Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) manage more than two million hectares of multi-use NSW State forests. Part of this management includes the provision of visitor areas and experiences, including free-to-use picnic & camping areas, lookouts and walking tracks, allowing our visitors to connect with the natural forest environment. NSW State Forests are unique in that they provide for the widest variety of visitor recreation and leisure activities possible, more than any other individual NSW public land tenures.

Within the natural forested landscape, there can be challenges in ensuring good access for everyone in the community. Barriers limiting visitor’s ability to access NSW State forests can include physical obstacles, constraints to development (ecological, Aboriginal Cultural heritage, for example), a lack of reception, services or assistance, or even a lack of information.

FCNSW is committed to continual improvement in accessibility for forest visitors, to create an inclusive forest visitor community. FCNSW aims to:

• Plan and design new visitor facilities with improved accessibility outcomes in mind, to increase the range of opportunities for people with disability across NSW State Forests, where resources and opportunities allow.
• Identify and develop opportunities to improve access to existing visitor facilities including picnic and camping areas, parking, toilets, walking tracks and lookouts as opportunities allow.
• Improve the range and quality of accessible visitor opportunities by working with partners and Forest Permit holders to expand and promote accessible opportunities within NSW State Forests.
• Create improved accessibility around NSW State Forest visitor experiences using innovative interpretation options, such as virtual reality, acoustic guides, art & sculpture and more, where resources and opportunities allow.
• Improve awareness of the availability and status of accessible visitor programs, experiences, and events where possible by:
  • promoting accessible events, programs and visitor experiences across its digital platforms and channels
  • promoting facilities and services that support access to recreational activities in State Forests
  • providing information to enable visitors to accurately assess whether visitor facilities, activities and experiences meet their needs before they leave home.
• Making website content available to the widest possible audience, by aiming to comply with WCAG2.0 AA on its website wherever possible (read more here).

This statement recognises the definitions and intentions of the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014 and related NSW Disability Inclusion Plan 2021-2025, and the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and related Disability Strategy 2021 – 2031.