NEW SOUTH WALES National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from within the bus community to provide a bespoke shuttle service for the Royal National Park (RNP), south of Sydney.
According to the government organisation, the opportunity to operate an exclusive visitor transport service within Australia’s oldest National Park – and one of NSW’s most historically unique and picturesque national parks – aims to tap into annual patronage approaching five million visitors.
Ultimately, NPWS wants a transport service that will improve the experience of walkers and visitors by providing enhanced access to tracks and trails within RNP – and linking to transport access hubs outside of it. Only one licence will be issued on a competitively allocated basis via a tender, NPSW confirms.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the service are to:
– Improve access for visitors not utilising private vehicles;
– Improve access to a wider range of walking opportunities;
– Provide connectivity between existing public transport nodes and park precincts;
– Assist in addressing visitor crowding and traffic congestion and reduce environmental impacts by encouraging reduced car use;
– Enhance the overall visitor experience.
GETTING INVOLVED
The EOI will offer the opportunity to operate under an exclusive licence for the provision of a pick-up and/or drop-off service for visitors and bushwalkers at popular designated locations in RNP.
Information related to the tender is available at: https://tenders.nsw.gov.au/?event=public.rft.show&RFTUUID=AE922E65-DA91-A971-CA1946A609463338
It should be noted that if potential applicants have not used this service before they will need to register as a new user, NPWS advises.
Additionally, it recommends potential applicants read all paperwork and reminds interested parties they are required to attend an information session on Thursday, 4 July, 2019. Times and further information will be provided closer to the date, it states.
To register your interest for the information session please send an email to: park.businesses@environment.nsw.gov.au by midday on Monday, 1 July, 2019.
ABOUT THE PARK
Royal National Park is situated on the eastern coast of Australia, adjacent to the southern fringe of metropolitan Sydney and approximately 30km north of Wollongong.
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The Park and the coast track are popular attractions for domestic and international visitors wishing to experience the area’s unique landscape, and all on the doorstep of Australia’s largest city, it states. Recreational pursuits within the Park include bush walking, picnicking, cycling, swimming, fishing, camping, photography and boating / canoeing.
Photography: courtesy NPWS