Airstrips and helipads in NSW national parks Aviation infrastructure such as airstrips and helipads, are not common in our national parks but many parks do have them. The airstrips and helipads within our national parks are managed and maintained by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and are used for a wide range of management purposes such as trackwork, bushfire management, and scientific surveys, as well as for emergency purposes such as search and rescue, bushfire fighting and medical emergencies. The airstrips and helipads within national parks are NOT open to general aviation. Legislated Plans of Management (PoM) govern how each national park is managed (you can find out more about Plans of Management and view individual park PoMs here https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/park- management/plans-of-management). Where parks have airstrips and helipads they are usually included in the relevant plans of management, including for what purposes they can be used for. Some examples include the following: Mutawintji National Park. The Plan of Management 2013 (p26 and 95) outlines that the airstrip on the park “was previously used by visitors flying to Mutawintji to see the engraving and ochre art sites, as well as being used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) during emergencies…and was used by the NPWS for access and park management operations”. However, the POM goes on to state the airstrip is not currently in use “as it is too short to safely accommodate new RFDS aircraft. The strip is also eroded in places and the nearby ridges make aircraft approaches difficult in many circumstances”. The PoM states that the intention is to “Investigate upgrading the existing airstrip to a standard suitable for RFDS use”. Sturt National Park. The Plan of Management 2018 (p54) states “The airstrip at Fort Grey remains operational for park management purposes including deployment of staff for wildfire response and for the Reintroduction of Locally Extinct Mammals project. The airstrip is also available for use in emergencies such as medical evacuations”. Nocoleche Nature Reserve. According to its Plan of Management 2000 (p26) “the existing airstrip will be maintained for Service and other authorised users”. Blue Mountains National Park. The Plan of Management 2001 (p87 and 90) outlines that “a range of management facilities are required both on and off-park to implement the Service’s management programs”, and these facilities include “on- park helipads at Blackheath, at Acacia Flat in the Grose Valley and near Glenbrook Creek. The PoM states that “Aircraft will not be permitted to land within the park unless part of an authorised management operation or for emergency purposes”. The helipads in Blue Mountains National Park at Blackheath and within Royal National Park at Garrawarra are also listed as available for emergency medical use (see https://www.ozrunways.com/helipads/) .