While there are persistent grumbles about the cost of accessing Kakadu, the iconic Northern Territory national park remains a ‘must-visit’ for the vast majority of grey nomads on the Big Lap.
However, it seems big changes could be afoot for the World Heritage Listed Area as questions are asked about poor Wet season accessibility, visitor numbers, and the future of the town of Jabiru, which sits within the park. Jabiru is currently under a lease held by Energy Resources of Australia but this will expire in 2021. The Northern Territory News says the options are for the town to be completely demolished and the land returned to its natural state, or to hand control of the town and the airport to either the NT Government, the Australian Government, or the Traditional Owners.
Territory developer John ‘Foxy’ Robinson has upped the ante by suggesting that the way forward is to expand the airport significantly, making it capable of taking international flights.
“The Asian and Chinese visitors are 10-day travellers … they fly into Australia, visit Uluru, stay a night or two, then fly to Sydney and see the harbour, do a bit of shopping, before heading up to the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef, and then they head home,” he said. “We need to make the Jabiru airport bigger, make it longer, put in an immigration area and allow people to fly right into the heart of Kakadu … it works at Uluru.”
NT Tourism Minister Lauren Moss would not tell the NT News whether the Territory Government would support an airport expansion.
“The NT and Commonwealth Governments are jointly undertaking economic and population modelling and infrastructure assessments which will consider future airport options,” she said.
Another issue faced by the park is a slowing of visitors during the wet season — about 550,000 less than the Dry.
The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) says this is partly because of the roads closed to some of the most spectacular sights.
“Without the right investment in selling Kakadu’s beauty to the world, the NT risks being bypassed as a ‘must-visit’ destination,” said TTF chief executive, Margy Osmond. “We will continue to encourage the NT and Federal governments to explore options, including … investment in improving Kakadu’s road network that will benefit NT’s visitor economy.”
leave it as it is
I agree. If foreign visitors want to come to our iconic destinations they will come. Don’t spoil the experience.
As thinking Austalians not taking the easiest route we find fabulous destinations worthy of our $s. Please don’t turn iconic Australia into a cheap Bali for the Chinese Traveller.