{"id":"national-parks-and-wildlife-national-parks-regulations-2016","name":"National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2016","slug":"national-parks-and-wildlife-national-parks-regulations-2016","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"sa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":236194,"registerId":"sa-national-parks-and-wildlife-national-parks-regulations-2016-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-06","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2016","content":"South Australia\nNational Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2016\nunder the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972\n\nContents\n1\tShort title\n3\tInterpretation\n4\tApplication of regulations\n5\tQualifications of wardens\n6\tEntrance to reserves and parts of reserves where fee payable\n7\tOpening and closing of reserves\n8\tAccess to Seal Bay beach\n9\tSetting aside a reserve or part of a reserve for a particular use\n10\tUse of vehicles\n11\tDisplay of certain receipts and permits in vehicles\n12\tUse of aircraft\n13\tUse of boats\n14\tCamping\n15\tFires\n16\tPossession and use of chainsaws\n17\tUse of generators and alternators\n18\tUse of metal or mineral detectors\n19\tPossession and use of firearms etc\n20\tSwimming and diving\n21\tUse of caves\n22\tRegulation of certain recreational activities\n23\tProtection of animals\n24\tRemoval of carcasses\n25\tPossession and use of devices for taking animals\n26\tBringing animals into reserve\n27\tStraying and grazing of animals\n28\tSeizure of animals etc\n29\tPlants\n30\tInterference with earth etc\n30A\tPalaeontological and geological sites\n31\tScientific research\n32\tLittering\n33\tPollution of waters\n34\tAbandoned property\n35\tDisorderly behaviour etc\n36\tActivities that must be authorised by a lease, licence or agreement\n37\tOther activities subject to relevant authority's permission\n38\tCompliance with notices and signs\n39\tCompliance with directions of warden\n40\tPermission of relevant authority\n41\tPrescription of offences—section 73A\n42\tGeneral offence\nSchedule 2—Seal Bay Beach User Fee Zone\nLegislative history\n\n1—Short title\nThese regulations may be cited as the National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2016.\n3—Interpretation\n\t(1)\tIn these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—\nAct means the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972;\ncave means a cave in a reserve and includes any natural cavity in the earth's surface;\ndrive includes ride;\nexotic plant means a plant that is not a native plant;\nfilming means taking moving or still pictures by any means;\npermit means a permit or other written permission granted by the relevant authority under these regulations;\nrelevant authority means—\n\t(a)\tin relation to a co-managed park for which there is a co-management board—the co‑management board for the park; or\n\t(b)\tin any other case—the Director;\nunprotected animal means an animal (including fish and invertebrates) that is not a protected animal;\nvessel means a boat, jet-ski, sailboard, raft, pontoon or any other man‑made object capable of floating on water and includes a hovercraft.\n\t(2)\tIf the co-management board for a co-managed park is suspended under section 43I of the Act, a reference in these regulations to the relevant authority will be taken to be a reference to the Director.\n4—Application of regulations\n\t(1)\tThese regulations do not apply to a co-managed park constituted of Aboriginal‑owned land.\n\t(2)\tA warden is not subject to these regulations in relation to the performance of his or her functions or the exercise of his or her powers as a warden and an employee of the Department is not subject to these regulations in relation to the performance of the duties of his or her employment.\n5—Qualifications of wardens\nFor the purposes of section 20(1) of the Act, a person has prescribed qualifications if the person:\n\t(a)\thas completed satisfactorily the training necessary for appointment as a police officer of the Commonwealth or a State or a Territory of the Commonwealth; or\n\t(b)\tis an employee of the Australian Border Force of the Commonwealth; or\n\t(c)\tis a customs officer of the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Border Protection; or\n\t(d)\tis an employee or has, within the 2 years preceding the appointment, been an employee in an administrative unit or department of the government of another State or a Territory of the Commonwealth if the unit or department is responsible for wildlife conservation; or\n\t(e)\tholds any other qualification approved by the Minister.\n6—Entrance to reserves and parts of reserves where fee payable\n\t(1)\tWhere a fee is prescribed or fixed by the relevant authority for entrance to a reserve or part of a reserve, a person may not enter or remain in the reserve or part of the reserve unless the appropriate fee has been paid.