detailed design of individual projects

While this is necessarily only a sketchy account, the Department of Lands has carried out a good deal of investigation into this new type of park and it will soon, it is hoped, be a reality.

This park will fill the gap that exists in the present park system in New South Wales and at the same time will go a long way towards meeting the needs of the future for all kinds of recreational opportunities.

Thank you.