LEEUWIN -
NATURALISTE
NATIONAL PARK
Caving and Abseiling Permit System
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT
Revised
Booklet
Revised
November 1999
1. INTRODUCTION
This
booklet replaces the old Cave Permit System Booklet as from 1st December
1999.
The
revised booklet has been left as brief and concise as possible so that it is
cheaper to produce and circulate, but also to encourage more people to read the
contents thoroughly. Every effort has
been made to convey clear intent of the revised system. If upon reading you see an uncertainty,
please contact a member of the Cave Management Advisory Committee (CMAC) and we
will (if necessary) correct the intent in a Cave Newsletter and revise this document
as appropriate.
The
CMAC will continue to put recommendations to CALM as problems/issues arise
warranting a change so that the high conservation values of the caves and
environments are not diminished.
2. OBJECTIVES OF CAVING AND ABSEILING PERMIT SYSTEM
CALM
objectives for the Caving and Abseiling Permit System remain the same:
1. Improve cave and abseiling safety. Where appropriate information will be
provided on site relevant to caving and
abseiling generally and to each site specifically where necessary.
2. Comply with the recommendations in the
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park Management
Plan (revision due 1999).
3. Improve cave conservation by classifying most
of the caves as having restricted access.
Restricted Access (RA) Caves
require the guidance of an approved trip leader through a WA Caving Club to
ensure that cave trips are taken in a responsible and safe manner.
4. Educate users on all aspects of caves by:
-installing
information signs
-providing
educational cave tours
-ensuring
trip leader skills for self guiding caves conform to minimum standards.
-Provide
education material/courses to trip leaders.
-Providing
detailed information to interested people on the cave permit system.
5. Raise revenue on a user pay basis. Use the monies raised to acquire staff, rehabilitate
caves and to research and monitor caves in the Park.
6. Obtain information on the number of people
using the various types of caves by:
-recording
the number of permits issued
-providing
log books (register) at some cave entrances
-installing
monitoring devices within the caves
-analysing
returns from concessions
3. CAVE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
The
classification system has been amended to better reflect abseiling and caving
activities and to better portray the high conservation values of caves
(self-guiding caves replace the title Adventure Caves). The Calgardup guide hut is the 7 day/week
contact for Cave Bookings.
3.1 Self Guiding Caves Class I
Essentially
these are the ‘beginners caves’, but because of the high management cost to maintain
their conservation values a fee of $5/children and $10/adult applies. The fee does not require a formal Cave
Permit, the ticket can be purchased on site from the guide during opening
hours. These caves may also be accessed
via the Permit System by groups with an accredited leader.
The
name (Self Guiding Caves) is intended to convey to users that they MUST AT ALL
TIMES stay on the marked paths for their own safety and for the protection of
the cave. Random exploring off marked
paths is likely to be hazardous and damage the cave and is prohibited.
3.2 Self Guiding Caves Class II and III
Access
into these caves is via a Cave Permit obtainable from the CALM Calgardup Guide
Hut. Only leaders possessing the CALM
Cave Leadership qualification can apply for these cave permits.
Self Guiding Caves Class II are horizontal
entry caves, whereas Class III are caves requiring roping/laddering skills to
enter the cave.
Bookings can be made 12 months in advance.
There is no minimum booking fee. Cancellations giving 14 days notice will
receive a full refund, cancellations giving less than 14 days notice will incur
a $5 minimum booking fee per site. All
payments must be made in advance of cave trips. Commercial Operators can pay their accounts
monthly by arrangement.
All SG3 leaders must have MSR Abseil
Instructors Certificate or equivalent at time of applying for trip leader
status. Qualifications will be approved
by CMAC and circulated in a Cave Newsletter.
NOTE:
1. Only the trip leader on the
permit can conduct the trip. Approved
trip leaders cannot book a permit for other people to run the activity.
NOTE:
2 Trip leaders must ensure each
member of their party is adequately equipped and briefed to enter each cave.
3.3 Abseiling Sites
Abseiling
sites receive heavy usage and large impacts on all sites.
Impacts on these sites will be monitored to
determine how sustainable the levels of use are.
Sites
can be booked up to 12 months in advance.
Cancellations giving 14 days notice will receive a full refund,
cancellations giving less than 14 days notice will incur a $5 minimum booking
fee per site.
Piggy
backing a booking is an acceptable practice provided:
a) The person with the original booking agrees.
b) The maximum number of people on site is not
exceeded (one participant over the limit exceeds the limit, spectator/non
participants are not included in the numbers).
c) CALM at Calgardup hut is notified and paid
fully in advance for the extra people on site.
(Note – for those unfamiliar with the term
piggy backing it is where a small group book an abseiling site and others want
to share the site up to the people numbers limit).
Calgardup solution Pipe is a fragile area
and is open for groups of up to 20, but only 10 are permitted on the decking at
any one time. Once a person has
abseiled into Calgardup instructors should ensure the correct path back to the
top is walked by participants to avoid erosion and short-cutting past dangerous
areas. The cave gate MUST remain closed
if using the site after normal hours.