\n\t(2)\tWhere a fee is prescribed or fixed by the relevant authority for the hire of a tennis court, pavilion, accommodation block or cottage in a reserve, a person must not enter or remain within the boundaries of the facility unless that person has hired the facility or has been permitted by the hirer to enter or remain within the boundaries of the facility.\n\t(3)\tWhere an oval or open space recreation area in a reserve has been hired, no person, except the hirer or a person given permission by the hirer, may enter or remain on that oval or area.\n7—Opening and closing of reserves\n\t(1)\tThe relevant authority may, by causing a notice to be published in the Gazette, give notice of the hours during which a reserve is open to the public.\n\t(2)\tThe relevant authority may vary or revoke a notice under this regulation at any time by subsequent notice published in the Gazette.\n\t(3)\tThe relevant authority may close a reserve or any part of a reserve—\n\t(a)\tif, in the relevant authority's opinion, the closure is necessary or desirable for the proper management of the reserve; or\n\t(b)\tif a total fire ban is in force in an area that includes all or part of the reserve, or the risk of uncontrolled fire in the reserve is, in the relevant authority's opinion, extreme; or\n\t(c)\tif the staff necessary to patrol the reserve are unavailable; or\n\t(d)\tif it is, in the relevant authority's opinion, in the interest of public safety to close the reserve.\n\t(4)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, enter or remain in a reserve when it is closed to the public.\n8—Access to Seal Bay beach\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, enter or remain in that part of Seal Bay Conservation Park shown as Seal Bay Beach User Fee Zone on the plan in Schedule 2 except in the company of a warden or a person assisting a warden.\n9—Setting aside a reserve or part of a reserve for a particular use\n\t(1)\tThe relevant authority may set aside a reserve, or part of a reserve, as an area in which a particular activity may be undertaken by visitors to the reserve.\n\t(2)\tOne method by which the relevant authority may set aside the whole or part of a reserve under subregulation (1) is to cause a notice to be published in the Gazette setting aside the reserve, or part of the reserve, for that purpose.\n\t(3)\tA notice may impose conditions in relation to the activity and the relevant authority may vary or revoke a notice at any time by subsequent notice published in the Gazette.\n\t(4)\tA person must not contravene or fail to comply with a condition.\n10—Use of vehicles\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, drive or tow a vehicle in a reserve except on a road or track set aside for that purpose by the relevant authority or in any other area of the reserve set aside for that purpose by the relevant authority.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, drive a vehicle in a reserve at a speed that exceeds the speed limit fixed by the relevant authority or, if no limit has been fixed by the relevant authority, at a speed that exceeds 40 kilometres per hour.\n\t(3)\tA person must not drive a vehicle in a reserve without due care, recklessly or at a speed or in a manner dangerous to the public.\n\t(4)\tA person must not leave a vehicle in a position that obstructs other vehicles from entering, leaving or proceeding along a road or track in a reserve.\n\t(5)\tA warden may remove, or cause to be removed, a vehicle left in contravention of subregulation (4) and the relevant authority may recover the costs of removal from the owner of the vehicle as a debt.\n\t(6)\tA person must not drive a vehicle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine on land in a reserve unless it is registered and insured.\n\t(7)\tA person who drives a vehicle in a reserve must comply with all traffic signs and signals in the reserve that are applicable to him or her.\n11—Display of certain receipts and permits in vehicles\n\t(1)\tWhere the payment of a fee or the issue of a permit is required for entry to a reserve, a person who enters the reserve in a vehicle must ensure that the receipt for the entrance fee in respect of, or the permit authorising, his or her entry into the reserve is displayed in the vehicle in accordance with subregulation (3) continuously until he or she or the vehicle leaves the reserve.\n\t(2)\tWhere the issue of a permit is required for camping in a reserve, a person who camps in the reserve in or near a vehicle that he or she has travelled in to get to the camping site must ensure that the permit authorising him or her to camp in the reserve is displayed in the vehicle in accordance with subregulation (3) continuously while he or she is camping in or near the vehicle.