Orienteering, Rogaining and Geocaching
Introduction
Orienteering
Orienteering is a competitive sport which involves participants visiting on
foot a set number of flagged control points between a start line and a
finish line in the shortest possible time. Participants select individual
routes and use a map and compass to navigate the course. Courses are
usually set in bushland and vary in length but are generally 2 to 15km.
There may be a number of courses of varying length and difficulty set at
each event. Courses are usually completed in 20 minutes to 2 hours.
Special orienteering maps (usually 1:10,000 or 1:15,000 scale) are
prepared in advance of events.
The nature of orienteering requires that events be held in unfamiliar
territory and off established routes or tracks. Events tend not to be held
in the same area too frequently so as to minimise the risk of competitors
becoming familiar with the terrain.
Rogaining
Rogaining is a competitive sport which is a mixture of bushwalking and
orienteering. Participants may visit control points of differing values in
any order, the aim being to accumulate the maximum points during a set
period, usually 6 to 24 hours. Participants carry packs and compete in
small teams (2 to 3 people).
Rogaining uses standard topographic maps, so financial imperatives to
reduce costs by multiple use of sites are lower than for orienteering.
Geocaching
Geocaching is an adventure game based on a ‘treasure hunt’ theme
where participants utilise a handheld GPS device. It involves the
placement of caches (sealed containers, e.g. tupperware) by one party
and the search for the cache by other parties.
Geocaching is also less commonly played as an organised group event
over the duration of a weekend. These events involve hiding a number of
caches over a geographical region, and participants attempt to locate
these to find prizes and accumulate points.
Logistics
The organisation and preparation of an orienteering or rogaining event
requires planning and a significant lead time. Due to the need to commit
resources early in the planning process, it is preferable for all parties,
including park managers, to ensure that arrangements for access and
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event activities are entered into with an appropriate level of certainty and
commitment.
Orienteering and rogaining events will require an accessible assembly
area for organisational purposes and as a start and finish point.
Orienteering and rogaining events are considered recreational activities
and should also comply with the general principles of recreational use of
NPWS managed land.
Geocaching involves hiding a cache containing reward objects or
instructions at a specific geographical location. In most cases the exact
coordinates are then posted on the internet (at www.geocaching.com)
and participants attempt to locate the cache using a GPS device.
Policy
Orienteering and Rogaining
1. Orienteering and rogaining events will be given favourable consideration
as an appropriate use of selected parts of most national parks, regional
parks and state recreation areas managed by the NPWS.
2. An orienteering and rogaining event must have:
a. An indentifiable, accountable and appropriately insured organiser
(whether an individual, group or association);
b. An identified route or area of operation; and
c. A discrete short-term time frame (eg over one weekend).
An event without all of these attributes will not be permitted.
3. An event cannot be conducted unless approved by the relevant Regional
Manager or delegate.
4. Orienteering and rogaining events will not be permitted to take place in
nature reserves, Aboriginal areas and historic sites apart from under
exceptional circumstances.
5. Events will not be permitted where a plan of management explicitly
prohibits orienteering or rogaining.
6. As one of the management principles for wilderness areas embodied in
the Wilderness Act 1987 is to permit opportunities for solitude, and as
recreational orienteering and rogaining may involve large numbers of
people in organised events which may diminish these opportunities, these
recreational activities will not be permitted in declared wilderness areas.
7. Unless expressly prohibited by a plan of management, the suitability of
specific areas for orienteering and rogaining events is determined by the
Regional Manager. Decisions about the suitability of specific areas
should be based on the likelihood of unacceptable impacts on the area’s
natural, cultural and Aboriginal values (such as terrain, flora, fauna,
convict roads, Aboriginal sites, etc), other park users and infrastructure.
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8. Placement of markers or other fixtures must not disturb the soil,
substrate, rock or vegetation in a park, or disturb wildlife, or interfere with
park infrastructure, its use and operation. Activities such as the thinning
or removal of vegetation to make markers visible, are therefore
prohibited.
Geocaching
9. Geocaching is not permitted in protected areas managed by the NPWS.
10. As an activity organised from the internet, geocaching events have
indefinite time frames and undefined numbers of participants, rendering
management of the activity ineffective.
11. While it is recognised that geocaching shares some common attributes
with orienteering and rogaining, there is also an insufficient nexus
between geocaching as a recreational activity and the conservation
purpose for which NPWS protected areas are reserved or dedicated.
