{"id":"wilderness-protection-regulations-2021","name":"Wilderness Protection Regulations 2021","slug":"wilderness-protection-regulations-2021","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"sa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":238333,"registerId":"sa-wilderness-protection-regulations-2021-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-06","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Wilderness Protection Regulations 2021","content":"South Australia\nWilderness Protection Regulations 2021\nunder the Wilderness Protection Act 1992\n\nContents\n1\tShort title\n2\tCommencement\n3\tInterpretation\n4\tApplication of regulations\n5\tQualifications of wardens\n6\tEntry to wilderness protection areas and zones\n7\tOpening and closing of wilderness protection areas and zones\n8\tSetting aside wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone or part of area or zone for particular use\n9\tUse of vehicles\n10\tUse of aircraft\n11\tUse of vessels\n12\tCamping\n13\tFires\n14\tPossession and use of chainsaws\n15\tUse of generators and alternators\n16\tUse of metal or mineral detectors\n17\tPossession and use of firearms etc\n18\tSwimming and diving\n19\tUse of caves\n20\tRegulation of certain recreational activities\n21\tProtection of animals\n22\tPossession and use of devices for taking animals\n23\tSeizure of animals etc\n24\tPlants\n25\tInterference with earth etc\n26\tFossil and geomorphological sites\n27\tLittering\n28\tPollution of waters\n29\tAbandoned property\n30\tDisorderly behaviour etc\n31\tOther activities subject to relevant authority's permission\n32\tCompliance with notices and signs\n33\tCompliance with directions of warden\n34\tPermission of relevant authority\n35\tGeneral defence\nSchedule 1—Revocation of Wilderness Protection Regulations 2006\n1\tRevocation of Wilderness Protection Regulations 2006\nLegislative history\n\n1—Short title\nThese regulations may be cited as the Wilderness Protection Regulations 2021.\n2—Commencement\nThese regulations come into operation on the day on which they are made.\n3—Interpretation\n\t(1)\tIn these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—\nAboriginal person means a person of Aboriginal descent who is accepted as a member by a group in the community who claim Aboriginal descent;\nAct means the Wilderness Protection Act 1992;\naircraft includes a glider or balloon capable of carrying a person;\ncave means a cave in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone and includes any natural cavity in the earth's surface;\nco‑managed wilderness protection area means a wilderness protection area in relation to which a co‑management agreement is in force under Part 3 Division 4 of the Act;\nco‑managed wilderness protection zone means a wilderness protection zone in relation to which a co‑management agreement is in force under Part 3 Division 4 of the Act;\nco‑management agreement means a co‑management agreement under Part 3 Division 4 of the Act;\nco‑management board for a co‑managed wilderness protection area or co‑managed wilderness protection zone means a board established under Part 3 Division 4 of the Act;\ndrive includes ride;\nexotic plant means a plant that is not a native plant;\nfilming means taking moving or still pictures by any means;\nmotor vehicle has the same meaning as in the Motor Vehicles Act 1959;\nprotected animal has the same meaning as in the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972;\nrelevant authority means—\n\t(a)\tin relation to a co‑managed wilderness protection area or a co‑managed wilderness protection zone for which there is a co‑management board—the co‑management board for the wilderness protection area or the wilderness protection area; or\n\t(b)\tin any other case—the Director;\ntake has the same meaning as in the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972;\nunprotected animal means an animal (including fish and invertebrates) that is not a protected animal;\nvessel includes a boat, jet‑ski, sailboard, raft, pontoon and hovercraft.\n\t(2)\tIf the co‑management board for a co‑managed wilderness protection area or co‑managed wilderness protection zone is suspended under the Act (by virtue of section 43I of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 as that section applies under section 33A 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 wilderness protection area or co‑managed wilderness protection zone constituted of Aboriginal‑owned land.\n\t(2)\tA warden is not subject to these regulations in relation to the performance of the warden's functions or the exercise of the warden's powers as a warden and a person who is an employee of the Department is not subject to these regulations in relation to the performance of the duties of the person's employment.\n5—Qualifications of wardens\nFor the purposes of section 13(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—Entry to wilderness protection areas and zones\nA person must not enter or remain in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone unless the appropriate entrance fee fixed by the relevant authority has been paid in respect of the person's entry into the area or zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n7—Opening and closing of wilderness protection areas and zones\n\t(1)\tThe relevant authority may, by notice in the Gazette—\n\t(a)\tgive notice of the hours during which a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone is open to the public; and\n\t(b)\tvary or revoke a notice under paragraph (a).\n\t(2)\tThe relevant authority may close a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone, or part of such an area or zone—\n\t(a)\tif a total fire ban is in force in an area that includes all or part of the area or zone, or the risk of uncontrolled fire in the area or zone is, in the relevant authority's opinion, extreme; or\n\t(b)\tif the staff necessary to patrol the area or zone are unavailable; or\n\t(c)\tif it is, in the relevant authority's opinion, in the interest of public safety to close the area or zone; or\n\t(d)\tif the closure is in accordance with a plan of management for the area or zone.\n\t(3)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, enter or remain in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone when the area or zone is closed to the public.