\n\t(3)\tFor the purposes of these regulations a receipt for an entrance fee or a permit is displayed in a vehicle only if—\n\t(a)\tthe receipt or permit is displayed on the inside of the windscreen on the side of the vehicle opposite to the driver's position; or\n\t(b)\twhere, because of the design of the vehicle, it is not possible to comply with paragraph (a)—the receipt or permit is displayed in a prominent position in or on the vehicle,\nso that the receipt or permit is facing outwards from the vehicle and can be easily seen and read by a person standing beside the vehicle.\n\t(4)\tThis regulation does not apply to a person who enters, or camps in, a reserve as the client of a person conducting a tour for fee or reward if the vehicle concerned is owned by, or is under the control of, the tour operator.\n12—Use of aircraft\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, use an aircraft on land or water in a reserve except in an area set aside by the relevant authority for that purpose.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, jump into a reserve from an aircraft or drop an object into a reserve from an aircraft.\n\t(3)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, fly a drone or other remotely piloted aircraft over a reserve.\n13—Use of boats\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, launch, or use, a vessel on a dam, reservoir, lake, river or other body of water in a reserve unless the water has been set aside by the relevant authority for the use of vessels of that kind.\n14—Camping\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, camp in a reserve either in an area set aside for that purpose or in any other part of the reserve.\n15—Fires\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, light, maintain or use a fire in a reserve in contravention of a ban or restriction imposed by the relevant authority.\n\t(2)\tA person must not light or maintain a fire in a reserve in contravention of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005.\n\t(3)\tSubject to subregulation (4), a person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, light, maintain or use a fire in a reserve except in a fire place constructed at the direction of the relevant authority for that purpose.\n\t(4)\tSubregulation (3) does not apply in relation to an area excluded from the operation of that subregulation by the relevant authority by notice published in the Gazette.\n\t(5)\tAn exclusion under subregulation (4) may apply in relation to all fires or a class or classes of fire.\n\t(6)\tThe relevant authority may vary or revoke a notice under this regulation at any time by subsequent notice published in the Gazette.\n\t(7)\tA person who has lit, maintained or used a fire in a reserve must not leave the fire unattended.\n\t(8)\tIn this regulation—\nfire includes a solid fuel fire, gas fire and liquid fuel fire.\n16—Possession and use of chainsaws\n\t(1)\tSubject to subregulation (2), a person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, have control of, carry or use a chainsaw in a reserve.\n\t(2)\tA person may have control of, carry or use a chainsaw in a reserve—\n\t(a)\tin the course of exercising rights or performing obligations pursuant to a lease, licence or agreement entered into by the Minister or the relevant authority in relation to the reserve; or\n\t(b)\tin the course of exercising powers or performing obligations under an Act or statutory instrument; or\n\t(c)\tfor the purpose of fighting a bushfire or dealing with any other emergency.\n17—Use of generators and alternators\n\t(1)\tSubject to subregulation (2), a person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, operate a generator or alternator in a reserve except in an area set aside by the relevant authority for that purpose.\n\t(2)\tSubregulation (1) does not apply in relation to the use of a motor vehicle of a kind that is normally equipped with a generator or alternator.\n18—Use of metal or mineral detectors\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, use a device for detecting metal or minerals in a reserve.\n19—Possession and use of firearms etc\n\t(1)\tSubject to this regulation, a person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority—\n\t(a)\thave control of, carry or use a firearm or other weapon; or\n\t(b)\thave control of, carry or use explosives or fireworks,\nin a reserve.\n\t(2)\tSubregulation (1)(a) does not apply to an Aborigine in relation to a firearm that he or she has control of, carries or uses for the purpose of taking animals in accordance with a proclamation referred to in section 68D(4) of the Act.\n\t(3)\tA person may, if he or she complies with the Act and these regulations, have control of, carry or use a firearm in a game reserve if the firearm has a smooth bore not exceeding 19 millimetres in diameter.\n20—Swimming and diving\nA person must not swim or dive in any water in a reserve except—\n\t(a)\tin the case of Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park, in pursuance of a diving or snorkelling permit issued by the relevant authority;\n\t(b)\tin the case of any other reserve—\n\t(i)\tin an area set aside by the relevant authority for that purpose; or\n\t(ii)\twith the permission of the relevant authority.