DEC wishes to advise that the 1999 Tour Operator Handbook - Marine will be replaced with a new updated version to be enforced from 1 January 2008. This major revision ensures the handbook is up-to-date with information and licence conditions to assist operators in safely and sustainably operating on DEC-managed land. The new handbook will also reflect the ring binder and tab format of the Tour Operator Handbook - Terrestrial.

Notably, the Tour Operator Handbook - Marine follows the permitted uses activities in park management plans which identify appropriate activities in parks. There are also additional activity-specific and park-specific conditions, as well as information and conditions on marine-related issues.

Marine handbooks will be sent out to all marine-based commercial tour operators and stakeholders in December, and operators are advised to make sure they are familiar with the new handbook and conditions attached to their licence.

DEC also advises that the 2008 amendments to the Tour Operator Handbook - Terrestrial will be released shortly. These will replace the entire content of the current handbook (including tabs) to make updates as easy as possible and will contain the most relevant, up-to-date information for operating on DEC-managed land.

Important changes in the 2008 amendments include updates to the general conditions such as procedures for paying park entry fees, the operators' vicarious responsibility, and prohibiting operators from employing or engaging an employee, agent or contractor who has been convicted in the past 10 years of offence under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 or Regulations 2002, or the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 or Regulations 1970 without written approval. In addition to this, the amendments include various changes to previous area-specific and operation-specific conditions.

DEC will mail copies of the 2008 amendments to all licensed commercial tour operators during December. Other major stakeholder groups, who already have a copy of the handbook, will also receive the amendments in the near future.

If you have a copy of the current Tour Operator Handbook - Terrestrial and do not receive the amendments by 11 January 2008, require extra copies or require more information regarding the 2008 amendments, please contact Judith White at DEC on (08) 9334 0499 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

It is very important that the amendments are inserted into your handbooks immediately. The licence holder should ensure all handbooks in their possession have had the amendments inserted, and that the operator, their employees and contractors have read and understood all conditions and amendments . Like the Tour Operator Handbook - Marine, the amendments will be effective as of 1 January 2008.

In conjunction with the release of the new Tour Operator Handbook - Marine, and the 2008 amendments to the Tour Operator Handbook - Terrestrial, the T-class application forms have also been updated. Copies of the new forms and the handbooks will be available to view and download from DEC's website as of 1 January 2008 at:

The department would like to take this opportunity to remind all licensed tour operators that an updated copy of the relevant Tour Operator Handbook must be carried with the licence holder or licence holder's representative when entering any DEC-managed lands and waters as per conditions 5.7(b).