Parks and Wildlife under pressure concedes fewer than 10 per cent of incidents triggered fines enforcement

The rangers in charge of the region’s national parks and much of the coast have handed out only a fraction of the penalties available to them this financial year. Amid serious ongoing concerns about illegal camping and damage to the natural environment partly stemming from a steady influx in mobile travellers, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has refused to provide concrete figures on its enforcement regime. Last month, the agency which oversees the Parks and Wildlife Service in charge of big sections of the Cape’s coast not controlled by local governments confirmed 253 interactions with visitors so far since July 1. But DBCA refused to provide a breakdown despite criticism from past rangers that the agency had a strict “go soft” approach. “Myself and another ranger were told that under no circumstances were we to issue infringement notices to backpackers and if we did they would be revoked,” said an ex-DBCA ranger the Times has chosen not to identify. “Things certainly haven’t improved.” DBCA declined to respond to those comments. “This summer, Parks and Wildlife Service rangers have targeted peak periods and high-visitation areas including Kilcarnup and Joey’s Nose, with 253 infringements, caution notices and verbal warnings issued since July 1, 2024, across the Blackwood district for a range of offences including unlawful camping,” DBCA said instead. Asked to provide a concrete breakdown of the 253 interactions, DBCA rehashed its response before later conceding less than 10 per cent of the incidents were dealt with by way of fines. “DBCA takes an education-first approach to compliance where our rangers first interact with visitors to raise awareness about the importance of safe and responsible behaviours when visiting our national parks,” a spokesperson said. “Visitors may display different levels of receptiveness to this education, and where a visitor chooses to not modify their behaviour to be compliant, that’s when infringements are issued. “The total number of warnings, cautions and infringements reflects DBCA’s holistic approach to behavioural change.” Pressed again, the agency quoted district manager Wayne Elliott reiterating “the majority of compliance interactions between visitors to the Blackwood district and Parks and Wildlife Service rangers were resolved with cautions and verbal warnings, which is consistent with our education-first approach”. “In the majority of interactions, education led to a change in behaviour, with less than 10 per cent of total interactions requiring the issue of an infringement,” he said. Newly-minted Warren-Blackwood MLA Bevan Eatts said the agency’s avoidance was misplaced when residents across his electorate were deeply concerned about a significant jump in illegal camping and consequential risks. “It’s disappointing but not surprising to hear claims that DBCA rangers have been discouraged from issuing fines,” he said. “If that’s true, it signals a broader failure of leadership and policy. “Education has its place — but when rules are repeatedly flouted, enforcement must follow. Otherwise, we send a message that it’s open season on our natural assets.” However, Mr Eatts did note consideration had to be given to people forced into camping due to the region’s housing crisis, which deserved greater State Government support. A DBCA spokesperson said “an important component” of its role included “education about a shared responsibility to look after parks, permitted activities and impacts on the park environment and other users, with an emphasis on compliance through education, especially in high-visitation areas during peak periods”.