\n21—Use of caves\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority—\n\t(a)\tenter a cave (except in the company of a warden or person assisting a warden); or\n\t(b)\tremove or displace any rock, mineral or fossil in a cave; or\n\t(c)\tdisturb or interfere with any plant or animal (whether dead or alive) in a cave; or\n\t(d)\ttouch or interfere with any karstcalcite formation (speleothem) in a cave; or\n\t(e)\turinate or defecate in a cave; or\n\t(f)\tdeposit any organic or inorganic matter in a cave; or\n\t(g)\tdisturb, touch or interfere with any Aboriginal art or artefact in a cave; or\n\t(h)\tuse any paint, dye or marker in a cave, or release any substance into the waters of a cave; or\n\t(i)\tlight a fire or burn any material in a cave; or\n\t(j)\tsmoke any tobacco product in a cave; or\n\t(k)\tdive in the waters of a cave or sink hole.\n22—Regulation of certain recreational activities\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority—\n\t(a)\tengage in the sport of climbing rock faces; or\n\t(b)\tengage in the sport of abseiling; or\n\t(c)\tuse a hang glider or any other kind of glider; or\n\t(d)\tlaunch a hot air balloon; or\n\t(e)\tfly model planes or gliders; or\n\t(f)\tengage in the sport of sand boarding (sliding down a sandhill on a board),\nin a reserve except in an area set aside by the relevant authority for that purpose.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, engage in any sport other than golf on any part of a reserve designated as a golf course.\n23—Protection of animals\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority or other lawful authority, take or molest an unprotected animal in a reserve.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, intentionally damage the nest or burrow of an animal in a reserve.\n24—Removal of carcasses\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, remove the carcass, or any part of the carcass, of a protected animal from a reserve.\n25—Possession and use of devices for taking animals\n\t(1)\tSubject to this regulation, a person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, while in a reserve, have control of, carry or use a device designed for the purpose of taking an animal.\n\t(2)\tSubregulation (1) does not apply to a person in relation to a device that he or she has control of, carries or uses solely for the purpose of taking fish or crustaceans in waters adjoining the reserve.\n\t(3)\tSubregulation (1) does not apply to an Aborigine in relation to a device that he or she has control of, carries or uses for the purpose of taking animals in accordance with a proclamation referred to in section 68D(4) of the Act.\n26—Bringing animals into reserve\n\t(1)\tSubject to this regulation, a person who has control of an animal must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, bring it into a reserve or permit it to enter a reserve.\n\t(2)\tA person who is entitled to use a reserve pursuant to a lease, licence or agreement entered into by the Minister or the relevant authority may, subject to the terms of the lease, licence or agreement, bring animals into the reserve in the course of using the reserve pursuant to the lease, licence or agreement.\n\t(3)\tA person may ride or lead a horse in a reserve on a road or track set aside for that purpose by the relevant authority or in any other area of the reserve set aside for that purpose by the relevant authority.\n\t(4)\tA person who needs the assistance of a guide dog, hearing dog, or disability dog, within the meaning of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 may bring the dog into a reserve if it is restrained on a lead while in the reserve.\n\t(5)\tA person who is entitled to enter a game reserve to hunt may bring a dog into the reserve for the purposes of assisting him or her when hunting if the dog is restrained on a lead when not assisting that person in hunting.\n\t(6)\tA lead referred to in subregulations (4) and (5) must not exceed 3 metres in length.\n27—Straying and grazing of animals\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, permit an animal to stray into, or graze in, a reserve unless he or she is authorised to do so by a lease, licence or agreement entered into by the Minister or the relevant authority.\n28—Seizure of animals etc\n\t(1)\tWhere an unprotected animal is in a reserve and—\n\t(a)\tis not under the control of any person; and\n\t(b)\tis not in the reserve with the written permission of the relevant authority or pursuant to a lease, licence or agreement entered into by the Minister or the relevant authority,\na warden or any other person authorised by the relevant authority may subject to subregulation (2)—\n\t(c)\tcapture and dispose of the animal by sale or in any other manner; or\n\t(d)\tdestroy the animal.