The purpose of the Natural Area Recreation Strategy (the 'Strategy') is to guide holistically and equitably ongoing and future sustainable recreational opportunities in natural areas and related recreational facilities across Hornsby Shire.

The Strategy will address Council's key objectives for nature-based recreation which are:

- Conservation - environmental protection through well managed nature-based recreation

- Accessibility - diverse and innovative nature-based recreation opportunities that are accessible and inclusive.

- Education - community connections with nature through participation in sustainable nature-based recreation, and

- Heritage - community awareness of the cultural heritage significance within the Shire's natural areas.

The Strategy will be used to guide policy, planning, funding opportunities, improvements, community and stakeholder engagement, compliance and the overall management of recreation within our natural areas and related recreational facilities for the short and long term.

Importantly, whilst the Strategy is focused on natural areas, interfacing and connection with open space areas, transport nodes and shopping areas to be considered. However, provision of recreational facilities in these areas is the focus of the unstructured recreation strategy which is specific to open space areas such as Parks and 'vacant' lots.

Council is requesting a quotation for the preparation of a Natural Areas Recreation Strategy which will provide a strategic approach towards implementing and managing sustainable levels and types of recreational opportunities within natural areas whilst ensuring the protection of natural and cultural values and visitor safety.

The strategy will include the following considerations in its development:

- Protect and conserve natural areas - Enhance, protect and promote Hornsby's unique bushland and associated biodiversity, cultural and social values

- Understand the carrying capacity - Investigate the capacity of natural areas to accommodate recreational activities while minimising environmental impacts.

- Improve accessibility and inclusiveness - Provide inclusive and adaptive opportunities and, where environmentally sound, reduce barriers that limit the community's access to a diverse range and distribution of nature-based recreation opportunities

- Provide active transport links - Provide links and connections for walking, running and cycling, to nature-based opportunities from transport hubs and population centres

- Prevent environmental degradation - Prevent and reduce the incidence of unauthorised activities, e.g., clearing of vegetation for access, track and bike jump construction, and other damaging impacts

- Strategic alignment - Strategically align with Council and regional strategies which seek to maintain and enhance recreation within natural areas

- Understand community and stakeholder needs - Engage with all stakeholders and user groups, both local and regional, to position Council to meet the current and future recreational needs and visitation projections

- Resource prioritisation - Guide the future allocation of resources to fulfil the natural area recreational needs of the community through consistent and comprehensive planning, management, assessments and evaluation

- Support community wellbeing and connection to nature - Provide recreational opportunities to promote physical and mental wellness through the appreciation of the natural environment

- Environmental education - Promote environmental education, responsibility, and compliance and address conflicting recreation needs and foster a culture of stewardship

- Safety and risk management: Acknowledge and actively reduce risks to those directly participating in activities, to impacted bystanders and to the environment

-Ensure the optimal use of facilities: Investigating and identifying existing facilities that are appropriately located and have the capacity for additional use

Council reserves the right to award the business to one contractor or a panel of contractors qualified to provide these Services/Goods. All interested parties are invited to submit quotations which respond to and fulfil the objectives and requirements of this brief.