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(4)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, enter or remain in a particular part of a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone when that part of the area or zone is closed to the public.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n8—Setting aside wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone or part of area or zone for particular use\n\t(1)\tThe relevant authority may set aside—\n\t(a)\ta wilderness protection area, or part of an area; or\n\t(b)\ta wilderness protection zone, or part of a zone,\nas an area in which a particular activity may be undertaken by persons visiting the wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone (as the case requires).\n\t(2)\tOne method by which the relevant authority may set aside the whole or part of a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone under subregulation (1) is by notice in the Gazette setting aside the wilderness protection area, or part of that area, or the wilderness protection zone, or a part of that zone, (as the case requires) 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 in the Gazette.\n\t(4)\tA person must not contravene or fail to comply with a condition.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n9—Use of vehicles\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, drive or tow a vehicle in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone except on a road or track set aside for that purpose by the relevant authority.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, drive a vehicle in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone—\n\t(a)\tat a speed exceeding the speed fixed by the relevant authority as the speed limit; or\n\t(b)\tif no speed limit has been fixed by the relevant authority—at a speed exceeding 40 kilometres per hour.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(3)\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 wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(4)\tA warden may remove, or cause to be removed, a vehicle left in contravention of subregulation (3) and the relevant authority may recover the costs of removal from the owner of the vehicle as a debt due to the relevant authority.\n10—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 wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, jump into a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone from an aircraft or use an aircraft for the purpose of dropping or lowering an object into such an area or zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(3)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, fly a drone or other remotely piloted aircraft over a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(4)\tThis regulation is subject to any law of the Commonwealth to the contrary.\n11—Use of vessels\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, launch, or use, a vessel on a lake, river or other body of water in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone unless the water has been set aside by the relevant authority for the use of vessels of that kind.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n12—Camping\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, camp in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone except in an area set aside for that purpose by the relevant authority.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(2)\tA person must not camp in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone unless the appropriate camping fee fixed by the relevant authority has been paid in respect of the person's use of the camping site.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n13—Fires\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, light, maintain or use a fire in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone in contravention of a ban or restriction imposed by the relevant authority.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, collect wood or other material in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone, or use wood or other material collected from such an area or zone, to light or maintain a fire.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(3)\tA person who has lit, maintained or used a fire in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone must not leave the fire unattended.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n14—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, or carry or use a chainsaw in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(2)\tA person may have control of, carry or use a chainsaw in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone—\n\t(a)\tin the course of exercising powers or performing obligations under an Act or statutory instrument; or\n\t(b)\tfor the purpose of fighting a bushfire or dealing with any other emergency.\n15—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 wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone except in an area set aside for that purpose by the relevant authority.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(2)\tSubregulation (1) does not apply in relation to the use of a motor vehicle of a kind normally equipped with a generator or alternator.\n16—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 wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone except pursuant to a mining tenement and a proclamation under Part 3 Division 2 of the Act.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n17—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 fireworks or explosives,\nin a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(2)\tSubregulation (1)(a) does not apply to an Aboriginal person in relation to a firearm or other weapon that the person has control of, carries or uses for the purpose of taking animals in accordance with section 68D of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.\n\t(3)\tSubregulation (1)(b) does not apply in relation to explosives that a person has control of, carries or uses pursuant to a mining tenement and a proclamation under Part 3 Division 2 of the Act.\n18—Swimming and diving\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, swim or dive in any water in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone except in an area set aside for that purpose by the relevant authority.