Wilderness, Tourism and National Parks

Transcription

1 Wilderness, Tourism and National Parks

2 Progress since the 5 th Wild Conference Declaration of 228,459 ha of wilderness 107,000 ha River Red Gum reserves Five wild rivers

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4 Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area

5 Sustainability is not a side issue The most important thing society will ever do is achieve ecological sustainability - As a 1st baby step, the ecological integrity of wilderness and national parks must come before our wishes for private coastal ecoresorts, glamour camping, motor sport rallies, off-road trail blazing and blood sport with dogs, bows and arrows and bullets.

6 Environment groups support improved, low-key facilities for National Park visitors, and better promotion to encourage more public use, off-park accommodation and other services which will support local economies while avoiding more impacts on National Parks.

7 The big risks facing national parks weaker National Park and wilderness laws increased private development of National Parks cultural change within NPWS diversion of NPWS conservation role and resources into managing tourism conservation hunting, compromising pest management programs.

8 THE NSW GOVERNMENT S POLITICAL CRISIS: The Shooters and Fishers Party threaten withdrawal of NSW Government support if shooting in and access to national parks, duck hunting, etc, isn t provided - Government s legislative programs at risk

9 Game Council a tax funded lobby group

10 The National Park idea under attack Tantangra National Park Six Foot Track sign

11 Shooter s River Red Gum NP Review Shooters & Fishers Party support logging, grazing, hunting and fishing in national parks

12 Game Council spent $5.6 million of tax money on a Shooting Complex destroying parkland beside the Nattai Wilderness

13 Shooters & Fishers Party push to revoke Meroo Lake for fishing and boating

14 Counter measures

15 The Commercial Tourism Scene Federal Govt. funded tourism master plans involve commercial and investment opportunities; visitor facilities, services, infrastructure, access (Garrett, 17/9/08)

16 NSW Tourism initiatives Tourism & Transport Forum (2004, refined 2007) Making National Parks a Tourism Priority NPWS: Living Parks strategy (2006) NSW State Plan (2006 and 2011) Tourism Master Plans for National Landscapes 3 in NSW (2008/9), e.g. Aust Wilderness Coast NPWS restructures (2008, 2011, 2012) NPWS Tourism Plan (2008) National Landscapes (2008) O Neill Report into Tourism in NSW (2008) Gilligan Task Force enquiry (2008) NPWS tourism consultant (2008) etc, etc, etc

17 Transport and Tourism Forum Ms Oliva Wirth (TTF, Tourism Division) commenting on the tourism downturn: More attention needs to be spent on various forms of infrastructure, such as roads and accommodation in national parks (Canb. Times 14/9/08).

18 Emirates Wolgan Valley resort Approved 2007 The Emirates own ½ valley, but the resort was located inside Wollemi NP a Part 3A bungle.

19 alienated (went broke in 2009)

20 Kossi Development Blues

21 NPWS restructures 2008 and onwards new branch: Tourism and Partnerships created- Director, Business Reform created - Director, Tourism and Partnerships MIA - Director, Reservation and Wildlife Conservation

22 The 2010 National Parks Wildlife Act amdt: Eased leasing for private accommodation; Allows commercial use in declared wilderness. And associated policies locate investor ready development sites in national parks.

23 Development proposals: Not much built development in national parks happening yet 4 coastal accommodation sites in Ben Boyd and Mimosa Rocks NPs identified in the Wilderness Coast Masterplan (2009) Dozen cabins at Arakoon in a master plan suddenly dropped

24 Development National Park is not the answer Accommodation for an extra 10 million visitor nights by 2016 would require: More than 10,000 eco-cabins or More than 900 lodge-style resorts. Development will damage national parks, and cause community conflict.

25 Planning Green Paper = bucket loads of deregulation; bad for parks

26 Appropriate facilities, badly delivered Hat Head NP walking track, jackhammered ugly

27 Green Gully declared wilderness with inappropriate NPWS development of accommodation and signage no need to carry tents betrays and insults Milo s wilderness legacy

28 Exclusive mountain bike tracks policy and now S&F Party are legislating for more bike access.

29 Wilderness horse riding trial for Kosciuszko NP - MOU endorsed and self-reliant, except for the horse and S&F Party are legislating for more horse riding access.

30 Trail bike tourism coming to a park near you

31 Everything s under control - through the OEH executive dashboard A doubling park visitation requires, promotion and careful planning, not opening parks up for development

32 Control isn t achieved through policy but political power Business-oriented Governments are easy targets for park developers, but engos are powerful as long as everyone: loves national parks supports quiet, low impact enjoyment of national parks because engos involve the public in the roles of national parks (recreational, educational, conservation and also the $$$)

33 Humour - more powerful than any weapon

34 Celebrate our heritage

35 Involve the kids