National Parks Online Booking System

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:56): My question is to the Minister of Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Could the minister inform the chamber about state government's online booking system for our national parks and how this is assisting visitors meet their needs?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:57): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. The state government has invested heavily in improving facilities and amenities in our national parks and reserves in an effort to encourage more visitors. We have invested over $10 million in turning the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges into an international mountain biking destination and improving the facilities in the parks in the north and south of metropolitan Adelaide, in line with what the community has told us they wanted.

In addition to this work, we have begun rolling out an online booking system for national parks, and we are committed to investing $500,000 in the 2015-16 financial year to further refine the booking system. This new online booking system offers a number of important advantages for visitors. It conveniently enables local, national and international visitors 24-hour access to bookings and information about park entry, camping and heritage accommodation in our national parks, all from a home computer, smartphone or other device.

It allows visitors to book a site up to 12 months in advance, making it easier and fairer for visitors and alleviating any worries about whether a site will be available on any particular day. Online bookings also mean that visitors can turn up to their campsite whenever it is convenient for them. They no longer have to carry the correct amount of cash to pay at the old payment stands and, whilst we know that many park visitors want the convenience of booking and paying online, we also understand, nonetheless, that some people may not always have access to the internet or a credit card. These visitors can book and pay through a number of accredited booking agents, many of which are located en route to the national park.

The system has, I am advised, initially been rolled out in 10 parks across South Australia with great success. Revenue, I am advised, is up in all parks where the online booking system has been introduced, and for the first time in many years numerous campgrounds in national parks across the state were fully booked for the 2015-16 Christmas and new year period, with most of the bookings being made through the online system.

The plan is to expand the online system to a further 38 parks. We will ensure that visitors are made aware of the changes as they occur, through signage, advertising and media releases, website updates and on the National Parks South Australia Facebook page. The state government will also continue to work with the public to improve the system as it is rolled out across the state. People can provide feedback and suggestions by emailing the online bookings project team at DEWNR.OnlineBookings@sa.gov.au.

I understand that the following parks are on the online system and are operational as we speak: Coorong National Park, Liberty Conservation Park, Canunda National Park, Bool Lagoon Game Reserve, Beachport Conservation Park, Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park, Mount Remarkable National Park, Innes National Park, The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park and Deep Creek Conservation Park.