Nav2017 Information Package
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NNAV NAV2017 INFORMATION PACKAGE Marramarra NavShield Organised by: Bush Search and Rescue NSW (BSAR NSW) Please read the following information carefully. Thank you! AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY SERVICES NAVIGATION SHIELD - NavShield 2017 29 years serving the rescue community! Dear Participant, Thank you for entering NAVSHIELD 2017! Please read this information package carefully. Record Your Team Number(s) here: All teams will receive the information pack electronically on Sunday night 18th June 2017. The team list will be available on our website (www.bsar.org.au/navshield) from Monday night 19th June 2017. You will need to quote your team number at the Registration Desk when you arrive at NavShield. This will be the final information pack, and in it we have included: o General Information. o Driving Directions to NavShield 2017. o Specific Information for the day. o Registration Procedure. o A Program Timetable. o NavShield Rules. o NavLight Electronic Punching. o Special Thanks. This event will use NavLight electronic punching. Please read the section at the end of this information package to familiarise yourself with the NavLight system before you arrive at NavShield. There are 328 participants entered in this year’s NavShield! NavShield will be on regardless of weather so be sure to bring warm and waterproof gear. This time of year can be cold and wet. (See Minimum Equipment Rules). NavShield 2017 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners: NavShield 2017 is being held on the traditional lands of the Darug people, and we wish to acknowledge them as the traditional custodians of the land, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water, and community. We would like to pay respect to the elders past, present, and emerging. Location: This year’s NavShield will be held in Marramarra National Park, and on surrounding Crown Land. The area is close to Arcadia, and it can be accessed via Galston Gorge, Berowra Waters, or from Old Northern Road near Middle Dural. Base Site: The NavShield Base will be on a lot of Crown Land which is accessed via the Marramarra Ridge Track, in Marramarra National Park. The location of the base site can be found on the Land & Property Information map: o COWAN 1:25 000 topographic map. o Auto-Generated Series: 9140-4-N, 2016 edition. o Note Datum: GDA94 o Grid Reference: 2186 8678 o Lat / Long: S33.544407914 and E151.081091489 The Base Site will be open from 12:00pm on Friday 23rd June 2017. Access to Base: The entrance to Marramarra National Park is on Bloodwood Ave, Fiddletown. Access to NavShield then requires a 2.5km drive from the National Park entrance along the Marramarra Ridge Track. Due to the condition of the track progress is slow (maximum 20km/h). Vehicles with a higher ground clearance are recommended. Please consider carpooling to minimise the amount of traffic of the road. Drive slowly and carefully to avoid damage to the track. Approved arrival times: Friday 23rd June 2017: Participants may arrive at the National Park entrance between 1130am – 1030pm. Saturday 24th June 2017: Participants may arrive at the National Park entrance between 630am – 800am. Please plan your journey so that you arrive within the times mentioned above. There will be other National Park users in Marramarra National Park on Saturday 24th June 2017 who also require access to the Marramarra Ridge Track. Therefore NavShield participants who do not arrive at the National Park entrance by 800am on Saturday 24th June 2017 may have to wait at the National Park entrance before proceeding along the Marramarra Ridge Track to the Base. Cancellation: NavShield is a rugged outdoor event designed to test the ability of the emergency services to operate in variable conditions. Therefore the NavShield is normally held regardless of weather. However, in the event of extreme weather, bushfire, damage to the main entry and egress trail resulting in blocked access, criminal activity, terrorist attack, or other circumstances beyond the control of the organisers, NavShield may be cancelled or postponed. NavShield 2017 2 Camping: ➔ Self-sufficient camping. ➔ BSAR NSW marshals will direct you to available camping when you arrive at NavShield. ➔ Please ensure that you only camp in authorised camping areas. ➔ Please minimise unnecessary traffic around the base site during NavShield. ➔ No open campfires are permitted at Base this year. ➔ Fires may be lit at Base in BYO portable fire boxes or fire pits only. So please come prepared if you want to have a campfire. You will also need to supply your own firewood, because the collection of firewood from the surrounding bush is prohibited. ➔ No fires are permitted on the course this year. ➔ Fuel stoves only are permitted in Marramarra National Park. ➔ The organisers of the event would like to encourage you to use fuel stoves