Dryandra Woodland - Department of Environment and Conservation ...

13.7 ORIENTEERING, ROGAINING AND CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING
BACKGROUND
Orienteering is an organised activity which requires participants to visit on foot a set number of
control points in the bush in a given sequence in the shortest time. Orienteering events were first held
in Dryandra in 1976. In 1979, an orienteering map of the Settlement area was produced. This map
has been used annually in past years and has become a favourite of many members of the
Orienteering Association of Western Australia. The combination of available accommodation, good
access, complex gully systems and an established network of tracks makes Dryandra ideally suited
for all levels of skill, fitness and enthusiasm.
Rogaining is a long distance cross country navigation event which generally involves greater use of
roads and tracks than orienteering. Periods of several years may lapse between successive uses of the
same area. Events, organised by the Western Australian Rogaining Association, were held in
Dryandra Woodland and surrounding farmland in 1985 and 1989.
Cross country running is a foot race that occurs over a variety of surfaces along a single, marked
course.
ISSUES
• The Orienteering Association of Western Australia has identified several other areas in Dryandra
that have potential to provide future venues for orienteering. Each area is approximately 1500 ha
in size.
• Limited studies on the impacts of orienteering on lichen-covered granite rocks and on Wandoo
woodlands indicate that physical damage to vegetation is minimal and recovery is expected to be
rapid (CALM and OAWA 1986). However, depending upon the number of participants, and the
frequency and timing of events, orienteering, rogaining and cross country running have the
potential to impact on the environment and disturb other visitors.
OBJECTIVE
2. Provide orienteering, rogaining and cross country running groups with an opportunity to
experience Dryandra's many landscapes in areas able to sustain such use.
STRATEGIES
1. Permit orienteering, rogaining and cross country running in areas of State forest and national
park within Dryandra Woodland.
48