\n\t(2)\tWhere a warden or other person authorised by the relevant authority knows, or has reason to believe, that a person claims ownership of an animal in a reserve, the warden or other person must, before disposing of or destroying the animal, serve notice on the person claiming ownership requiring him or her to remove the animal from the reserve within 7 days.\n\t(3)\tThe notice may be served—\n\t(a)\tpersonally or by post; or\n\t(b)\tif the whereabouts of the person on whom the notice is to be served are unknown—by publication of the notice in a newspaper circulating generally throughout the State.\n\t(4)\tThe costs of capturing and disposing of an animal or destroying an animal under subregulation (1) are a debt due by the owner of the animal to the Crown.\n\t(5)\tAn animal or the carcass of an animal that has been captured or destroyed must not be surrendered to its owner until those costs have been paid.\n29—Plants\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, take an exotic plant that is growing in a reserve.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, bring a plant into a reserve unless the plant is dead and is brought into the reserve as food for human consumption.\n30—Interference with earth etc\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority—\n\t(a)\tremove from a reserve any—\n\t(i)\tsoil, rock, mineral or similar material; or\n\t(ii)\twood, mulch or other dead vegetation; or\n\t(iii)\tfossil or archaeological remains; or\n\t(b)\tdig or otherwise intentionally disturb any soil or similar material in a reserve; or\n\t(c)\tintentionally disturb any—\n\t(i)\twood, mulch or other dead vegetation in a reserve; or\n\t(ii)\tfossil or archaeological remains in a reserve.\n30A—Palaeontological and geological sites\n\t(1)\tIf, in the opinion of the relevant authority, it is necessary or desirable in order to protect a site of palaeontological or geological significance in a reserve, the relevant authority may, by notice in the Gazette, declare the site to be a site of palaeontological or geological significance.\n\t(2)\tA notice under subregulation (1) may—\n\t(a)\tprohibit or restrict access to the whole or part of the site; or\n\t(b)\tspecify other conditions relating to the use, preservation or protection of the site.\n\t(3)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority or other lawful authority, contravene or fail to comply with a prohibition, restriction or other condition in a notice under subregulation (1).\n\t(4)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority or other lawful authority—\n\t(a)\tdestroy, damage or interfere with a palaeontological or geological site (whether directly or indirectly); or\n\t(b)\tremove a fossil, fossiliferous material, soil, rock, mineral or similar material from a palaeontological or geological site.\n\t(5)\tIn this regulation—\npalaeontological or geological site means a site that is the subject of a declaration under subregulation (1).\n31—Scientific research\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, enter a reserve for the purpose of carrying out scientific research in the reserve.\n32—Littering\nA person must not, in a reserve—\n\t(a)\tdeposit or leave any litter, bottle, broken glass, china, pottery, plastic article, rubbish, refuse or other waste material, except in an area or receptacle provided for that purpose; or\n\t(b)\tdeposit, discharge or leave any noxious, smelly, offensive or polluting substance, matter or thing; or\n\t(c)\tdeposit or leave any offal, dead animal or dung; or\n\t(d)\tdeposit in any receptacle provided for litter any domestic garbage; or\n\t(e)\twilfully break any article of glass, china, pottery, plastic or other brittle material; or\n\t(f)\tdeposit, discharge or leave any mineral, mineral waste or other industrial waste or by-product.\n33—Pollution of waters\nA person must not foul or pollute any water in a creek, river, well, dam, reservoir or lake in a reserve.\n34—Abandoned property\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, abandon or leave unattended for more than 24 hours any vehicle or other personal property in a reserve.\n\t(2)\tAny vehicle or personal property abandoned or left unattended for more than 24 hours in a reserve may be seized and impounded by a warden.\n\t(3)\tThe relevant authority may require the owner of any vehicle or personal property seized and impounded under this regulation to pay the cost of seizing, impounding and keeping such vehicle or personal property before returning the vehicle or personal property to the owner.\n\t(4)\tIf, at the expiration of 1 month after the owner of a vehicle or personal property has been notified of its seizure or impounding, the owner has not paid to the relevant authority the cost of seizing, impounding and keeping the vehicle or personal property, the relevant authority may sell or otherwise dispose of the vehicle or personal property.