Abseiling on the Wilyabrup sea cliffs is to
be administered under this Permit System from December 1999. Fees and payments are the same as for other
abseil sites.
3.4 Restricted Access Caves
3.4.1 Access into Locked Caves
CALM
acknowledges the role played by the Caves Access Committee (CAC). People wishing to access locked caves should
contact a CAC member and get copies of the Constitution and By-Laws which will
show locked caves and the numbers of non-affiliated people to a specific cave.
3.4.2 Unlocked Caves
Access
into an Unlocked Cave is via the granting of a permit through the normal cave
booking office. Only approved Club Trip
Leaders can apply for a permit.
Approved Trip Leaders are currently evaluated within the Speleological
clubs. A maximum of 1 person/trip not
affiliated to a speleological club are permitted per trip. This is the responsibility of the trip
leader to ensure this condition is not abused.
3.4.3 Fees
Members
of Speleological Clubs must apply for access permits into all permitable
caves. Members of Clubs only pay the
cost of processing the permit through the normal booking office (administrative
costs are currently $5 per permit). Non
speleological club members on trips through restricted access caves pay normal
cave entry rates. Speleological clubs
enjoy the reduced charged in recognition of past and continuing service in the
maintenance of caves.
3.4.4 Work vs Research vs Recreation
Trips
Work
and research Programmes are only those approved by CMAC in advance of trips
being undertaken. Such trips have work
or research as the prime reason for the cave visit. Recreation trips are those where no substantial work or research
is performed. These trips must be
booked. Work trips approved by
CALM/CMAC do not incur a fee for the permit.
Note: All bookings (unless otherwise indicated) are
on a half day basis. Evening
caving/abseiling is a p.m. booking slot.
4. TRACK MARKING
CALM
aims to track mark all Self-guiding Caves and some restricted access
caves. The process of track marking a
cave is not a simple process that can be uniformly applied to all passages of
cave.
Various
marking systems are in place within the Park.
In general reflective markers are yellow into the cave and white coming
out and red for NO GO AREAS. Continuous marking (track marking) is used
to clearly define explicit tracks (the medium of continuous marking may be
plastic tape, fishing line, plastic chain etc). Reflective coloured discs are most commonly used. Some caves have stairways and others have
heavy fishing line to indicate pathways.
Please use common sense when following the markers. Signs explaining track marking (and route
marking) will be placed inside the entrance of each self-guiding cave.
Caves
without markers (in the short term) should be traversed carefully and the group
should stay to observable wear areas.
Caving parties should not indiscriminately walk over formations to
randomly ‘explore’ a cave.
5. CONCLUSION
CALM
is proud of the positive majority response to conform to the Cave Permit System
as commenced on 1st September, 1992. There already exists a strong recognition of the unique and
fragile nature of the cave system within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.
Rules
and regulations are necessary however to sustain the resource. CALM will continue to source funds to
provide a wider based education program.
It is hoped the review will be accepted in the same spirit as the
initial system. All profit collected
from the Permit System goes directly back into the management of caves used by
cavers.
Any
enquiries on Cave/Abseiling issues can be directed to the Cave Management Advisory
Committee (CMAC) chairman or to the District Manager of CALM at Busselton.
CAVE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(As
of November 1999)
|
NAME |
WORK PHONE NO. |
FAX NO. |
MOBILE NO. |
HOME PHONE NO. |
|
Anne Wood (Chair) |
08 9757 7422 |
08 9757 7422 |
|
08 9757 6389 |
|
CALM |
|
|
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|
Bussell Hwy |
|
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|
MARGARET RIVER WA
6285 |
|
|
|
|
|
Rob Klok |
08 9755 5324 |
08 9757 2930 |
|
08 9755 5324 |
|
CALM |
|
|
|
|
|
Bussell Highway |
|
|
|
|
|
MARGARET RIVER |
|
|
|
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|
Norman Poulter |
08 9380 2766 |
9380 1236 (W) |
|
08 9276 2495 |
|
SRGWA Representative PO Box 120 NEDLANDS WA 6909 |
|
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|
Jay Anderson |
|
08 9431 8803 |
0407 473539 |
|
|
WASG Representative |
|
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|
P.O. Box 443 |
|
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|
CLOVERDALE WA 6105 |
|
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|
Greg Miller Commercial Operators |
|
08 9361 2143 |
041 996 1716 |
08 9361 5497 |
|
P.O.
Box 2063 |
|
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|
CARLISLE WA
6101 |
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|
Peter Wood |
|
08 9757 6377 |
|
08 9757 6389 |
|
Cavers Leeuwin |
|
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|
PO Box 388 |
|
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|
MARGARET RIVER
6285 |
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Alan Poore |
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Community Groups rep |
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VACANT |
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(Education representative) |
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|
Jeff Murray Manager AAT Cell Bravo Company Irwin Barracks KARRAKATTA 6
010 |
|
08 9273 7674 |
|
|
APPENDIX II
CONTACTS FOR CAVING
Conservation
and Land Management:
Anne
Wood, Cave Manager 08
9757 7035 email;
annewood@calm.wa.gov.au