A NSW Government committee has begun investigating access to publicly owned land and waterways in New South Wales, including national parks, marine reserves, crown land, state forests, water catchments and Aboriginal land.
The Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways was established by a resolution of the NSW Legislative Council on Wednesday 28 May 2025.
The Chair of the committee, Mark Banasiak MLC of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, said that many activities are banned or restricted on some public lands, including recreational activities such as four-wheel-driving, shooting, horse riding, hiking, rock climbing, camping and fishing.
“The committee would like to investigate the extent and rationale to access restrictions across public lands and waterways, including the balance between environmental protection, cultural heritage preservation and public access,” he said.
Mr Banasiak noted that restrictions to access can have an impact on local communities, recreational users and industries such as tourism, forestry and agriculture.
The inquiry will examine the legislative and regulatory frameworks governing access restrictions and the consultation processes used when access is restricted or reviewed for public lands and waterways.
“I am looking forward to hearing from a range of stakeholders who are interested in using public lands and waterways, whether it be for recreation use such as mountain biking, climbing or four-wheel driving, or to run a business such as outdoor adventure tourism,” Mr Banasiak said.
The committee welcomes submissions from interested stakeholders and members of the community. The closing date for submissions is 1 August 2025.
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