for all of your cooking needs. ➔ Please take all rubbish out with you. ➔ Please leave all areas as you found them. ➔ The noise curfew is 10pm. Excessive noise, including generators, must be quiet by 10pm. Alternative Accommodation: Marramarra National Park is within 1½ hours’ drive of the Sydney CBD. Therefore teams may prefer to consider seeking alternative accommodation during NavShield 2017. Toilets: Portable toilets will be provided at the NavShield Base. We recommend that you bring your own personal toilet paper, because supplies may run low. Please also bring hand sanitising lotion to ensure your personal hygiene. A toilet will also be provided close to each of the Radio Checkpoints on the course. Water: ➔ We ask that each team brings potable drinking water for use at Base. ➔ Drinking water will be provided close to each Radio Checkpoint on the course. ➔ Any water that you collect from creeks on the course must be purified and boiled. Food: ➔ Catering will be provided at Base by Iron Cove District Scouts. ➔ Meals need to be pre-ordered during online registration. However a limited number of additional meal vouchers will be available for purchase at NavShield. ➔ Additional food and supplies can be obtained from Galston and Glenorie. ➔ All teams should carry their own spare food during the event, even if you are planning on returning to base on the Saturday night. ➔ No food will be served or supplied on the NavShield course. Fuel: The nearest fuel is available at Galston and Glenorie. Mobile phones: There is limited mobile phone coverage from the ridge tops in Marramarra National Park. Please do not expect any mobile phone coverage in the gullies or creeks. NavShield 2017 3 Media: Crisis Media Management In the event of an serious injury, accident, or other acute event taking place during the weekend, all media inquiries will be directed to the BSAR NSW Squad Captain, Paul Campbell-Allen, 0418 457 059. General Media Management For media stories of a general nature, regarding the event, it’s history and outcomes, all media inquiries will be directed to the NavShield Event Co-ordinator, Steven Rutten, 0401 066 105. Other Agencies Media Any inquiries that relate to other agencies such as NSW Police, SES, RFS, etc who are in attendance at the event, will need to be directed to their most senior personnel on site, and in line with those agencies’ own media protocols. Support Crews: All support crew members are required to sign in at the administration tent. Team Leaders are asked to ensure that this happens. Remotely Piloted Aircraft (drones): Remotely piloted aircraft (drones) are banned from NavShield this year. Only the organisers of the event have permission for a drone. Accessibility: Unfortunately the Base site is not wheelchair accessible this year. Minimum Impact Bushwalking: Minimum Impact Bushwalking is a conservation ethic that has been adopted in Australia, and in many other countries. It means that whilst bushwalking we strive to ensure that our activity results in no damage to the environment. Ideally another party following you should not be able to tell that you have been there. All participants are asked to practice minimum impact bushwalking whilst at NavShield. This includes: o Do not feed any animals in the bush. o Be especially careful when walking near environmentally sensitive areas. For example, Marramarra National Park has fragile soil ecosystems on some open rock platforms. Please minimise your activity in these areas, and tread lightly. o Take any rubbish out with you. o Two day teams may choose to overnight on the course. However, please choose your campsite carefully, and minimise damage to flora and fauna. o Remember that fuel stoves only are permitted on the course this year. o Minimise noise at all times, and be respectful of other participants and other National Park users. NavShield does not have exclusive use of the National Park during the event. o Marramarra National Park contains a number of sites which have notable Aboriginal artefacts. If you see any artefacts on the course please treat them with respect, and avoid any unnecessary disturbance. Further information will be provided during the event briefing, o If you need to toilet in the bush chose a site which is at least 100m from all creeks and watercourses. Dig a shallow 10cm hole and cover the site with soil. Obviously more care is required in higher density areas. Use the toilets provided whenever possible. NavShield 2017 4 o Remember your personal hygiene. Handwashing is recommended. o Do not use detergents or soaps in any of the creeks. o Be as self-sufficient as possible. Prohibited: ➔ Pets are not permitted. ➔ Please contact the event organisers prior to NavShield if you need to bring an assistance animal. ➔ NSW National Parks are no-smoking areas. ➔ Chainsaws are prohibited during NavShield. Weather: ➔ Forecast for Saturday 24th June 2017: 11° to 18°C, mostly sunny, possible late shower.