Thread: Permits

I understand that permits are required to enter certain areas.

Could someone please explain how this permit system works.

Can you apply for and receive a permit online?

What are the penalties for accidentally straying into a permit area without the necessary paperwork?

Are there signs at the boundaries of permit areas?

Regards


Brendan

You still need a permit to enter Koolpin Gorge in Kakadu and many areas of Kakadu are closed....Cannon Hill, Death Adder Gorge, Coronation Hill, Gimbat, Sleisbeck, El Sharana and Stag Creek caves even though there are roads there. Some now have a locked gate, others have a weathered beaten sign telling you of the consequences if you venture in. Also while you can travel on the road from Jabiru to Obirr Rock there are signs along the road informing you that if you leave the road you could be subject to a hefty fine.
Many towns have aboriginal town camps which generally have a sign up informing you that you are entering an aboriginal area and you cannot carry alcohol or pornographic literature, I don't think you are allowed to enter unless on business. But they are well signposted due to the recent Federal intervention.
You can visit Daly River without a permit and cross the river when it is low enough but you can only go so far down the road before you are entering aboriginal land.
The permit to enter Arnlem land to visit Nhulunbuy takes about 10 days to organise and it only allows you to travel that road with out venturing off the road (except to camp). To travel to other settlements requires a long time and you need to show what benefits your visit will bring. A bit hard if you want to go from A to C and settlement B is on the way but you are not stopping there, settlement B can knock you back even if the other 2 ok it.
To visit Cobourg you still need a permit but this is to control the number of vehicles and it only allows you to travel to and from Cobourg without any detours from the road on the one day. Probably on line now see the NTG web site.

A while ago there was a court case where a visitor to Nhulunbuy was on an allowed area (boat club I think) snd he was asked by an aboriginal to take his photo and he did. A well known aboriginal leader was there and he assaulted the photographer because he claimed he was taking a photo of a sacred site and there was a big court case over it .

Some national parks are "owned" by the aborigines and leased back to the Commonwealth (Uluru) or NTG (Katherine Gorge) and you are required to pay park fees to enter, but there is not restriction on the numbers allowed and you pay when you arrive. There are some sites at Uluru which photography is not allowed now band commercial photography is not allowed at Uluru umless you have a permit.