Other activity permits
The Australian National Botanic Gardens is a Commonwealth reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) to manage the gardens 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 Commonwealth reserves. This is a system through which industry and the public can share in the responsibilities of managing and protecting the reserve. Permits enable the reserve’s managers to:
- maximise the safety of visitors
- encourage responsible behaviour
- ensure that commercial and other 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 values
- collect data for planning and management.
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (the EPBC Regulations) prohibit some activities in Commonwealth reserves. Individuals and other commercial entities (e.g. companies and associations) wishing to conduct an activity otherwise prohibited by the EPBC Regulations in the Australian National Botanic Gardens may be able to obtain a permit issued by the Director. The Director may issue a permit only if:
- the activity is consistent with the management plan for the garden (or where there is no management plan) the purposes for which the reserve was declared; including that the activity:
- promotes an understanding and appreciation of the garden’s natural and cultural heritage
- is consistent with the conservation values and management principles of the garden
- the activity is not likely to:
- endanger public safety
- unduly damage the garden
- unduly interfere with the preservation or conservation of biodiversity or heritage in the garden
- unduly interfere with the protection of other features or facilities in the garden
- interfere with the privacy of other people in the garden
- the activity benefits the public or persons using the garden
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.
Some activities need to satisfy additional requirements before the Director can issue a permit for them.
Apply well in advance
Please allow a minimum of 14 days for the permit application to be processed. If you require a permit in less than 14 days time, please contact the permits administrator for the Australian National Botanic Gardens on 02 6250 9540 (if calling from within Australia) or 61 2 6250 9540 (if calling from overseas), or email permits@anbg.gov.au.
Need more information?
The permits administrator for the Australian National Botanic Gardens can help with any queries regarding this permit – please call 02 6250 9540 or email permits@anbg.gov.au. Our website is at www.parksaustralia.gov.au/botanic-gardens, and the EPBC Act and Regulations can be viewed at www.environment.gov.au/epbc/index.html or purchased from CANPRINT, telephone 1300 656 863.