❓ A parliamentary question addresses visitor safety in WA national parks following a tragic death and other incidents. The Minister's response highlights existing risk management programs and emphasizes individual responsibility in mitigating risks.
AnsweredQoN 921Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NATIONAL PARKS — VISITOR SAFETY
921. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the recent tragic death
of a young man, and a separate incident involving a woman found unconscious by
State Emergency Service personnel in the Kalbarri National Park.
(1) What is the
government doing to improve safety for the increasing number of visitors to our
national parks, including the upgraded Kalbarri National Park?
(2) Will the
minister commit to rolling out a comprehensive safety plan for visitors to all
national parks, including those not familiar with Western Australian
conditions?
921. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the recent tragic death
of a young man, and a separate incident involving a woman found unconscious by
State Emergency Service personnel in the Kalbarri National Park.
(1) What is the
government doing to improve safety for the increasing number of visitors to our
national parks, including the upgraded Kalbarri National Park?
(2) Will the
minister commit to rolling out a comprehensive safety plan for visitors to all
national parks, including those not familiar with Western Australian
conditions?
AnswerView source ↗
I do not normally represent, but I am
happy on this occasion to represent the Minister for Environment, and I thank
the member for advance notice of the question. At the outset, on behalf of all
of us in this chamber, I extend condolences to the family of the young man
whose life was lost at Kalbarri National Park. It was a terrible accident, and
we all feel for his family and friends.
(1)–(2) National
parks and conservation areas, like many remote parts of Western Australia and
the wider Australian continent, represent a degree of threat to whomever
travels through them. That is just by virtue of the environment that people
encounter, the nature of many of our remote areas and the likelihood that
people will risk passing through those areas in an unprepared fashion. People
travelling to remote localities of Western Australia, not even necessarily in
the summer months, who are not prepared and do not heed the advice of
authorities and departments such as the Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions, and people who operate the parks and other
regions that are not national parks, risk their lives. That is just a fact. It
is part of the attraction of Western Australia's remote regions and its
national parks. We would not want to remove all risks, firstly because it is
impossible, and secondly that would deprive people of the experience—the
encounter with nature that they seek by going to these places.
Visitors to national parks are
encouraged to plan their visits to these areas and take notice of information
provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions on its
website and in park brochures and signage. I join the Minister for Environment,
Hon Stephen Dawson, MLC, in urging people to take care in national parks and
elsewhere in the state, and to make sure that they have adequate water supplies
following this incidence of suspected dehydration. There have been others in
Kalbarri and other parts of the state in
recent times. It is a very sad fact that on occasion people have gone
unprepared into these locations. We should always take water and other
safety measures, such as wearing hats and sunscreen and being aware of the
forecast weather conditions. Visitor safety signage in Kalbarri National Park
and the park brochure provide comprehensive information about heatstroke,
dehydration and dehydration management. Other safety information for the park
is provided on the DBCA website.
With respect to the second part of
the member's question about a safety plan, the minister advises me that his department has a comprehensive visitor
risk management program in place for national parks and other such
areas. A lot of the response to the threat of people going into places unprepared
for the environment they are about to encounter is not about eliminating risk;
it is about risk mitigation and managing
risk. People should assess the risk and do everything they can to mitigate that
threat. That is what DBCA does. Risks and hazards posed to visitors are
addressed through a wide range of on-the-ground mitigation measures, as well as
communication through signage, brochures and website information. Online alerts
are also provided in the case of emergency such as bushfires and other potentially
dangerous conditions.
The government wants people to visit
our national parks. I welcome the member's observation that more people
are going to our national parks; that is a wonderful thing. I and the
government encourage that; however, we always encourage people to be aware of
the risks, take the advice available to them and ensure that that risk is
mitigated.
happy on this occasion to represent the Minister for Environment, and I thank
the member for advance notice of the question. At the outset, on behalf of all
of us in this chamber, I extend condolences to the family of the young man
whose life was lost at Kalbarri National Park. It was a terrible accident, and
we all feel for his family and friends.
(1)–(2) National
parks and conservation areas, like many remote parts of Western Australia and
the wider Australian continent, represent a degree of threat to whomever
travels through them. That is just by virtue of the environment that people
encounter, the nature of many of our remote areas and the likelihood that
people will risk passing through those areas in an unprepared fashion. People
travelling to remote localities of Western Australia, not even necessarily in
the summer months, who are not prepared and do not heed the advice of
authorities and departments such as the Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions, and people who operate the parks and other
regions that are not national parks, risk their lives. That is just a fact. It
is part of the attraction of Western Australia's remote regions and its
national parks. We would not want to remove all risks, firstly because it is
impossible, and secondly that would deprive people of the experience—the
encounter with nature that they seek by going to these places.
Visitors to national parks are
encouraged to plan their visits to these areas and take notice of information
provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions on its
website and in park brochures and signage. I join the Minister for Environment,
Hon Stephen Dawson, MLC, in urging people to take care in national parks and
elsewhere in the state, and to make sure that they have adequate water supplies
following this incidence of suspected dehydration. There have been others in
Kalbarri and other parts of the state in
recent times. It is a very sad fact that on occasion people have gone
unprepared into these locations. We should always take water and other
safety measures, such as wearing hats and sunscreen and being aware of the
forecast weather conditions. Visitor safety signage in Kalbarri National Park
and the park brochure provide comprehensive information about heatstroke,
dehydration and dehydration management. Other safety information for the park
is provided on the DBCA website.
With respect to the second part of
the member's question about a safety plan, the minister advises me that his department has a comprehensive visitor
risk management program in place for national parks and other such
areas. A lot of the response to the threat of people going into places unprepared
for the environment they are about to encounter is not about eliminating risk;
it is about risk mitigation and managing
risk. People should assess the risk and do everything they can to mitigate that
threat. That is what DBCA does. Risks and hazards posed to visitors are
addressed through a wide range of on-the-ground mitigation measures, as well as
communication through signage, brochures and website information. Online alerts
are also provided in the case of emergency such as bushfires and other potentially
dangerous conditions.
The government wants people to visit
our national parks. I welcome the member's observation that more people
are going to our national parks; that is a wonderful thing. I and the
government encourage that; however, we always encourage people to be aware of
the risks, take the advice available to them and ensure that that risk is
mitigated.
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