The Dampier Peninsula is known for its pristine beauty. PIC: Tourism Western Australia
With the Cape Leveque Road north of Broome due to be fully sealed by 2021, there are growing concerns about what effect the expected spike in victor numbers will have on the pristine area.
Some are warning that the stunningly beautiful Dampier Peninsula could become a ‘Paradise Lost’ if predictions of a 40% rise in travellers prove accurate.
And one idea being floated as a way to lessen the negative impacts is to introduce a toll on the road.
Environmental group Environs Kimberley has called for a full social impact assessment of the road upgrade and wants more done to protect what is calls a ‘jewel of Aboriginal culture and nature-based tourism on Broome’s doorstep’.
“What we’re concerned about is that there will be thousands of new visitors up the peninsula,” Environs Kimberley director, Martin Pritchard, told the ABC. “And that comes at a cost to the environment and also puts great stress on communities up there and they need support for that … one idea is to charge a toll for non-local visitors.”
The group says this would fund environmental management and more rangers.
The idea of a toll road — or some kind of management fee — is likely to be considered by a working group of stakeholders on the Dampier Peninsula.
The WA Government recently allocated $1 million to the group. which includes Daniel Oades, the coordinator of the Bardi Jawi Indigenous Protected Area (IPA).
“I suppose people are going to be resistant to change,” Mr Oades told the ABC. “But, you know, the people that come and experience and enjoy and put extra pressure on the places that they visit also should contribute to the management of those places … it’s nothing new in the scheme of things in national parks or highly visited places.”
Minister for Regional Development Alannah MacTiernan said she was focused on ensuring that the sealing of the road brought benefits to Aboriginal communities on the peninsula.
Isn’t it always the same Put a toll on but not for the locals. If it is good enough for one it is good enough for all
Would you like to pay a toll to enter the street where you live?
Would you like to pay a toll to enter the street where you live?
Once they talk about it they normally implement it then watch the price go up time to start looking for another place
I have traveled that road many times during my life. The road back then was the road from hell. The deep sand with broken down cars stuck and left for you to try and go round. Wild fires that you kept running into as the road twist and turned. It was an adventure. Don’t seal it leave it the way it is. Pristine and beautiful.
The more we talk about toll the more likely they are introduced
There are no tolls in WA lets not open the flood gates we already pay fir day visits to some attractions why should we pay to get there also every where we turn there is a tax take $$ out of that. Soon we will be selling the van & travel offshore sick of fees & beach gate & track closures
As a resident Western Australian who has lived in Western Australia all of my 71 years I object to the thought of charging non local Western Australians a toll. Charge the Eastern Staters but not the West Aussies. NT residents travelling to Kakadu don’t pay a fee.
The mega millions being ripped out of this state should be taxed. That would help to pay for this too. And establishing another arm of the Beaurocracy to administer and enforce the charges and changes all costs money which in turn increases costs to the end user. Where does it end?
I’m confused, why seal the road.
Why not have a Permit system so that numbers could be restricted for visitors. And give the locals that live in the area a sticker for their windscreens. Similar to the permits required to traverse the Great Central road.
Why seal it if you don’t want visitors? Then again, environmental groups don’t want people anywhere.