Following an incident in the State's north several years ago, the Western Australian Government established a task force to analyse the issues surrounding visitor safety in adventurous outdoor activity.
Background
Following a review of adventure tourism visitor safety in WA, there was a total of 24 recommendations to the government. Subsequently, the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) was funded to progress the implementation of Adventure Activity Standards (AAS).
All states of Australia have AAS in place or are working towards developing a set of standards.
Upon examining the various issues and logistics, DSR made a grant available to Outdoors WA — the peak industry representative body for outdoor adventurous activity — to develop a set of AAS for WA.
Progress
Outdoors WA has developed two sets of AAS for Phase I and Phase II activities and is undertaking industry consultation on Phase III, the latest set of standards.
This two-year project has seen the completion of state-wide public forums in phases I, II and III, prior to the establishment of Technical Working Committees for each activity specialisation. The committees have drafted their own AAS specific to their activity. Phase I and II activities have had the draft AAS broadcast to the industry for consultation. The committees have then revised the AAS into a final version.
Phase III activity standards are currently being drafted and the latest information regarding these can be found on the Outdoors WA website.
The project will take two years and will feature consultative and collaborative methodology. The project objectives are to:
- foster a safe and environmentally sustainable outdoor adventure activity industry in Western Australia through the introduction of Adventure Activity Standards;
- promote consistency between groups conducting adventure activities and agencies responsible for managing and monitoring the impacts of such activities;
- develop clear industry standards for the provision of leadership and management of outdoors adventure activities;
- position industry standards such that they are supported and accessed by land managers and other agencies;
- provide consistency and benchmarking across the outdoor industry regarding the skill and competency of leader, the pre planning of activities, safety and emergency procedures, equipment and a commitment to environmentally sustainable practices;
- provide a benchmark that is easily understood by the community to assist their decision making when making choices about outdoor adventure activity programs.
Standards will be developed for the following activities:
- canyoning
- abseiling
- artificial climbing
- rock climbing
- challenge ropes courses
- bushwalking
- snorkelling
- recreation angling
- scuba and wildlife swims
- canoeing and kayaking
- river rafting
- mountain biking
- horse trail riding
- four wheel driving
- caving
- trail-bike touring
- surfing
Overall management of the project remains with the Department of Sport and Recreation, however, a cross-agency advisory committee has been established to guide the project.
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