Category: Royal National Park News

Work has begun on a Audley pontoon and jetty in the Royal National Park.

Continue reading “Audley Pontoon & Jetty”

A working group has finalised a traffic management plan to deal with the high volume of visitors to the Royal National Park over the summer months.

The working group included representatives from Roads & Maritime Services, National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS), Sutherland Police, Sutherland Council, Bundeena Maianbar Chamber of Commerce as well as both Bundeena and Maianbar Progress Associations.

The Traffic Management Plan has five levels. The first three are administered by NPWS staff.

Level 1 – Business as usual. Everything fine.

Level 2 – Coast fills first, depending on conditions. Traffic intervention at roads where it’s required (eg Wattamolla and Garie). Bonnie Vale is managed a different way because intervention at the gate causes problems in Bundeena so people will be allowed to drive in so they can convince themselves that it is full and can come out again.

Level 3 – Audley filling. People are moved on and away from full Audley car parks. Main road is always kept open. Staff on turnoffs direct traffic towards open areas and away from full ones.

It’s expected on sunny Sundays in January and February levels 2 and 3 will be reached.

The next two levels are where the police step in to ensure public safety.

Level 4 – Police determine that due to heavy traffic in Bundeena and Maianbar, the towns are significantly full and causing problems to public safety. Maianbar turnoff would be the action point here. This has not yet happened but the plan is in place.

Level 5 – Police determine that traffic on the public road is unmanageable and posing a significant risk to public safety, and the road is closed. This depends on the issue (accident or fire). Police emergency response, with authority and rules to go with it – the exact location of closure depends on the nature of the problem and where it is.

Local resident Helen Armstrong who attended the working group meetings makes the following recommendations:

1) Have your bushfire plan ready. For those of us living in Bundeena and Maianbar, this means have your car ready too, in the event you get stopped by a Level 5 closure. Every year that passes without a major fire increases our chance of Level 5 closure due to fires, which (in the event of fire) could also involve monitoring possible partial access to residents (and their personal guests) through to areas not directly at risk, so ensure you are always carrying your ID and also safety supplies (wool blankets, bottles of fresh water, first aid kits). Carry sunscreen, a good book, your mobile phone and snacks for the kids (or yourself). If you’re going shopping for perishables, take an Esky and if necessary turn back to the air-conditioned comfort of the shopping centre, or a friend with a fridge. Better yet – buy your perishables at IGA especially over summer. A fire cutting the road can happen with no notice and you can be stuck for hours. If authorities are concerned that the fire could become worse, they have the right to limit or prevent access to some or all. The scenario of an over-full town needing to be evacuated in the event of a 1994-style fire bearing down on us doesn’t bear thinking about.

2) CARRY YOUR ID. Drivers licence is mandatory anyway. If your drivers licence does not show you as a Bundeena or Maianbar resident, then also carry a power bill or similar proof of your residence here.

3) Your guests will be classified as “residential visitors”. We don’t expect this to be needed, but for your peace of mind (and your guests’) we suggest you email your version of the following:

“Dear [name of guest], we look forward to seeing you on [x date] at our home in [Bundeena/Maianbar address]. Traffic could be heavy so please try to get here before 9 am if you can. If you have any problems, call me on [resident’s phone number]. Please print this email and bring it with you so if anyone asks you for it, you can show them. Signed, [resident’s name].”

4) If you experience ANY problems, please document them and send the information to us IMMEDIATELY. Any other evidence you can get, such as the name of the person staffing a road block who is giving you grief, for example, let us know. Use your camera (most phones have them) and take photos of any problems, badly worded signs etc.

Send them to Helen Armstrong on ]]> This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it and we will ensure they get to the right people. We take this information on board and it is used to refine the plan each year. The authorities have actually asked us all to do this, to help so any problems can be rapidly identified in a way that makes it possible to fix, fast.

5) Be patient with the whole process – staff on the ground are under fire with more concerns about the overall situation than those waiting have got, as a rule. It’s the price we pay for living in a place like this. We have to accept the occasional hassles and know the closures won’t be invoked unless considered necessary.