Preliminary Consultations
12. Preparation and mapping for events, particularly orienteering, require long
lead times and represent a major cost to event organisers. Preliminary
consultations between the Regional Manager and orienteering and
rogaining groups should be used to establish the suitability of a broadly
defined area to accommodate such events. These preliminary
discussions should produce an agreement in principle that, except where
unforeseen circumstances (eg bush fires) intervene, specific areas will be
available for orienteering and rogaining events under an agreed suite of
conditions.
13. Notwithstanding any approval in principle, firm and final consent for
specific events still must be obtained from the Regional Manager (see
below). Preliminary consultations serve to establish that under normal
conditions the inherent values, management objectives, and any relevant
Plan of Management for a given area do not preclude orienteering and
rogaining.
Consent
14. Under the National Parks and Wildlife (Land Management) Regulation
1987, organised group activities such as orienteering and rogaining
events are required to obtain consent prior to staging an event.
15. Applications seeking consent for specific events must be made to the
relevant NPWS Regional Manager.
16. Limits, modifications or conditions may be attached to any consent for the
staging of an orienteering or rogaining event.
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17. Where a proposed event may encroach on land outside the boundaries of
NPWS managed land or on any portion of NPWS managed land subject
to a lease, it is the responsibility of the event organisers to obtain
separate approval from that park neighbour or lessee.
18. Organisers of orienteering and rogaining events are required to have
mandatory public liability insurance of $10 million.
19. The NPWS accepts no responsibility for the security of markers and other
fixtures (e.g. if they are stolen or moved before an activity can take
place).
Fees
20. Fees, based on the number of event participants, may be charged for the
staging of orienteering and rogaining events at the discretion of the
Regional Manager.
21. Additional charges may be imposed by the Regional Manager where
event-specific NPWS services need to be provided by the Region and/or
where such NPWS services have been requested by the orienteering or
rogaining event organisers. This may include assistance at the event,
provision of BBQ fuel, supervision, site inspections, etc.
Procedural Guidelines
Information Dissemination
22. The Service will ensure that all controlling State orienteering and
rogaining associations are made aware of the Service policy and
procedural guidelines on orienteering and rogaining.
23. Organisers of orienteering and rogaining events will be responsible for the
provision of information on bushwalking code of ethics to all participants.
Preliminary Consultation
24. It is in the interests of both the Service and orienteering and rogaining
groups to commence discussions and arrangements for events as early
as possible.
25. Orienteering and rogaining groups should consult with the relevant
Regional Manager prior to commencing mapping or planning of an event,
and placement of any markers or other infrastructure. This will enable the
Regional Manager to determine at an early stage the general suitability of
an area for orienteering or rogaining activities. Early consultation will also
ensure that orienteering and rogaining groups are able to gain approval in
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principle for the staging of future events and activities in a broadly defined
area, and can then proceed to plan events and map the area with
reasonable security.
26. Regional Managers should therefore encourage preliminary consultation
and use the opportunity to plan and manage park use. Where Regional
Managers sanction the mapping of an area, orienteering and rogaining
groups should be made aware that this 'approval in principle' does not
guarantee consent for a specific event but indicates that proposals for
specific orienteering or rogaining events will be considered within a
broadly defined area. However, approvals in principle will not be
overturned by the Service unless there are specific unforeseen
circumstances which warrant the refusal of a consent.
27. Orienteering and Rogaining groups should be advised that the objective
of event organisers is to run an event in a way that will not generate any
permanent or long term impacts on the reserve.
28. The range of issues which should be considered when assessing the
suitability of an area are detailed below.
Assessment
29. Assessment should include the following considerations:
A. flora and fauna needing particular protection from disturbance;
B. susceptibility of soils to erosion in general and under certain conditions
(e.g. after rain or bushfire);
C. the presence of natural hazards (e.g. cliffs, unstable slopes, caves,
etc.);
D. potential conflicts with other visitors;
E. management activities (e.g. hazard reduction burning, research,
baiting etc.)
E. facilities available; and
F. alternative areas.
30. Where an assessment identifies some difficulty in one or more of these
considerations, and suitable alternatives are not available, the possibility
of imposing specific conditions for the conduct of an event should be
explored as a means of resolving the difficulty prior to any decision to
deny consent.
Consent
31. All applications to stage an event must be made in writing to the relevant
Regional Manager.
32. Consent for the staging of orienteering and rogaining events must be
made in writing and given to the event organisers before the event is
held.