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n19—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 a rock, mineral or fossil in a cave; or\n\t(c)\tdisturb or interfere with a plant or animal (whether alive or dead) in a cave; or\n\t(d)\ttouch or interfere with a karstcalcite formation (speleothem) in a cave; or\n\t(e)\turinate or defecate in a cave; or\n\t(f)\tdeposit 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 a 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 a tobacco product in a cave; or\n\t(k)\tdive in the waters of a cave or sink hole.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n20—Regulation of certain recreational activities\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, engage in—\n\t(a)\tclimbing rock faces; or\n\t(b)\tabseiling; or\n\t(c)\tsand boarding (sliding down a sandhill on a board or other thing),\nin a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone except in an area set aside for that purpose by the relevant authority.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(2)\tA person must not fly model planes or gliders in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n21—Protection of animals\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority or other lawful authority, take, injure, molest or interfere with an unprotected animal in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\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 wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(3)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority or other lawful authority, feed an unprotected animal in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n22—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 wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone, have control of, carry or use a device designed for the purpose of taking an animal.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(2)\tSubregulation (1) does not apply to an Aboriginal person in relation to a device that the person has control of, carries or uses for the purpose of taking animals in accordance with section 68D of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.\n23—Seizure of animals etc\n\t(1)\tIf an unprotected animal is in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone—\n\t(a)\twithout the written permission of the relevant authority; or\n\t(b)\twith such permission but not under the control of any person,\na warden or other person authorised by the relevant authority may—\n\t(c)\tcapture and sell or otherwise dispose of the animal; or\n\t(d)\tdestroy the animal.\n\t(2)\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(3)\tAn animal that has been captured must not be surrendered to its owner until those costs have been paid.\n\t(4)\tIf an animal is sold under this regulation, the Crown is entitled to the excess (if any) of the proceeds of the sale over the costs of capturing and selling the animal.\n24—Plants\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, take an exotic plant that is growing in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, bring a plant into a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone unless the plant is dead and is brought into the area or zone as food for human consumption.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n25—Interference with earth etc\nA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority or other lawful authority—\n\t(a)\tremove from a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone 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 soil or similar material in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone; or\n\t(c)\tintentionally disturb—\n\t(i)\twood, mulch or other dead vegetation in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone; or\n\t(ii)\tfossil or archaeological remains in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n26—Fossil and geomorphological sites\n\t(1)\tIf, in the opinion of the relevant authority, it is necessary or desirable in order to protect a fossil site or a site of geomorphological significance in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone, the relevant authority may, by notice in the Gazette, declare the site to be a fossil site of significance or a site of geomorphological significance.\n\t(2)\tA person who, intentionally and without the permission of the relevant authority or other lawful authority, destroys, damages, or disturbs a site that is the subject of a declaration under subregulation (1), is guilty of an offence.\nMaximum penalty: $15 000.\nExpiation fee: $1 500.\n27—Littering\n\t(1)\tA person must not, in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone—\n\t(a)\tdeposit or leave litter or any 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 a noxious, offensive or polluting substance, matter or thing; or\n\t(c)\tdeposit or leave offal or a dead animal or dung; or\n\t(d)\tdeposit domestic garbage in a receptacle provided for litter; or\n\t(e)\twilfully break an article of glass, china, pottery, plastic or other brittle material; or\n\t(f)\tdeposit, discharge or leave a mineral, mineral waste or other industrial waste or by‑product.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(2)\tSubregulation (1) is subject to the rights of a person pursuant to a mining tenement and a proclamation under Part 3 Division 2 of the Act.\n28—Pollution of waters\nA person must not foul or pollute any water in a creek, river, well, dam, reservoir or lake in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n29—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 a vehicle or other personal property in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(2)\tSubregulation (1) is subject to the rights of a person pursuant to a mining tenement and a proclamation under Part 3 Division 2 of the Act.\n\t(3)\tA vehicle or personal property abandoned or left unattended for more than 24 hours in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone may be seized and impounded by a warden.\n\t(4)\tThe relevant authority may require the owner of a vehicle or personal property seized and impounded under this regulation to pay the cost of seizing, impounding and keeping the vehicle or personal property before returning the vehicle or personal property to the owner.