Balancing Access and Protection: Outdoors NSW & ACT’s Voice in the Public Land Inquiry

Outdoors NSW & ACT has proudly submitted a formal response to the NSW Legislative Council Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways, reinforcing our commitment to a future where access to nature is both inclusive and environmentally responsible.

Why This Matters

From national parks to marine reserves and state forests, access to public lands plays a vital role in public health, education, cultural connection, and economic growth. As the peak body for outdoor recreation, education, adventure tourism, and therapy across NSW and the ACT, we represent a thriving sector that sees over 2 million participants each year guided outdoors in a safe, sustainable, and culturally respectful way.

At the core of our submission is a philosophy that guides our work:

To see is to understand. To understand is to respect. And to respect is to protect.

Our Key Messages to Government

In our submission, we outlined several core principles and recommendations:

• Access Must Be Balanced with Environmental Evidence. Decisions around access must be guided by clear, evidence-based assessments of potential environmental impacts. Where access is suitable, it should prioritise inclusive participation—especially for disadvantaged communities.

• Equitable Access Delivers Health and Social Benefits. Outdoor participation supports mental and physical health, combats social isolation, and builds community connection. It is a public health solution that deserves strategic support.

• Public Land Should Be Managed with a Tiered Access Model. Not all land is equal in sensitivity. Partnerships with organisations like Forestry Corporation NSW offer examples of how activities such as trail bike riding—beneficial for many marginalised groups—can occur responsibly in less fragile environments.

• Respecting Country Must Be at the Centre. We are committed to strengthening partnerships with Traditional Custodians and advocating for co-designed frameworks that respect and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage and Country.

• The Outdoor Industry Must Be at the Table. Any changes to access or regulation must include consultation with our industry to ensure policies are practical, safe, and serve both people and planet.

Working Together for Shared Outcomes

We reiterated our willingness to collaborate with government, land managers, and community stakeholders to create policies that balance access with preservation. We already work hand-in-hand with agencies such as NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Forestry Corporation, Crown Lands, and Water NSW to support sustainable land use.

With the right frameworks in place, public access and conservation are not mutually exclusive—they are mutually reinforcing.