Visitor accommodation policy

10. Visitor accommodation is permissible in parks where it is consistent with the objects and management principles of the NPW Act and the Wilderness Act 1987, and the relevant park's plan of management.
11. In wilderness areas, self-reliant camping and the use of existing buildings or structures (such as huts) are the only form of visitor accommodation permissible. Moveable accommodation such as caravans are not permitted, as motorised vehicles are not permitted.
12. In nature reserves, visitor accommodation is only permissible where it is consistent with the management principles for nature reserves (e.g. accommodation relating to a research activity, field studies centre or for Aboriginal cultural purposes).

13. Fees and charges may be applied for the use of visitor accommodation facilities. Information on applicable fees and charges will be made publicly available.
14. Where external organisations provide accommodation, appropriate rental or other payments or contributions to be paid by that organisation will be determined as part of the grant of any consent, licence, lease or other approval required under the NPW Act.

15. If a visitor accommodation lease or licence authorising the erection of a new building or structure is proposed under section 151(1)(b) of the NPW Act, the general location and purpose of the lease or licence must be identified in the park's plan of management.
16. The Park Visitor Facilities Policy (internal document available to staff) requires the preparation of a site/precinct plan for new visitor accommodation or the significant expansion of existing visitor accommodation. This plan must address the planning, design and construction of the accommodation and associated park facilities in that location.

17. Proposals for new visitor accommodation in a park will be assessed via:
    • an appropriate level of environmental assessment
    • if required, a sustainability assessment to address the Sustainability Assessment Criteria for visitor use and tourism in New South Wales national parks
18. The Sustainability Guidelines for visitor use and tourism in NSW national parks provide more information on the assessment process.
19. Proposals by external proponents will require the grant of a lease or licence, following completion of relevant environmental and sustainability assessments, and any consultation required under the NPW Act.
    • Part 12 of the NPW Act sets out the types of visitor accommodation that may be granted a licence or lease, public consultation requirements and the role of the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council in providing advice to the Minister.

20. Tourist park accommodation should provide for an appropriate mix of caravan, cabin and camping options, including larger individual sites able to accommodate moveable accommodation, where this is appropriate to the site and the standard of access to the area.
21. It is preferable to locate any new tourist park accommodation where there are services and facilities of an appropriate kind and standard (e.g. mains power, water, sewerage and vehicle access).
22. Permanent occupancy of sites within tourist parks will not be allowed. Where privately leased or licensed occupancies of sites are inherited in newly created parks, these will be phased out when the existing interests expire.

23. To protect the park environment and the experience of other park users, the following actions may be undertaken to manage camping activities:
    • the number of camping sites or availability of remote ('bush') camping may be limited
    • camping sites may be rotated or rested to allow areas to rehabilitate
    • bookings may be required to occupy sites
    • permits may be required for remote camping.

24. Serviced camping – also called 'glamping' – is an acceptable and permissible form of accommodation, unless otherwise stipulated by a plan of management.
25. Serviced camping typically involves the provision of tents, bedding, movable accommodation and other facilities at a camp site for a fee. It can also include food and other related services, such as tours and educational or cultural experiences.
26. Serviced camping opportunities vary in style and scope. They can range from a private service booked by an individual camper (e.g. an overnight stay in a high-quality tent with bedding, where the tent is removed at the end of the stay), to ongoing semi-permanent options such as moveable accommodation or safari tents on purpose-built platforms or transportable 'pods'.
27. Management arrangements for serviced camping vary and reflect the style and scope of the service offered. Smaller-scale operations (e.g. operators whose service is to simply provide tents for campers) may operate under a licence. Other operations may require a lease under the NPW Act and may be integrated with additional visitor opportunities, such as overnight or multi-day walks.
    • If a lease is proposed under section 151 of the NPW Act that would authorise the erection of a new building or structure, then it may be necessary to amend the plan of management.
28. NPWS will work with potential serviced camping providers to consider and investigate suitable options and arrangements. NPWS may also directly establish and manage serviced camping operations in priority locations.
29. All serviced camping activities must be approved by NPWS. NPWS will work with operators to determine the appropriate level of assessment and approval required.
30. NPWS will consider the accessibility and popularity of sites, the supporting infrastructure available, impacts to local communities and environmental considerations when determining whether a location is suitable for serviced camping. NPWS will also consider the need for competitive allocation of sites, particularly in areas where limited opportunities may be available, or there may be several potential providers.
    • The most appropriate sites for serviced camping may be identified in plans of management or through strategic planning for new visitor experiences.
    • For small scale operators servicing individual campers, NPWS will work with the operator to identify the most suitable camping places for serviced camping during the assessment and approval process.
31. Sites available for serviced camping must have systems in place to ensure equity of access and opportunity to camping sites (e.g. booking systems).
32. Visitors using serviced camping arrangements must be made aware of the applicable terms and conditions of camping in national parks.

33. Third party bookings are bookings made by external organisations on behalf of visitors staying at NSW national park accommodation. This can include agent bookings, operator bookings or bookings made by someone on another person's behalf.
34. Third party operators should seek NPWS approval before offering bookings. This is to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place so that visitors using the booking service are informed of NPWS' terms of use and applicable booking conditions.
35. Third party operators are required to manage all aspects of the booking, including resolution of any issues raised by the visitor with respect to the booking or the accommodation service provided. NPWS is not responsible for the accuracy of information supplied by third party providers.

