Permits required for Commonwealth Parks and Reserves
Certain activities, including research or any commercial activity, within Australian Commonwealth parks and reserves require a permit under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Select a type of permit from the protected areas listed below.
- Read more about permits required under the EPBC Act.
- New Commercial Tourism Management Arrangements in Kakadu National Park - Questions and Answers for Tour Operators
- Update for Commercial Tourism Operators - increase in public liability insurance from $10 million to $20 million from 1 January 2012
Activities must be consistent with the Management Plan for the park or reserve in which the activity is to be conducted.
Permits for Commonwealth terrestrial reserves
Kakadu National Park
- Kakadu National Park Commercial tours
- Kakadu National Park Commercial film, photography and sound
- Kakadu National Park Research
- Kakadu National Park Camping
- Kakadu National Park Bushwalking
- Kakadu National Park - Access to Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge)
- Kakadu National Park Miscellaneous commercial activities
- Special permits selection criteria
Circumstances under which a permit may be issued
A permit may be issued for an activity in Commonwealth reserves only if:
- the activity is consistent with:
- the Management Plan (if there is a plan in force); and
- the purposes for which the reserve is declared (if there is no plan in force); and
- any lease of indigenous people's land in the reserve (if the reserve is jointly managed); and
- the activity is not likely to:
- endanger public safety; or
- unduly damage the reserve; or
- unduly interfere with the preservation or conservation of biodiversity or heritage in the reserve; or
- unduly interfere with the protection of other features or facilities in the reserve; or
- interfere with the privacy of a cultural event held in the reserve by the traditional owners of indigenous people's land in the reserve; or
- interfere with the continuing cultural use of the reserve (including residence in the reserve) by the traditional owners of indigenous people's land in the reserve; or
- interfere with the privacy of other persons in the reserve.
There are also other circumstances that must apply for particular activities to be permitted, as specified in Regulation 17.05 of the EPBC Regulations.