\n\t(5)\tIf the owner of any vehicle or personal property seized or impounded under this regulation is unknown or cannot be contacted, the relevant authority may, after the expiration of 1 month after the vehicle or personal property has been seized or impounded, sell or otherwise dispose of the vehicle or personal property.\n35—Disorderly behaviour etc\n\t(1)\tA person must not behave in a reserve in a disorderly, offensive or indecent manner or use any offensive or indecent language or create any disturbance.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, in a reserve, wilfully obstruct, disturb, interrupt or annoy any other person engaged in the proper use of such reserve.\n\t(3)\tA person must not, in a reserve, throw, roll or discharge any stone, substance or missile to the danger of any person or animal in the reserve.\n\t(4)\tA person must not deface, paint, write on, cut names or letters in or otherwise make marks or affix bills on trees, rocks, gates, fences, buildings, signs or other property in a reserve.\n36—Activities that must be authorised by a lease, licence or agreement\nA person must not undertake any of the following activities in a reserve except pursuant to a lease, licence or agreement between that person, or some other person, and the Minister or the relevant authority:\n\t(a)\tfilming, videotaping or taking photographs for commercial purposes;\n\t(b)\tconducting tours for fee or reward;\n\t(c)\tconducting surfing, fishing or any other kind of competition;\n\t(d)\tselling or hiring goods or offering goods for sale or hire;\n\t(e)\tproviding, or offering to provide, any service for fee or reward;\n\t(f)\tconducting speed trials;\n\t(g)\tconducting scientific experiments;\n\t(h)\tkeeping bees;\n\t(i)\tan activity of any kind for the purpose of fund raising or making a profit.\nMaximum penalty: $5 000.\nExpiation fee: $315.\n37—Other activities subject to relevant authority's permission\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, use or cause to be used, any loud speaker or similar device or other noisy equipment in a reserve.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, construct or erect any booth, marquee or other structure in a reserve.\n\t(3)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, organise or cause to be organised or attend or participate in any public meeting, demonstration or gathering in a reserve.\n38—Compliance with notices and signs\nA person in a reserve must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, contravene or fail to comply with a direction given by the relevant authority in the form of a notice or sign displayed in the reserve.\n39—Compliance with directions of warden\nA person must not fail to comply with any reasonable direction or request given by a warden relating to—\n\t(a)\tuse of a reserve; or\n\t(b)\tconduct and behaviour in a reserve; or\n\t(c)\tsafety in a reserve.\n40—Permission of relevant authority\n\t(1)\tA permission granted by the relevant authority pursuant to these regulations must be in writing and may be included in a lease, licence or agreement with the applicant or (unless it is published in the Gazette) be in the form of a permit and may—\n\t(a)\tbe conditional; and\n\t(b)\tbe varied or revoked by the relevant authority at any time.\n\t(2)\tA permission may apply to a particular person or persons or may, if published in the Gazette, apply generally or to a particular class of persons.\n\t(3)\tWhere the relevant authority grants permission subject to a condition, a person must not contravene or fail to comply with the condition.\n41—Prescription of offences—section 73A\nFor the purposes of the definition of prescribed offence in section 73A(1) of the Act, an offence against regulation 42 that arises from a contravention of, or failure to comply with, 1 or more of the following provisions is prescribed:\n\t(a)\tregulation 6(1);\n\t(b)\tregulation 7(4);\n\t(c)\tregulation 10(1), (2), (3), (4), (6) or (7);\n\t(d)\tregulation 11(1) or (2);\n\t(e)\tregulation 14;\n\t(f)\tregulation 30A(3) or (4).\n42—General offence\n\t(1)\tSubject to an express provision to the contrary, a person who contravenes or fails to comply with a provision of these regulations is guilty of an offence.\nMaximum penalty: \n\t(a)\tin the case of regulation 30A(3) or (4)—$75 000;\n\t(b)\tin any other case—$1 000.\nExpiation fee: \n\t(a1)\tin the case of an alleged contravention of, or failure to comply with, regulation 30A(3) or (4)—$1 500;\n\t(a)\tin the case of an alleged contravention of, or failure to comply with, regulation 6(1), 10, 15, 19(1)(a), 35(1) or (2) or 39—$150;\n\t(b)\tin any other case—$75.\n\t(2)\tIt is a defence to a charge of an offence against these regulations if—\n\t(a)\tthe defendant proves that he or she acted in response to an emergency; and\n\t(b)\tthe court finds that the action was reasonable in the circumstances.