\n\t(5)\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—\n\t(a)\tpaid to the relevant authority the cost of seizing, impounding and keeping the vehicle or personal property; or\n\t(b)\tif no such costs are payable—collected the vehicle or personal property,\nthe relevant authority may sell or otherwise dispose of the vehicle or personal property.\n\t(6)\tIf the owner of a 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.\n30—Disorderly behaviour etc\n\t(1)\tA person must not, in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone, behave in a disorderly, offensive or indecent manner or use offensive or indecent language or create a disturbance.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone, wilfully obstruct, disturb, interrupt or annoy any other person engaged in the proper use of the area or zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(3)\tA person must not, in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone, throw, roll or discharge any stone, substance or missile to the danger of a person or animal in the area or zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n\t(4)\tA person must not deface, paint, write, cut names or letters, or otherwise make marks or affix bills on trees, rocks, gates, fences, buildings, signs or other property in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n31—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, a loud speaker or similar device or other noisy equipment in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n\t(2)\tA person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority, organise or cause to be organised or attend or participate in a public meeting, demonstration or gathering in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n32—Compliance with notices and signs\nA person in a wilderness protection area or a wilderness protection zone 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 wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n33—Compliance with directions of warden\nA person must not fail to comply with a reasonable direction or request given by a warden relating to—\n\t(a)\tuse of a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone; or\n\t(b)\tconduct and behaviour in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone; or\n\t(c)\tsafety in a wilderness protection area or wilderness protection zone.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $150.\n34—Permission of relevant authority\n\t(1)\tA permission granted by the relevant authority under these regulations—\n\t(a)\tmust be in writing; and\n\t(b)\tmay be conditional; and\n\t(c)\tmay be varied or revoked by the relevant authority at any time.\n\t(2)\tThe 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)\tIf the relevant authority grants permission subject to a condition, a person must not contravene or fail to comply with the condition.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $100.\n35—General defence\nIt is a defence to a charge of an offence against these regulations if the defendant proves that they acted in response to an emergency and that the action was reasonable in the circumstances.\nSchedule 1—Revocation of Wilderness Protection Regulations 2006\n1—Revocation of Wilderness Protection Regulations 2006\nThe Wilderness Protection Regulations 2006 are revoked.\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.\nPrincipal regulations\nYear\nNo\nReference\nCommencement\n2021\n112\nGazette 5.8.2021 p2962 \n5.8.2021: r 2\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed — no legislative text was provided. The page returned is an error message from the SA legislation website, not the regulations themselves."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative text was retrievable — the source is a 404 error page, not actual legislation","No provisions, definitions, schedules, or operative clauses are present to assess","Complexity score of 1 reflects the absence of any legal content, not simplicity of the underlying law"],"plain_english_summary":"**No legislation could be retrieved.**\n\nThe link provided does not lead to the actual text of the *Wilderness Protection Regulations 2021* (SA). Instead, it returns a **'Page Not Found'** error from the South Australian legislation website, likely because the URL was created before a website update on 24 March 2026 and is no longer valid.\n\n**What this means for you:** No legal analysis of the actual regulations is possible from this content. If you need to review the *Wilderness Protection Regulations 2021*, try:\n- Searching directly at [www.legislation.sa.gov.au](https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au)\n- Contacting the SA Office of Parliamentary Counsel at OPCWeb@sa.gov.au\n\nThe *Wilderness Protection Regulations 2021* would ordinarily govern rules around the use, management, and protection of wilderness areas in South Australia under the *Wilderness Protection Act 1992* — but **no conclusions can be drawn** from the content actually provided."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"These 2021 regulations expressly revoke the Wilderness Protection Regulations 2006 (Schedule 1) and replace the subordinate rule‑set for implementing the Wilderness Protection Act 1992. They set out detailed permissions, offences, fees and enforcement mechanisms, and explicitly exclude co‑managed wilderness areas constituted of Aboriginal‑owned land (reg 4(1)). The revocation indicates a replacement of the prior regulatory scope rather than leaving the 2006 instrument in force."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive list of prohibited activities with specific permissions required (eg regs 6–31) increases compliance burden for visitors.","Multiple monetary penalties and expiation fees attached to many offences create layered enforcement outcomes (eg regs 6, 9, 13, 26).","Significant administrative discretion vested in the ‘relevant authority’ to grant, vary or revoke permissions, set fees, open/close areas and declare special sites (regs 4(1), 7(1), 8, 34).","Cross‑references to other laws and instruments (the Act, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, Motor Vehicles Act 1959, mining tenements and proclamations) require readers to consult multiple sources (see regs 3, 10(4), 16, 22, 24(2), 27(2)).","Differential treatment/exceptions for Aboriginal persons and co‑managed areas introduce conditional scope and procedural variation (regs 3 definitions, 4(1), 17(2), 22(2)).","Enforcement powers include seizure, impoundment and debt recovery with procedural timelines (eg regs 9(4), 23, 29(3)–(6)), adding operational and legal complexity for both wardens and owners.","Use of Gazette notices and declarations to create or vary rights and restrictions (eg regs 7(1), 8(2), 26(1), 34(2)) means some rules are dynamically created outside the regulations themselves.","Multiple overlapping public-safety and environmental exceptions (fire bans, emergencies, statutory powers) require discretionary judgment by wardens and authorities (regs 7(2), 13(1), 14(2), 35).","Detailed definitions of terms (eg ‘relevant authority’, ‘co‑managed’, ‘vessel’, ‘take’) affect application across many provisions (reg 3) and raise interpretive points."