Draft amendment to the Gardens of Stone National Park plan of management

The draft amendment to the Gardens of Stone National Park plan of management has closed for comment.

2 eucalypt trees in front of a yellow stone rock formationPublic exhibition of the draft amendment provided members of the community with the opportunity to have a say in the management directions for the park. Opportunities to comment closed 11 December 2023.

The park is in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales.

The key issue addressed in this amendment is the construction of sections of the walking track to create a multi-day Wollemi great walk through Wollemi and Gardens of Stone national parks.

Parks and reserves established under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 need to have a plan of management. The plan includes information on important park values and provides directions for future management.

Once the plan is adopted, no management operations can be undertaken in the park unless they are consistent with the plan.

Plans of management may be amended to support changes to park management or proposed works.

The current plan of management was adopted in 2009. An amendment is being prepared to facilitate the establishment of a multi-day Wollemi great walk through Wollemi and Gardens of Stone national parks.

A draft amendment to the Wollemi National Park plan of management is also being prepared to facilitate a Wollemi great walk.

At the close of the public exhibition period, we consider all submissions on the draft amendment and prepare a submissions report.

We provide the Blue Mountains Regional Advisory Committee with the amendment, all the submissions and the submissions report. They consider the documents, make comments on the amendment or suggest changes, and provide advice to the Minister for the Environment.

The Minister considers the amendment, submissions and advice, makes any necessary changes and decides whether to adopt the amendment under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

Once an amendment is adopted, it is published on the department's website and key stakeholders, including those who made a submission on the draft amendment, will be notified.