\nSchedule 2—Seal Bay Beach User Fee Zone\n\nLegislative history\nNotes\n\t•\tFor further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au.\nLegislation revoked by principal regulations\nThe National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2016 revoked the following:\nNational Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2001\nPrincipal regulations and variations\nNew entries appear in bold.\nYear\nNo\nReference\nCommencement\n2016\n204\nGazette 25.8.2016 p3471 \n1.9.2016: r 2\n2023\n51\nGazette 26.5.2023 p1384\n26.9.2023: r 2\nProvisions varied\nNew entries appear in bold.\nProvision\nHow varied\nCommencement\nr 2\nomitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n26.9.2023\nr 30A\ninserted by 51/2023 r 3\n26.9.2023\nr 41\nsubstituted by 51/2023 r 4\n26.9.2023\nr 42\n\n\nr 42(1)\namended by 51/2023 r 5(1), (2)\n26.9.2023\nSch 1\ndeleted by 51/2023 r 6\n26.9.2023\nSch 3\nomitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n26.9.2023\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations were amended in 2023 to add targeted protections for palaeontological and geological sites (regulation 30A) and to revise which contraventions are treated as prescribed offences and the associated penalties (regulation 41 and amendments to regulation 42). The changes expand protective powers and adjust offence/penalty treatment, and other schedule and numbering changes were also made (see legislative history)."},"complexity_factors":["Wide range of regulated activities (vehicles, camping, fires, aircraft, boats, caves, research, recreational sports) increasing cross‑compliance requirements (multiple regs: 10–22, 31–37).","Numerous permission and authorisation pathways (permits, leases, licences, Gazette notices, co‑management board) creating administrative discretion (regs 3 definition of relevant authority, 9, 36, 40).","Exceptions and specific carve‑outs (Aboriginal rights, tour clients, emergency responses, statutory powers) that require factual assessment (regs 5, 11(4), 16(2), 19(2), 42(2)).","Variable penalty structure with prescribed offences and differing maximum penalties and expiation fees (regs 41, 42), increasing legal risk assessment complexity.","Operational enforcement powers and cost recovery (vehicle removal, seizure, impounding, disposal and debt recovery) imposing financial exposure on owners (regs 10(5), 28(4), 34).","Multiple publication and notice mechanisms (Gazette, signs in reserves, newspapers) that affect legal effect and public notice (regs 7, 9, 15, 30A, 34(3)).","Interplay with the principal Act and other statutes (National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005, Dog and Cat Management Act 1995) requires cross‑statute interpretation (regs 3 definitions, 15(2), 26(4)).","Recent amendments adding specialised protections (palaeontological/geological sites) and substituting offence provisions, increasing scope and legal nuance (r30A and changes recorded in legislative history)."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the rules for accessing and using South Australian national parks under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. They list activities that are banned or that require written permission, prescribe fees and displays, empower wardens and the relevant authority to open, close or set aside park areas, and attach penalties for breaches. The relevant authority (the Director or a co‑management board) decides permissions, publishes notices in the Gazette, and may recover costs; park users and commercial operators pay fees, obtain permits, and must comply with conditions."},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the legislative text was not accessible. The page returned was a website error page following a March 2026 website migration, not the actual regulations."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative text was retrievable — the source URL returned a 404 Page Not Found error","The document content consists entirely of website navigation and error messages, not legal provisions","Complexity cannot be meaningfully assessed without the actual regulatory text","Score of 1 reflects absence of analysable content, not simplicity of the underlying law"],"plain_english_summary":"The National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2016 (SA) could not be retrieved — the link returned \"Page Not Found.\" Without the text, no legal analysis can be done. These regulations typically set rules for use, access and behaviour in South Australian national parks (e.g. camping, fires, vehicles, fees, pets, commercial activities).\n\nTo obtain the instrument, search www.legislation.sa.gov.au for the regulations and report broken links to OPCWeb@sa.gov.au."