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has revised traffic access for the Royal National Park on Australia Day (26 January) to ensure the safety of visitors, residents and staff and to minimise delays.

NPWS Regional Manager, Mike Patrick said Australia Day is one of the busiest days of the year in the Park and arrangements needed to be in place to manage the large numbers of visitors.

“We’re expecting more than 10,000 visitors on the day, and as areas in the park reach capacity they will be closed. This is for public safety and to ensure that those already in the park can enjoy their day,” Mr Patrick said.

“We are asking people to arrive early to ensure that they can get a park and find a spot to spend the day.”

Mr Patrick said that it was expected:

• Bonnie Vale would be full by 8.00 – 9:00 am
• Wattamolla would be full by 9:00 – 10:00 am
• Garie would be full by 10:00 – 11:00 am
• Audley will remain open but visitors may have to travel via the Waterfall entrance

“NSW Police will endeavour to keep open the Farnell Avenue entrance to Royal National Park on Australia Day to facilitate access for visitors to the Park, and for the Bundeena and Maianbar communities.

“However if traffic congestion in Bundeena becomes unmanageable, Police will initiate controlled access, firstly at the intersection of Maianbar and Bundeena Roads, then if necessary a closure at the intersection of Farnell Ave and the Princes Highway.

“Should the closures be necessary, residents and their guests will still be able to access Bundeena and Maianbar via McKell Ave. Similarly park visitors will be able to access Audley, including the boatshed and Weir Cafe.

“While we realise this is an inconvenience to residents, any such closure is not undertaken lightly. NSW Police and Transport Roads and Maritime Services (RMS – formerly RTA) are concerned about the impact on traffic on the Princes Highway and access for Emergency Services if required.”

Mr Patrick said NPWS had been working closely with NSW Police to minimise impact, particularly for residents and local businesses.

“Over Christmas there were some concerns by residents about access for them and their visitors and we have confirmed arrangements with the Police and RMS to ensure visiting friends and relatives will have access to residences in Bundeena and Maianbar,” he said.

“However, the best solution and to avoid delays is for residents who are expecting visitors to advise them to arrive early – certainly before 10.00 am.”

NPWS will be advising the public of road closures and the status of our primary destinations via large electronic signs on the highway and through the media with traffic updates.

There will also be information on the Royal National Park webpage and we encourage people to follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ROYALbusy where we’ll be providing regular updates on closures and traffic conditions.

Roger Bell
9995 6484 or 9995 5347
NSW National Parks Wildlife Service

National Parks and Wildlife Service is notifying residents that access to Bundeena Maianbar via Farnell Ave may be restricted during peak periods.

NPWS COMMUNITY NOTICE

Silly season is fast approaching and staff at Royal National Park are busily preparing for what is traditionally known as our ‘peak period.’ As Bundeena and Maianbar residents know, the park can reach its capacity (of somewhere between 10-15,000 visitors) on a busy day. These peak days have become more frequent over the past few years and our effort to manage these days is being escalated in response to this. The NPWS is working closely with RTA, Police, Traffic contractors and others to ensure these days are as hassle free as is possible.

Police and RTA’s main concern is the impact on traffic flow on the highway and they have advised us to put procedures in place to ensure that this is minimal. NPWS have contracted a Traffic Management company to control traffic through the park on these peak days. When the park’s road reach a congested state that starts to affect the flow of traffic on the highway Farnell Ave entrance to the park will be closed and visitors will be advised that the park is closed.

Residents of Bundeena & Maianbar and their visitors will be able to enter the park at Waterfall via McKell Ave. We understand this is not ideal, however this is a decision that is no longer within our control.

As in previous years, the park’s visitation is very dependant on good weather. If it is a nice day and it is a public holiday, (in particular Xmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day or Australia Day) is may be advisable to warn your visitors that they may be re-diverted to McKell Ave to enter or exit the park.

NPWS will be advising the public of road closures and the status of our primary destinations via large electronic signs on the highway, through the media via traffic updates and via a closure notice on the NPWS Royal National Park webpage as well as on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ROYALbusy

Sue Aston-Metham
National Parks & Wildlife Service