Frequently asked questions - the Walpole Wilderness Why can’’’ t I take my dog into National Parks? Can I have a campfire at the Bibbulmun Track Huts? DEC has a policy of not allowing dogs into National Parks, even if In the southern half of the Bibbulmun Track, all sites south and they are on a leash or enclosed in a vehicle. This policy aims to east of the Shannon River (from Mt Chance to Albany) are protect indigenous fauna and the rights of other Parks users. designated no fire sites. Some of the main reasons that dogs are not permitted into To preserve the environment and “leave no trace” we recommend National Parks are: you carry and use a fuel stove. They are less likely to cause a The scent of a dog (even one on a lead) lingers and causes some wildfire, are faster and cleaner, and are easier to use in the wet. species of native wildlife to vacate areas for many weeks Most importantly, they don’t lead to destruction of vegetation around the campsite. Wide scale aerial baiting with 1080 has been carried out within National Parks to control foxes and feral cats. 1080 baits are Where is a good place to go canoeing ? lethal to domestic dogs. Detailed canoeing brochures are currently being developed for Leaving your dog in the car is not an acceptable answer. In a hot the Deep and Frankland Rivers as a joint project between the car, a dog can die from heat stroke in as little as four minutes. Department of Sport & Recreation, WA Lotteries, Canoeing WA and the Department of Environment & Conservation. Upon Please help by leaving your dog at home when visiting National completion late next year, the publicly Park areas, and that way the environment and the enjoyment of available brochures will detail canoe others is not compromised. launches, egress points, canoe camping Dogs can be permitted within a National Park if a) they are a locations, rapids, river grades and other guide dog or a hearing dog for visually or hearing impaired, b) important information relating to they are a specially trained dog used for search and rescue canoeing on these two rivers. In the operations or c) it is within a designated dog area. near future, further brochures are also Apart from the Shire managed dog areas, we currently do not expected to be developed for other rivers in the area. have any designated dog areas near Walpole. There is a proposal In the meantime, the best way to find out about canoeing in a in the WWA Management Plan to include Keystone Block (outside particular area on DEC managed estate is to contact either of the Public Drinking Water Source Area) and the Horseyard Hill Canoeing WA or one of the Rangers at the nearest Department of circuit and heritage trail as designated dog areas. Environment and Conservation. Where can I take my dog if I can’’’ t take it into Is there water at the Bibbulmun Track huts? National Parks? Rainwater tanks are provided at each of the Bibbulmun Track The Denmark Shire permits dogs to be taken to the Shire Huts, however no guarantee can be given about the purity or managed sections of beaches at: availability of water at any of these sites. Winter and Spring (June-Oct) provide the most reliable supplies. Various water • Peaceful Bay (Foul Bay between the boat launch and Irwin Inlet) courses, streams and rivers are located along sections of the • Boat Harbour track, however many streams only flow briefly after rain and • Parry’s Beach cannot be depended on for drinking water. Can I have a campfire on the beach? Walkers are responsible for treating water from any source – including the rainwater tanks. Treatment alternatives include Within the D’Etrecasteaux National Park, any campfire not boiling, mechanical filtration or chemical treatment. contained within a DEC provided fire ring or BBQ is prohibited except in the case of beach camping. Campfires are permitted on Walkers are encouraged to always carry adequate water for their beaches provided they are within an approved container that own needs when walking the track and not to rely on picking completely contains the fire and lifts it from the ground (eg a cut water up from sources along the way. down drum on bricks). All coals and fire wastes must be removed Can I take firewood from areas not designated for from the Park. firewood? Campfires within the Walpole Wilderness Area can only be lit It is an offence under the CALM Act to within authorised fire place (i.e. fire rings provided in designated remove firewood from National Parks, camp sites) and furthermore, campfires will only be permitted Nature Reserves and any other DEC after nightfall (6pm – 9am) during the wildfire season from the managed areas that have not been months December to April. There are no authorised fire places on designated for firewood collection. It is any of the beaches within the Walpole Wilderness area. the firewood collector’s responsibility to All campfires are prohibited on days of very high or ensure they are collecting firewood in an extreme fire danger. authorised area. Please check at your local DEC Office if you are unsure as to where you can collect firewood from. Western Australia’s first wilderness Where are the firewood areas? Fees at these sites are Firewood can currently be collected in the Walpole area only at -$6.50/adult per night the following interim locations within the Walpole Wilderness -$2.00/school aged child under 16 per night Area: Walpole residents – A section of Wye Forest Block has -$4.50/concession been set aside. This block is bound by Wye 7 Road to the south, Fernhook Track to the east, Nicol and Preston Roads to the North Within Frankland District the Fernhook Falls, Crystal Springs and Banksia Camp sites fit into this category. and Weld River Road to the west. Sites with developed facilties – may include ablutions, showers, Denmark residents – A section of Hay Forest Block has been set caravan sites without electricity as well as any of the facilities aside. This area is east of the Demark/Mt Barker Road, south of found at a basic campsite. the South Mitchell River Road and north of the Kernutts Road Fees at these sites are Private Property locations 7246, 7345, 6710, 7648 and 7575. -$7.50/adult per night Mt Barker residents – A section of Pardelup Forest Block has been set aside. This block is bound by Reserve 19858 and private -$2.00/school aged child under 16 per night property locations 518 & 519 to the north, private property -$5.50/concession locations 367, 359, 360, 474 and 352 to the west, Reserve 20020 There are no developed sties within Frankland District. and Amarillup Road to the south, private property locations 2148, 2144 and 1764 to the east. Are Irwin & Parry Inlets and Ocean Beach passable Maps of and further information on all of these firewood areas or impassable along the Bibbulmun Track? can be obtained from the Walpole DEC Office. Along the south coast of WA, the Bibbulmun Track crosses a number of inlets of varying size. All are closed off from the Why do fees apply in some parks and not others? ocean by a sandbar for a period of time during the year, and (camping & entry fees) when this occurs, the inlets are passable by foot. Visitor fees are currently charges at Parks that have high levels of Usually the sandbars are breached towards the end of winter visitation, a manageable number of entry points and where a either naturally or by the local authorities. The timing of this high standard of facilities and/or service is provided. Funds event and the length of time taken before the sandbar reforms collected from National Park entry fees are reinvested into the depends on the amount of rainfall received in the inlets Parks to improve facilities for visitors and to help offset the cost catchment. The channel to the sea can stay open for as long as 5 of park management. months. The aim of introducing National Park entry fees is to apply the When a channel is closed, it is possible to walk across the “user pays” principle so that fewer costs are met by taxpayers sandbar (which is continuous with the beach). When open, who may not be able to take advantage of the facilities and other various methods are used to cross from one bank of the channel recreation values of the Parks. or inlet to the other. Contact your local DEC Office for channel Do National Park passes cover camping fees? conditions just before you plan make your crossing. No. Irwin Inlet – Canoes are supplied for walkers to cross the Irwin What facilities can I expect at a campsite where Inlet. The protocol is to leave at least 1 canoe on each side of the inlet for the next walker. It is the walkers responsibility to ensure fees apply? that they have read the instructions for safe handling of canoes Facilities available at sites where camping fees are applicable supplied on either side of the crossing in the canoe sheds. generally fall into two catagories: Contact the Walpole DEC office 98401027 for current conditions. Sites with basic facilities or without any facilities. These sites can Wilson Inlet – can be crossed on foot at Ocean Beach (heading vary from a “wild” campsite with no development to formal south) or the most westerly tip of the Nullaki Peninsula (heading camping areas that include picnic tables, chairs, BBQ’s, camp north) during the summer months only.