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 2016 regulations appear to have been a consolidation/replacement of the 2001 regulations. The 2023 amendments (Regulation 51/2023) significantly expanded the scope by inserting new regulation 30A, which creates a specific regime for protecting palaeontological and geological sites with higher penalties ($75,000 maximum vs $1,000 for other offences). This moved beyond general environmental protection to specifically target fossil and geological heritage, reflecting growing scientific and conservation interest in these features. The amendments also updated penalty structures and removed redundant schedules, suggesting active refinement rather than simple maintenance."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate length (42 regulations plus schedules) but highly structured by activity type","14 defined terms in interpretation section (section 3), including recursive definitions like 'relevant authority' that changes based on co-management status","Numerous cross-references to the parent Act (National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972), particularly regarding Aboriginal hunting rights (section 68D) and warden powers","Multiple nested exceptions throughout (e.g., regulation 19(1) has exceptions in 19(2) and 19(3); regulation 26 has five separate exceptions to the general ban on bringing animals)","Conditional permissions structure: many regulations follow pattern of 'prohibited unless permitted' with conditions that can be imposed, varied, or revoked","Dual penalty structure with distinction between maximum penalties and expiation (on-the-spot fine) fees, including tiered expiation amounts introduced by 2023 amendments","Co-management complexity: regulations apply differently to 'co-managed parks' and Aboriginal-owned land (regulation 4), with suspension provisions affecting authority references","Specific technical requirements (e.g., regulation 11(3) prescribes exact windscreen placement for permits; regulation 26(6) specifies 3-metre maximum lead length for dogs)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a set of rules (called 'regulations') made under South Australia's National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. It sets out what people can and cannot do in national parks and other protected areas (called 'reserves').\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone visiting, working in, or doing business in South Australian national parks—including tourists, campers, researchers, commercial tour operators, and park wardens.\n\n**What it does:**\n\n* **Entry and fees:** You must pay any required fees to enter certain parks or areas (like Seal Bay beach), and display your receipt or permit in your vehicle.\n* **Park access:** Parks have opening hours and can be closed for safety, fire danger, or management reasons. You cannot enter when a park is closed.\n* **Activities requiring permission:** Many activities need written permission from the 'relevant authority' (usually the park's co-management board or the Director of National Parks). These include:\n  * Driving vehicles (must stay on designated roads, obey speed limits)\n  * Using aircraft, drones, boats, chainsaws, generators, or metal detectors\n  * Camping, lighting fires, swimming, diving, rock climbing, and entering caves\n  * Bringing animals (pets) into parks—though guide dogs and hunting dogs are allowed under strict conditions\n  * Scientific research and commercial filming\n* **Protecting nature:** You cannot harm animals, damage nests, remove plants (even weeds), dig up soil or rocks, remove fossils, or disturb Aboriginal artefacts. Special protections apply to caves and declared palaeontological (fossil) or geological sites.\n* **Prohibited items:** Firearms, explosives, fireworks, and devices for catching animals are generally banned without permission.\n* **Behaviour rules:** No littering, polluting water, disorderly conduct, graffiti, or abandoning property. You must follow signs and obey wardens' directions.\n* **Enforcement:** Wardens can remove illegally parked vehicles, seize stray animals, and impound abandoned property. Fines apply for breaches, with higher penalties for damaging protected fossil sites (up to $75,000).\n\n**Why it matters:** These rules balance public enjoyment of natural areas with conservation of wildlife, cultural heritage, and geological features. They also recognise Aboriginal rights to hunt in certain areas and allow for 'co-managed' parks where traditional owners share management responsibilities."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/national-parks-and-wildlife-national-parks-regulations-2016","history":"/api/acts/national-parks-and-wildlife-national-parks-regulations-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/national-parks-and-wildlife-national-parks-regulations-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/national-parks-and-wildlife-national-parks-regulations-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/national-parks-and-wildlife-national-parks-regulations-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/national-parks-and-wildlife-national-parks-regulations-2016/documents"}}