FAQs

Park management plans are the main strategic documents used to manage protected areas in South Australia. Management plans set strategic direction, contain information on park values and threats and outline the objectives and strategies for how parks will be managed.

Park management plans are developed and adopted in accordance with the requirements of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

In 2021, the decision was made to change the classification of the park to a national park, with the proclamation of Cleland National Park proposed for December 2021. In addition, Eurilla Conservation Park which borders Cleland is proposed to be incorporated into Cleland National Park. The proposal to reclassify Cleland Conservation Park and Eurilla Conservation Park to national park status as Cleland National Park is currently being progressed through the requisite Parliamentary process. Subject to approval, it is expected that the proclamation of the Cleland National Park can occur in December 2021. These changes will help promote the park and strengthen the area’s conservation and biodiversity values. The change to park classification requires a new management plan to be developed.

This draft plan also supports the park’s ongoing role in the state’s economic development and provides action to meet increasing demand for nature based tourism and guide investment in new tourism infrastructure in the park.

The draft management plan has been developed based on a review of the current plan, and in consultation with technical specialists, park managers and key stakeholders. These stakeholders contributed their specialised knowledge and views to guide the direction and content of the plan.

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 provides protections for the conservation values of the park. The draft plan zones a majority of the park as either Conservation A or Conservation B, placing high value on protection and enhancement whilst providing for ecologically sustainable recreational activities.

The Conservation Zone A in the draft plan is significantly larger than the similar zone in the current park plan. The current plan has a second zone called ‘Stabilisation Zone’ which now has more of a conservation focus in the new plan, covered by the Conservation B Zone. Since the current plan was developed, there are now additional parcels in the park that are protected under the new zones of the draft plan, including the former Eurilla Conservation Park.

The draft plan identifies specific zones where development can occur. This development should be designed in a way that compliments the natural character of the park and minimises ecological disturbance.

The Cleland Wildlife Park Zone is managed very differently to the rest of the park, requiring it to be identified in its own management zone. It is primarily managed as a commercial zone within the national park and its priority is the ongoing provision of facilities and leases, where appropriate, to support an immersive wildlife park experience for visitors. The Zone occupies the central plateau of Cleland National Park and includes the Wildlife Park and adjoining car parks.

The Planning and Design Code requires the management plan to identify tourist accommodation as an envisaged land use. Park management plans are strategic documents, the detail provided in the draft Cleland Management Plan aims to demonstrate the tourism accommodation envisaged in certain areas of the park.

The public consultation regarding the plan and its content is focussed on the content of the plan, and does not include more detailed design information regarding any tourist accommodation.

While the plan provides consultation regarding tourism accommodation envisaged, there are a number of further steps before a tourism accommodation proposal can be developed, including formal planning approval processes under the planning and development code.  

The draft plan is intended to set the direction for strategic management of the park as outlined in the objectives and strategies. It is not intended to address every issue or cover every aspect of management in detail. The specific actions required to manage the park in accordance with the plan will be developed and monitored at a park operations level. This approach ensures that the plan is flexible and able to guide a range of future management challenges.

At the conclusion of the 3-month consultation period the feedback received will be collated and analysed and used in the development of the final plan. The consultation report, analysis of feedback, and final plan will be submitted to the Parks and Wilderness Council for advice before being submitted to the Minister for Environment and Water for adoption, once the new national park has been proclaimed.

Once this new plan is adopted by the Minister for Environment and Water it will replace the current management plan.

During the public consultation period the public can make a submission by:

• filling out the survey on YourSAy
• emailing a submission to DEWProtectedAreaManagement@sa.gov.au with 'Cleland National Park' in the subject heading
• posting a written submission to: 

National Parks and Protected Area Program Unit

Department for Environment and Water

GPO Box 1047 Adelaide SA 5001.