ForestrySA

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development about ForestrySA.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Last week, the forestry select committee heard disturbing evidence from Orienteering SA that they have been locked out of ForestrySA's native forests for the purpose of orienteering despite the 50-year longstanding agreement they have with ForestrySA. Their evidence was that, despite having met with the minister's staff on two occasions and with the minister herself once, after the bombshell letter was delivered to them by ForestrySA on the sudden change in policy, and despite having them supply the minister with significant documentation that was requested, the minister and her office have then gone into hiding.

To quote some of the evidence, when asked whether they had gone back to the minister's office to ask why no positive action had been taken, their reply was, 'Yes, many times. We have not had a response.' My questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister please confirm whether her office received correspondence from Orienteering SA?

2. Can the minister explain why her office or herself have not responded to Orienteering SA despite their correspondence on several occasions on this important matter?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for her question. ForestrySA has a longstanding policy regarding no off-track access in areas of high conservation or heritage significance. This is detailed in the Native Forest Reserve Management Plans. While some recreational pursuits, such as scatter orienteering, may have historically been considered acceptable, contemporary forest management standards set a clear mandate for the primacy of protection of biodiversity and threatened species. This means limiting access of any type in some highly sensitive conservation or Aboriginal heritage areas.

It is true to say this policy has not always been applied consistently, according to my advice; however, a refocus of resources within ForestrySA has enabled staff to apply these standards and policy. There is now a clear and transparent process to assess event applications based on consistent criteria to work with groups to ensure events are in a suitable location and at an appropriate time of the year and monitor and evaluate outcomes.

I am pleased to advise there have been significant positive changes to ForestrySA's recreational fees and event management system, which have reduced red tape and improved equity and transparency. I have met with Orienteering SA regarding these reforms and ForestrySA has had multiple similar interactions with Orienteering SA.

Event fees are applied when an event is ticketed, a competition or provides financial gain to the organiser. The fees go towards some level of cost recovery to ensure quality service and facilitation. I am advised that ForestrySA has implemented fee and event management reforms to align recreational use in the Mount Lofty Ranges with operational constraints, user demand, legislation and policy and to allow for some cost recovery.

Prior to the reforms, the per person fee for a recreational event held on forestry land was $2 per adult and $1 per child. After comparing fees charged by other agencies, I am advised, and aligning to government indexation, the per person recreation fees increased to $7.15 per adult and $4.10 per child. I might add that those increases occurred in 2021 under the former government.

Further reform in 2022-23 saw the removal of some fees and charges and a reframing of the event fees from the per person event fee to a flat rate fee based on the event size. These event categories and associated fees are, for under 30 participants, free—simply register it as an activity. From 30 to 100 participants, it is $265, and then it goes up in increments from there. For Orienteering SA and its member clubs, this means small gatherings of under 30 people are free. A typical medium orienteering event, I am advised, is between 30 to 100 participants. The event fee for this size event is $265. This is equivalent to a per person allocation of between $8.83 and $2.65, depending on how many people register for the event.

I am advised that a typical large orienteering event is 101 to 150 participants. The event fee for this size event is $525. This is equivalent to a per person fee of between $5.19 and $3.50. So, clearly, on average, the flat rate event fee in most cases has actually reduced the per person allocation the event organiser carries over into the event registration fee.

I also understand that Orienteering SA are unhappy that they can no longer access some areas where they have previously held events. I am advised that ForestrySA's policy is consistent with the conservation management objectives of SA Water and the Department for Environment and Water (DEW).

Orienteering SA inquired about holding a large event for 600 people in the Pewsey Vale Forest Reserve, which includes high-value biodiversity and Aboriginal heritage values. The event application did not pass the assessment criteria and Orienteering SA was provided with alternative options, namely the Bennett's Forest Reserve near Kersbrook, Watts Gully and Forties complex in the Mount Crawford Forest or the Dewell, Big Flat and Goat Farm complex in the Mount Crawford Forest. Second Valley Forest and the Green Triangle Forest were also suggested as suitable for such a large event but were rejected.

ForestrySA must also balance recreational use with public safety and economic imperatives. Operational and safety outcomes will always override recreational outcomes and from time to time an event may be disrupted because of forest operations, such as harvesting.

In terms of the select committee evidence that was referred to, I am advised that staff from my office have met with various members of Orienteering SA on a number of occasions, specifically 14 July 2022, 15 February 2023 and 8 May 2023.

The staff member who has been meeting and liaising with Orienteering SA is not my Chief of Staff, which I understand was alleged in the evidence, but another staff member from my office. I also met with representatives of Orienteering SA on 8 May 2023. Further to this, I am advised that my office staff have spoken with representatives of Orienteering SA by phone on a number of occasions.

In addition, I have raised the matter relating to access to forestry plantations by Orienteering SA with both the previous chief executive of ForestrySA as well as the current chief executive. I am advised that staff within my office have also previously raised this matter with ForestrySA, both with the previous chief executive and the current chief executive of ForestrySA.

I appreciate that potential contact from ForestrySA may not have been perceived as a response from my office; however, given that we were raising it with ForestrySA, further contact from ForestrySA should have been seen in that light, but I appreciate that perhaps a direct communication of that fact may have been helpful for Orienteering SA.

However, we need to recall overall biodiversity as well as operational safety within commercial forests needs to take priority. I appreciate that Orienteering SA were not happy that that was the answer that was given, but I hope that my fulsome response here has clarified the matter.