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DEFENCE ACTIVITIES IN THE JERVIS BAY REGION: A BOODEREE NATIONAL PARK PERSPECTIVE
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Defence management of activities
Defence activities in the park consist of the following:
• regular naval officer training activities run from Creswell, including use of the
terrestrial component for bushwalking, mapping, navigation, physical training,
leadership exercises, and use of the marine component for seamanship training.
These are characterised by a high level of consistency for intended use of the
park (defined in the Booderee National Park Management Plan), good level of
understanding of park values, legislative requirements and sensitivities, high
quality coordination, and good adherence to conditions
• Defence exercises from a wide range of external Defence organisations, such as
Special Forces training (SAS, Commando), large coordination exercises and naval
aggregations in the bay. These are sometimes characterised by inconsistencies of
intended use of the park (e.g. carriage of weapons, which is not permitted under
the EPBC Act); discharges; noise; conflicts with public use; a sometimes poorer
level of understanding of conservation and cultural issues; poor coordination; and
have led to breaches of conditions and legislation
• Defence research activities, including trials. These activities may potentially be
inconsistent with intended use of the park (e.g. detonation of explosive devices,
impact of military sonar on cetaceans during migration and breeding), and may
also come into conflict with the EPBC Act, especially where they are carried
out in Commonwealth areas. The frequency of these types of activities have
generally diminished or been highly modified in recent years. Naval activities
now have tighter controls imposed through policies on matters such as cetacean
interactions
• Defence use of the Beecroft Weapons Range and associated management of buffer
areas. These activities are generally inconsistent with the intended use of the park
(i.e. quiet enjoyment)
• management of Defence infrastructure within or adjacent to the park, including
the sound range, wharf and adjacent facilities, Naval Waters, access roads such as
that to Bherwerre Ridge, and navigation and other markers. These activities are
generally well coordinated and are consistent with intended use of the park.
In managing Defence land in the Territory, Defence and their contractors must manage
a wide range of issues of environmental importance and consequence. Such issues
include fire management, cultural sites (both Koori and non-Koori), ecosystems, pest
plants and animals, water quality, public access and recreation. It is understood
that Defence’s environmental ethos and principles are based on the Commonwealth
environment legislation and the concept of best practice. At least some of the contracts
are narrow in their scope, and do not appear to cover the range of management
activities required. For example, the fire management contract focuses on structural