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations prescribe how people may visit and use wilderness protection areas under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992. They require visitors to pay entry/camping fees, obtain written permission for many activities (vehicles, aircraft, camping, fires, taking plants/animals, etc.), and set offence penalties and expiation amounts. The “relevant authority” (the Director or a co‑management board) decides permissions, opens/closes areas, and authorises wardens to enforce rules, seize property and recover costs. The instrument also revokes the 2006 regulations and excludes co‑managed Aboriginal‑owned land."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations appear consistent with the original intent of the Wilderness Protection Act 1992. They operationalise the Act by setting out practical rules for area management, visitor conduct, and enforcement. The inclusion of co-management provisions reflects amendments to the parent Act rather than regulatory scope creep. The 2021 version appears to be a consolidation/update of the 2006 regulations (which are revoked in Schedule 1) without significant expansion beyond the original regulatory purpose."},"complexity_factors":["15 defined terms in the interpretation section (regulation 3), including nested definitions like 'co-managed wilderness protection area' which depends on 'co-management agreement'","Dual authority structure — the 'relevant authority' switches between the Director and co-management boards depending on the area, with a fallback to the Director if boards are suspended (regulation 3(2))","Multiple cross-references to external legislation: the Wilderness Protection Act 1992, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, and Motor Vehicles Act 1959","Recurring exception pattern — many regulations contain 'without permission' prohibitions with specific exceptions (e.g., regulations 14(2), 15(2), 17(2)-(3), 22(2))","Aboriginal-specific exemptions scattered throughout (regulations 17(2), 22(2)) requiring knowledge of section 68D of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972","Mining tenement exceptions that require both a mining tenement AND a proclamation under Part 3 Division 2 of the Act (regulations 16, 17(3), 27(2), 29(2))","Penalty structure is consistent but requires tracking both maximum penalties and expiation fees across 30+ offences"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set the rules for visiting and using **wilderness protection areas and zones** in South Australia — special protected natural areas set aside under the *Wilderness Protection Act 1992*. Think of them as the \"house rules\" for some of the state's most pristine natural environments.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Visitors and tourists** — anyone entering these areas to camp, hike, swim, or explore\n- **Aboriginal people** — with specific protections for traditional hunting and cultural practices\n- **Wardens and park staff** — who enforce the rules and manage the areas\n- **Mining companies** — who may have limited rights under specific mining tenements\n- **The \"relevant authority\"** — either the Director of National Parks and Wildlife, or a **co-management board** (a shared governance arrangement with Aboriginal traditional owners for certain areas)\n\n**Key rules you need to know:**\n\n- **Pay to enter** — you need to pay an entrance fee to get in\n- **Stick to designated areas** — camping, fires, swimming, rock climbing, and vehicle use are only allowed in areas specifically set aside for those activities\n- **No drones** — flying drones or other remotely piloted aircraft is banned without permission\n- **Leave no trace** — strict rules against littering, removing rocks or plants, disturbing wildlife, or damaging caves\n- **Caves are heavily protected** — you generally can't enter without a warden, and there's a long list of prohibited activities (no touching formations, no smoking, no diving in cave waters)\n- **Weapons and chainsaws** — banned without permission, with exceptions for Aboriginal traditional hunting\n- **Be quiet and respectful** — no loudspeakers, no disorderly behaviour, no graffiti\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese areas are protected because they're ecologically fragile and culturally significant. The regulations balance **conservation** with **public access**, while recognising **Aboriginal rights** through co-management arrangements. The rules are enforced with fines (up to $1,250 for most offences, or $15,000 for damaging significant fossil sites), with lower \"expiation fees\" (on-the-spot fines) for minor breaches.\n\n**Special note on co-management:**\nSome wilderness areas are jointly managed by the government and Aboriginal traditional owners through **co-management boards**. For these areas, the board acts as the \"relevant authority\" rather than the Director, though the Director steps back in if a board is suspended."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/wilderness-protection-regulations-2021","history":"/api/acts/wilderness-protection-regulations-2021/history","analysis":"/api/acts/wilderness-protection-regulations-2021/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/wilderness-protection-regulations-2021/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/wilderness-protection-regulations-2021/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/wilderness-protection-regulations-2021/documents"}}