36. Occupancy of snowfield accommodation (commercial lodges, hotels and subleased apartments) is permitted only:
    • where consistent with relevant environmental and sustainability assessment requirements, and related approvals
    • for visitor accommodation and not for private or residential purposes
    • for less than 6 weeks in any snow season
    • for less than 26 weeks in any year
    • in conformance with NPWS leasing practices and subject to final approval by NPWS. All occupancy rights prescribed in a proposed lease or sublease agreement shall derive only from those agreements
    • for bookings made up to 3 years in advance.
37. In special circumstances an exemption may be granted to the 6 week limit on occupancy, to optimise the availability of visitor snowfield accommodation.
    Any request for an exemption to this policy must be made in writing to the NPWS, and will only be considered where:
    • bona-fide on-site managers and/or staff occupy the accommodation for purposes associated with the actual management of the accommodation and where a full-time presence is essential
    • the proposal is a bona-fide time-sharing arrangement or similar scheme that satisfies the objectives of this policy
    • the proposed occupancy is consistent with existing lease agreements.
38. In the case of sublet apartments, except where existing lease conditions prevail:
    • NPWS requires that all sublet apartments be subject to a management agreement approved by NPWS
    • lessees and sub-lessees must ensure that the premises are available to the general public for no less than 10 weeks in any snow season.
39. Any environmental planning instrument that applies from time to time, together with the plan of management, will govern planning issues in these areas.
40. NPWS may limit the overall number of beds that may be available for individual subleasing in apartment developments or conversion of commercial premises, to preserve a suitable range of accommodation types in the resorts. This may be an overall limit, or different limits may be applied to different resorts.
41. Proposals involving the conversion of existing commercial lodge premises to ski-club or syndicate-group usage, or other restrictive accommodation schemes, will be considered only where it is:
    • permitted under existing leases
    • permissible under the NPW Act
    • in Perisher Valley, and the lodge is located further than 1 kilometre by existing roads from the Perisher Valley Skitube Terminal.
42. NPWS will continue to encourage ski clubs to make spare accommodation available to the general public and will maintain its requirements to meet minimum membership numbers.
43. NPWS will continue to monitor lessees to ensure that approved accommodation limits are not exceeded, to:
    • keep occupation compliant with plan of management and lease conditions
    • maintain the comfort and safety of accommodation offered to park visitors.
44. NPWS will employ various methods to monitor lessees' compliance with the accommodation limits set out in their leases. These methods will include:
    • programmed inspections of premises and sublet apartments
    • lessees being required to maintain NPWS-approved accommodation registers that provide details of guests, management and staff staying overnight in the premises
    • placing signs to notify guests, staff and management of accommodation limits
    • annual confirmation, by lessees and sub-lessees, of the accommodation limit of premises and/or subleased apartments.

Policy adopted October 2010 
Policy last updated September 2021

Scope and application

This policy applies to all lands acquired or reserved under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) except for lands reserved under Part 4A of the Act (unless the Board of Management for those lands has adopted the policy). However, NPWS staff can use the policy as guidance in their dealings with Boards of Management.

Objectives

This policy aims to:

• ensure the protection of natural and cultural values in parks while providing opportunities to enhance visitor understanding and enjoyment through the provision of visitor accommodation options
• outline the different types of accommodation options in parks and the ways in which accommodation proposals will be assessed
• ensure that businesses and individuals who provide, or would like to provide, visitor accommodation on park are aware of the need to apply for approval and comply with the conditions stipulated by NPWS.

Definitions

Accommodation

Any area dedicated to an overnight stay and includes:

• camping, including remote bush camping and self-reliant or serviced camping at designated camping sites
• semi-permanent accommodation, such as safari tents on platforms or transportable 'pods' or other structures
• caravans and campervans
• built accommodation, including existing buildings or structures that have been adaptively reused, or new buildings or structures.

Adaptive reuse

The modification of a building or structure and its curtilage to suit an existing or proposed use (see section 5 of NPW Act).

Plan of management

A plan of management prepared under the NPW Act.

Self-reliant camping

Camping where park visitors provide their own tent or other temporary shelter (e.g. swag).

Serviced camping

Tents, bedding, moveable accommodation and other facilities provided at a camp site for a fee. Serviced camping can also include food and other services, such as tours and educational or cultural experiences (also called 'glamping').

Sustainability assessment criteria for visitor use and tourism in New South Wales national parks

The criteria adopted by the Director-General under section 151B(3) of the NPW Act, that the Minister must have regard to prior to granting a lease or licence for visitor accommodation.

Sustainability Guidelines for visitor use and tourism in NSW national parks

These guidelines inform the assessment and decision-making process for proposals requiring a lease or licence under section 151 of the NPW Act. These guidelines support implementation of the sustainability assessment criteria.

Tourist park accommodation

A visitor accommodation precinct that generally includes cabin, caravan, motor-home and camping or serviced camping styles of accommodation.

Visitor accommodation

Places where visitors reside temporarily, and includes tents, caravans, cabins, vehicles, trailers, moveable accommodation, camping areas and tourist parks, as well as buildings such as huts, homesteads, lodges and historic buildings.

Snowfield accommodation

Visitor accommodation in the Perisher Range resort areas of Kosciuszko National Park – hotels, commercial lodges and managed apartments, ski-club lodges, and subleased apartments.

Accountabilities

This section outlines NPWS staff with significant responsibilities for ensuring implementation of the policy.

Positions with significant responsibilities