Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L00219:body:0:p35
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L00219
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 100768–103821

road. Dirt roads are currently graded and resurfaced to maintain them at a standard suitable for two-wheel-drive vehicles in dry weather. During wet weather, some roads may be closed to avoid accidents and to prevent damage to the road surfaces.

         Roads in the park are required to provide safe carriageway for a range of purposes including walking, riding, and driving motor cars, buses, and heavy maintenance equipment.

         Walking tracks

         There are a number of signposted walking tracks in the Mount Pitt Section of the park (Map 4).

         Grades vary from easy to steep and distances vary from 200 metres to five kilometres return. Tracks may be slippery when wet. Walks are signposted at the start of each walk and at junctions of major tracks. There are also a number of signposted walking tracks in the botanic garden (Map 5).

         Tracks are required to provide safe passage for a range of all-weather uses normally including walking, horse riding, mountain bike riding, maintenance, and rescue.

         The sparse vegetation on Phillip Island provides easy access to the flatter parts of the island. Walking off designated tracks can hamper habitat rehabilitation efforts (Map 6).

         The EPBC Regulations (r.12.41 to 12.44) prohibit use of vehicles other than on designated access roads, tracks and parking areas, and allow the Director to control the use of vehicles (or classes of vehicles) on public access roads and tracks, including setting speed limits.

         The EPBC Regulations (r.12.55) prohibit walking or riding off designated vehicle access roads and tracks, or designated walking tracks.

         The Director may prohibit or restrict access to all or part of a Commonwealth reserve (r.12.23).

         Issues

           •      Some sections of track may become slippery and difficult to negotiate during extreme weather.
           •      There are many steep and rugged parts of the park and botanic garden inaccessible for people with disabilities. There are some sections of track at Mount Pitt, Captain Cook
           Lookout, Palm Glen and the botanic garden where ramps and grades provide limited access to assisted wheelchairs.
           •      Most roads and tracks need to cater for multiple uses.
           •      Phillip Island has specific safety issues.

         Prescriptions
4.2.1          Commercial tour operators may be permitted or licenced to conduct four- wheel-drive tours on vehicle access roads and vehicle access tracks in the Forestry Area that are not designated for public use. Four-wheel-drive tours may only be undertaken during suitable weather conditions, when tracks are considered to be capable of sustaining vehicle use, and where the activity does not result in accelerated erosion or structural damage to the roads and tracks in use.
4.2.2          Commercial tour operators who require access to Phillip Island must:

                (a)      provide safety management plans and standard operating procedures for tour operations on Phillip