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33. Particulars that should be sought from the applicant include:
A. Name of organisation, contact person and telephone/fax numbers;
B. Title and status (local, national, etc) of the event;
C. Proposed date, time and duration of event;
D. Map of the area showing assembly area, start/finish and proposed
control sites/courses. (Note that information on control sites and
courses must be treated as confidential by Regional staff);
E. Estimates of the number of participants, organisers and spectators
likely to attend the event; and
F. Arrangements for waste management and car parking.
34. Where orienteering and rogaining events are a common occurrence, it is
recommended that a pro-forma consent document be prepared by the
relevant Regional Office. Such a pro-forma might specify standard
conditions for all events and also accommodate particulars relating to a
specific event.
35. Consent is not to be transferable.
36. Consent may be denied where an identifiable group has breached the
conditions of previous approvals, and should be denied to any group that
has established itself to be irresponsible and an unreasonable user of the
park.
Conditions
37. Conditions which may be attached to approval by the Service include the
following.
38. Participants, organisers and spectators must:
A. adhere to the National Parks and Wildlife (Land Management)
Regulation 1987; and
B. obey any directions by NPWS staff.
39. The course of the event, including the location of marshalling areas,
start/finish points and control sites, must reflect the course agreed
between event organisers and the Regional Manager.
40. The event must be conducted at the time or within the period agreed
between the event organisers and the Regional Manager.
41. The number of event participants must not exceed any broadly defined
limit agreed between the event organisers and the Regional Manager.
42. Organisers will be required to:
A. ensure that all flags, markers and control points are erected or placed
for no more than 7 days prior to, and 7 days after an event, unless
special arrangements have been made for the course to be left in
place for a longer time;
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A. clean up all litter and rubbish immediately after the event;
B. repair, or assist in repairing, any damage which has been caused by
the organisers, participants or spectators of the event;
C. maintain a first aid facility at the start/finish area;
D. provide temporary toilets at the main assembly area if deemed
necessary by the Regional Manager
E. cooperate with park staff in setting aside suitable areas for spectators
and car parking, if necessary; and
F. have mandatory public liability insurance of $10 million to indemnify
the Minister, the Government, the Director-General, the Service and all
their agents, contractors and employees against all actions, suits,
claims, demands or costs in respect to any death or injury to persons
and damage or loss of property in connection with the event.
Promotion and Education
43. Regional Managers are urged to use the consultative process between
the Service and local orienteering and rogaining groups as an opportunity
to enhance community understanding of the natural and cultural values of
the area or reserve in which the event is to occur. It is recommended that,
where appropriate, Regional Managers offer event organisers available
interpretive information about the reserve and that event organisers be
encouraged to promote amongst event participants an understanding of
the reserve's natural and cultural values. This is also intended to raise an
awareness and appreciation of the management requirements for the
reserve.
44. Regional Managers may also negotiate with stakeholder associations to
undertake monitoring of the impacts of an event on the park over a
realistic time frame. These impacts could include trampling damage to
vegetation, soil erosion or the establishment of new but self-sustaining
walking routes.
Fees
45. Fees may be imposed for orienteering and rogaining events at the
discretion of the Regional Manager. Fees should be based on the number
of participants at an event.
46. The recommended fees are:
Minor Events (up to 100 competitors)
$1.00 per competitor per day
Minimum fee $10.00
Major Events (more than 100 competitors)
$2.00 per competitor per day
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47. Additional charges may be imposed by the Regional Manager where
event-specific services need to be provided by the Region and where
such services have been requested by the orienteering or rogaining
group. This may include assistance at the event, provision of BBQ fuel,
supervision, site inspections, etc.
48. All event fees are payable within 14 days after the event.
49. The payment of event fees may be waived by the Regional Manager in
circumstances where it might be considered unreasonable to impose
costs. For example, where only a small proportion of the course
encroaches on Service land or where an event is held as a charity or
community service.
50. All other fees which apply to the general public (e.g. park entry fees,
camping fees, etc) also apply to orienteering and rogaining groups.
51. A bond is not charged. It is considered that the threat of no return is
sufficient to ensure that event sites are left in an appropriate condition.
Phase In - Phase Out
52. This policy should not alter existing arrangements where agreements or
agreements in principle have already been struck.
53. The provisions of the policy and procedural guidelines should apply
immediately to all new arrangements for orienteering and rogaining
events and activities.
