About with Country’ ‘Engaging enhancing community connections Traditional Owner knowledge In with Country’, the ‘Engaging to, and understanding of, the land into parks, education and plan identifies the important role was a lack of visitor knowledge interpretation. This knowledge of parks and reserves in appropriate behaviours (25 per and its ownership, however, community health and personal cent of votes). This focused on must be protected through wellbeing through – common themes listed in in appropriate legal instruments understanding and appreciating ‘People Parks’ such as camp fires, vehicle and protocols. the River Red Gum environment, use and litter. culture and history. This chapter proposes improving The second largest issues (as 23 per MAINTAIN both on-site and digital content, cent of the votes) was the lack of CURRENT as well as providing further information in parks about the EXPERIENCES opportunities for interpretation natural and cultural values, and A few comments relating to this programs, community-based uses. and other chapters asked for no programs and direct park ranger change to the current contact. SUPPORT FOR THE VISION experiences in the parks. For A total of 18 survey participants some this was a means to limit Nearly three-quarters (72 per and 19 submissions provided its use just to locals, to prevent cent) of participants supported or feedback on with ‘Engaging further restrictions on access, or strongly supported the vision for Country’. in response to concerns that an with Country’. 28 per ‘Engaging increased role by Traditional cent of responses were either Owners might also change neutral (17 per cent), or opposed access and usage for pre-existing to the vision (11 per cent). KEY MESSAGES users. for the vision Support Strongly support educate, but there are ‘Certainly of education 17% Lack enough empowered people already.’ about visit etiquette the #1 issues 55% Traditional Protect Owner knowledge SUPPORT LOCAL Maintain PARTNERSHIPS AND INTEREST Do not current experiences GROUPS support at all 11% Of the strategies presented within local Support this chapter, participants most partnership and interest strongly supported the strategy to groups understanding of Neither support ‘Improve interest group aspirations and nor oppose work in partnership to link with 17% LACK OF EDUCATION ABOUT monitoring and other VISIT ETIQUETTE THE #1 management programs and share PROTECT TRADITIONAL ISSUE knowledge’. This strategy OWNER KNOWLEDGE received 47 per cent of the votes Participants told us that the Some participants told us that it is in strong support, and 29 per cent biggest risk to retaining and important to incorporate in support.
About ‘Engaging with Country’ In ‘Engaging with Country’, the plan identifies the important role of parks and reserves in community health and personal wellbeing – through understanding and appreciating the River Red Gum environment, culture and history. This chapter proposes improving both on-site and digital content, as well as providing further opportunities for interpretation programs, community-based programs and direct park ranger contact. A total of 18 survey participants and 19 submissions provided feedback on ‘Engaging with Country’. KEY MESSAGES Support for the vision Lack of education about visit etiquette the #1 issues Protect Traditional Owner knowledge Maintain current experiences Support local partnership and interest groups LACK OF EDUCATION ABOUT VISIT ETIQUETTE THE #1 ISSUE Participants told us that the biggest risk to retaining and enhancing community connections to, and understanding of, the land was a lack of visitor knowledge appropriate behaviours (25 per cent of votes). This focused on common themes listed in ‘People in Parks’ such as camp fires, vehicle use and litter. The second largest issues (as 23 per cent of the votes) was the lack of information in parks about the natural and cultural values, and uses. SUPPORT FOR THE VISION Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of participants supported or strongly supported the vision for ‘Engaging with Country’. 28 per cent of responses were either neutral (17 per cent), or opposed to the vision (11 per cent). Strongly support 17% 55% Do not support at all 11% Neither support nor oppose 17% PROTECT TRADITIONAL OWNER KNOWLEDGE Some participants told us that it is important to incorporate Traditional Owner knowledge into parks, education and interpretation. This knowledge and its ownership, however, must be protected through appropriate legal instruments and protocols. MAINTAIN CURRENT EXPERIENCES A few comments relating to this and other chapters asked for no change to the current experiences in the parks. For some this was a means to limit its use just to locals, to prevent further restrictions on access, or in response to concerns that an increased role by Traditional Owners might also change access and usage for pre-existing users. ‘Certainly educate, but there are enough empowered people already.’ SUPPORT LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS AND INTEREST GROUPS Of the strategies presented within this chapter, participants most strongly supported the strategy to ‘Improve understanding of interest group aspirations and work in partnership to link with monitoring and other management programs and share knowledge’. This strategy received 47 per cent of the votes in strong support, and 29 per cent in support.