Permits at Pulu Keeling
The Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden is a Commonwealth reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) to manage the park for the benefit of all people, present and future. The Director of National Parks, also established under the EPBC Act, uses a permit system to help regulate some activities. Permits may be issued subject to conditions that help to identify, protect, conserve and manage biodiversity, heritage and other values of national parks. This is a system through which industry and the public can share in the responsibilities of managing and protecting the park. Permits enable park managers to:
- maximise the safety of park visitors
- encourage responsible behaviour in the park
- ensure that commercial and other park users are accountable for their actions
- separate potentially conflicting activities
- manage impacts on high-use and sensitive areas
- monitor activities that could degrade biodiversity, heritage and other park values
- collect data for planning and management
When a permit is needed
Individuals and other commercial entities (eg. companies and associations) wishing to conduct commercial activities in the park, including commercial tours, need to have a permit issued by the Director. The Director may issue a permit only if:
- the activity is consistent with
- the Section 5.2 of the Pulu-Keeling National Park Management Plan 2015; and
- promotes an understanding and appreciation of the park’s natural and cultural heritage.
- the activity is not likely to:
- endanger public safety
- unduly damage the park
- unduly interfere with the preservation or conservation of biodiversity or heritage in the park
- unduly interfere with the protection of other features or facilities in the park
- interfere with the privacy of other persons in the park
- the activity benefits the public or persons using the park
In making a decision whether to issue a permit, the Director may take into account whether a person to whom the permit is to be issued has, in the last 10 years, been convicted of or is subjected to proceedings for an environmental offence.
Further information
For more information on commercial tourism licences, please refer to the Commercial tourism activity permit guidelines.
Contacts
Park Manager
Phone: +61 8 9162 6678
Email: parksonlinefeedback@environment.gov.au