Consultation Process
UPDATE: Below is a record of what appeared on YourSAy during the open consultation process from 20 November 2017 to 28 February 2018.
Have your say on the fire management strategy for Witjira National Park, which focuses on reducing fire risk to cultural values and assets, the environment, and essential infrastructure.
What is being decided?
The Witjira National Park Co-Management Board has developed the draft Witjira Waru Pulka (Fire) Management Strategy (PDF 4.8MB) to guide fire management activities over the reserve for the next 10 years, with a focus on cultural burning and cultural aspirations. The Witjira National Park Co-Management Board is represented by Lower Southern Arrernte people, Wangkangurru people, and staff from the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
The draft strategy takes a unique approach by placing the cultural values and the Traditional Custodians, the Lower Southern Arrernte and Wangkangurru people, front and centre of this fire management strategy.
The strategy has been designed using traditional knowledge and methods to present the information in a way that is easy for all members of the public to understand, while being highly relevant and targeted to the Traditional Custodians.
An important and significant feature of the poster is the Seasonal Calendar which, displays how Country responds to seasonal changes and when certain activities may be undertaken.
The strategy incorporates the National Heritage Listed Witjira-Dalhousie Springs which, due to the springs’ isolation, are critically important for supporting species found nowhere else in the world, with some so localised they are only found in one spring. Inappropriate fire regimes, being either too frequent or infrequent, are a threat to nationally significant species.
The draft Witjira Waru Pulka (Fire) Management Strategy poster outlines the fire management aspirations of the Witjira National Park Co-Management Board, along with cultural and environment considerations. Recommended Works and Mitigating Actions have been identified to reduce the risk of values and assets being impacted by fire.
This strategy identifies appropriate on-ground works, such as burning, alongside improving fire management infrastructure such as fire access tracks and water access points, at strategic locations to reflect and support cultural practices.
How can your input influence the decision?
You are invited to provide feedback on the draft Witjira Waru Pulka (Fire) Management Strategy poster.
Your feedback will be considered by the Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources in finalising the draft Witjira Waru Pulka (Fire) Management Strategy.
The Witjira National Park Co-Management Board would like to hear from Lower Southern Arrernte people, Wangkangurru people, the public and other stakeholders on your thoughts on the fire management strategy outlined in the poster.
Provide your feedback by:
Fire and Flood Management Unit
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
GPO Box 1047
ADELAIDE, SA 5001
Have your say before comments close 5pm Wednesday 28 February.
How will your input be used?
You will receive acknowledgement that your submission was received via return email or post.
The Witjira National Park Co-Management Board will then consider the submissions, make changes to the strategy where needed and endorse the strategy.
Notice of the final strategy’s adoption will be published on the DEWNR and Natural Resources SA Arid Lands website, as well as YourSAy. The final Witjira Waru Pulka (Fire) Management Strategy poster will be made available on the fire management plans page of the DEWNR website.
The Analysis of Submissions document will be released along with the final plan. This document details the comments raised, the response to those comments and whether any changes were made to the plan as a result of those comments. Find out more about the criteria used to analyse submissions (PDF 260KB).
Please note that your submission will become part of the public record and will be available to anyone who requests a copy unless you specifically request otherwise.
Want to know more?
Background
In 2015, the Witjira National Park Co-Management Board sought to be better informed on fire management, planning and preparedness, with a desire to undertake cultural burning.
This was in response to the DEWNR and National Land Care Programme project, Desert Jewels, which sought to improve managing South Australia’s Great Artisan Basin mound springs. The Desert Jewels project identified that returning to ecologically appropriate fire regimes could assist managing the mound springs and help integrate western science with Traditional ecological knowledge. As a result, in 2016 the Witjira National Park Co-Management Board, consisting of representatives of the Lower Southern Arrernte people, Wangkangurru people and staff from the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, supported developing a fire management strategy.
The draft strategy was developed by the board, and takes a unique approach by placing the cultural values and the Traditional Custodians, the Lower Southern Arrernte and Wangkangurru people, front and centre of this fire management strategy. The strategy poster was designed by Lower Southern Arrernte man and DEWNR Cultural Ranger Dean Ah Chee using traditional methods and knowledge. The seasonal calendar presents this cultural knowledge to display how Country responds to seasonal changes when certain activities are undertaken.
