Submission on Tourism and National Parks in NSW – Sept 2008
by
Australia’s Green Cauldron, National Landscape, Steering Committee
Steering Committee Members:
Robyn Rae, Chairperson – TQ Acting Regional Director, Bundaberg, Gladstone & Capricorn Regions and Standing Director of Central Queensland Coast Tourism
Joanne Gurney – Product Development Manager, Tweed Tourism
Michael Curtis – International Business Development Manager, Gold Coast Airport
Mark Johnstone – Regional Manager Northern Rivers Region, NPWS
Suzie Coulston – Economic Development Officer, Kyogle Council
Mitch Lowe – Tourism Services Coordinator, Lismore City Council
Tanya Lipus – Industry Development Officer, Scenic Rim Regional Council
Kyle Slabb – Indigenous Representative, Wollumbin Consultative Committee
Ros Derrett – Head of Office of Regional Engagement, Southern Cross University
Ian Oelrichs – Adjunct Fellow, SCU & Break of Day Investments
Russell Mills – CEO, Northern Rivers Tourism
Steven Holle – Director Corporate Relations & Development, Gold Coast Tourism
This submission is written with respect to our objectives for the conservation, protection and management for Australia’s Green Cauldron which includes the shires of the Tweed, Byron Bay, Lismore, Kyogle, The Scenic Rim and the Gold Coast.
In line with the Terms of Reference:
1a. Conservation Objectives:
§ Provide, encourage, facilitate educational material and/or experiences to increase awareness of the values of the natural landscapes.
§ Provide, encourage, facilitate interpretation centres to inform about the natural environment’s values; appropriate behaviour within our natural environment and offer alternative experiences.
§ Support conservational objectives and programs by providing educational workshops and hands-on training.
§ Link with local Landcare Groups and other voluntary organisations to assist in the management and maintenance of national parks.
§ Develop a system by which the parks environmental health can be monitored, e.g. water quality, weed dispersal, species numbers, etc.
§ Consider the listing of Biosphere Reserves for appropriate park areas to encourage the wider community to take ownership and assist in the overall conservation of the area.
§ Promotional collateral to include educational and interpretational content to support conservation.
§ Consider the voluntary or mandatory role of environmentally accredited organisations in the licensing of tour operators process.
1b. Visitation and Tourism Objectives:
§ Access to national parks is always an issue – good roads [fair road for normal vehicles], good signage, good maps and good marketing to show what visitors can expect and help deliver it.
§ Interpretation both soft and hard is what makes the difference as to the quality of the experience and if visitors leave satisfied [exulted even] and will return or pass on to others.
§ Interpretation is about brochures, signs etc but it is also about tracks in the best places, canopy walks, towers, soft adventure and getting the best and most exciting access to views, points of interest, history, geology, geomorphology, the best habitats etc etc
§ Obviously basic infrastructure is critical [places to stop and enjoy whatever is on offer at that spot, water, toilets, basic tracks and car parks, appropriate play equipment, communications, security, outlets for the right kind of food appropriate to the experience, basic level of guidance and information services [with and without staff] etc
§ An ability to have some level of experience every 10 mins while driving or walking.
§ Part of interpretation is entertainment; guided walks that are entertaining, small festivals, theatre even, up to the minute technology etc – need something extra to bring the qualities of a national park alive for some visitors especially international visitors due to language or cultural differences.
§ Improved directional signage is required on the way to many of the National Parks. This is particularly important for self-drive visitors.
§ An increase in available guides and translators.
§ Training of park rangers, other NP staff, guides and translators in interpretation, guiding and hospitality is essential.
§ Consider the possibility of NP’s owned and operated facilities on adjoining properties.
i. These properties could provide the National Parks with income revenue from café, gallery, shop, accommodation, interpretation, etc.
ii. Could provide alternative rainforest experiences.
iii. They could also provide tour services and educational components.
iv. They could alleviate some of the direct pressures on the parks.
v. See the ecolodge project that Nature Tourism Taskforce and NRRDB did a few years back.
§ Appropriate target markets need to be identified.
§ The National Landscapes Report for the Mt Warning Wollumbin Caldera region identified that an Interpretation Centre was a vital component for the overall experience and one that is presently missing.
§ Develop a system by which the aesthetic experience of the park can be assessed via visitor surveys. That is, the carrying capacity of a park be based on the human experience expected or sought after.
2. Ensure an ongoing relationship with National Landscapes and their committees.
§ Can be achieved with regular emailed newsletters, meetings and occasional conference calls when required.
3. Summarise relevant research and information and disseminate to all stakeholders to increase general understanding of issues.
§ This could perhaps be conducted with assistance from students at SCU.
§ Conduct research on the carrying capacity of visitor’s experiences, i.e. what number of people in a park is appropriate for the expected and desired experience. This will vary from park area to park area.
§ The two big motivating factors are the WOW factor and diversity of experience - these must be part of park planning – WOW factor can be identified and built in – not a definitive measure as yet but a possible research factor for SCU.
4. Cross Border issues
§ Develop a unified approach for cross-border parks.
§ This would apply in particular to commercial operators who are required to deal with two agencies where the one park sits across a state border.
§ User Pays
i. Limited licences for commercial operators.
ii. The present two state system restricts operators moving freely between Queensland and New South Wales.
5a
§ Accommodation, Interpretation, Cafes, Retail opportunities.
§ Discovery Ranges Program
§ Link with Rental Cars for carbon trading programs.
§ Offer a variety of tours with specific focuses e.g. Edutours, monitoring tours, specialised species tours, art, photography, meditation, etc. Think outside the square.
§ Form closer relationships with existing organisations such as Conservation Volunteers, Green Corp, Land Care, etc.
§ NPWS could package their own tours for the domestic and international markets as they would be the most fully versed on the parks special qualities.
§ Develop stronger relationships with the regions tourism bodies so that both groups can learn from one another.
5b
§ Options for both free use areas and a mix of ticketed prices would need to be examined.
5c
§ NP to develop a program to train/educate commercial operators about the parks diversity and appropriate behaviour within the parks.
§ Develop sustainable guidelines for operators e.g. carbon trading, donations to conservation agencies.
5d
§ NP to develop stronger relationships with educational institutions such as TAFES and universities so specific training and programs can be offered about the local parks diversity and the cultural components and appropriate behaviour within the parks. These courses could be offered to the general public as well as commercial tourism operators and rangers.
5. Specific attention should be given to areas that are recognised as a National Landscape. This is in keeping with Tourism Australia and Parks Australia’s intention to highlight and promote new iconic areas and to encourage international visitation. It is vitally important that these designated areas receive as much assistance as is possible to allow them to present to the world ‘best practice’ operations and management.
6. Raise awareness of the health benefits of walking in fresh air, lowering stress levels, peace and quiet.
§ Numerous reports identify the increased public interest in eco-tourism experiences and properties e.g. John Jenkins (Head of Tourism SCU)
7.
§ Consider limitations on numbers/carrying capacities of parks to help prevent the experience being diminished due to excessive numbers of visitors. It is suggested that this be achieved by regular visitor satisfaction surveys, visitor number counts and general consensus of the walkers. This could be conducted as part of an ongoing university program.
§ A Memorandum of Understanding should recognise individual limitations or opportunities for each park.
§ Recognise special cross border constraints. Recognise the priority of National Landscape regions.
§ Suspension bridges/sky walks
i. Land partnerships between the private and public sectors.
ii. Joint partnerships between NPWS and the private sector.
iii. Aim for world best practice.
iv. Local councils should be encouraged to give special consideration for the improvement and management of National Landscapes.