The plan to open up Queensland’s 1300-plus national parks to eco-tourism development is moving forward rapidly.
National Parks Minister Steve Dickson is now calling for expressions of interest from business and tourism firms, saying developments will be welcome if they are in keeping with the parks’ nature conservation and cultural values.
Mr Dickson told the Brisbane Courier-Mail that the changes would mean the frail and elderly would no longer be prevented from enjoying Queensland wilderness areas. He envisaged tourists being dropped into inaccessible campsites by helicopter as part of the new eco-tourism push.
And, he said, while older tourists may be ‘glamping’ in upmarket tents and eco-cabins, young backpackers may be cycling or horse riding in national parks or camping for $5 a night on remote coral atolls on the Great Barrier Reef.
Mr Dickson says the Sunshine State potentially has some of the best walking trails and camps in the world, citing possible locations such as Shute Harbour, South Molle Island and Lizard Island.
“Unashamedly, I am looking to make money out of this,’” he told the Courier-Mail. “The debt of Queensland is $81 billion and we have to think of innovative ideas out of the box.”
However, the National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ) says the state’s natural assets should not be used as money-spinners for the Government.
“I don’t think people here readily associate national parks with resorts – they are pristine areas,” said NPAQ executive coordinator Paul Donatiu. “We don’t want to kill literally the goose that laid Queensland tourism’s golden egg … we don’t want to see these amazing places visited to death.”
Is ‘opening up’ the parks a good thing, or does it really risk killing the goose that laid the golden egg? Comment below
I think it’s a bl**dy disgrace that this government seems hell bent on destroying the enviroment in Queensland. It’s a bad idea, I agree wholeheartedly with Paul Donatiu.
as long as everyone can enjoy them and it does not become an eco tourist, expensive camp only the wealthy can enjoy, like some areas of W.A., we are not all wealthy tourists some of us are pensioners.
Ah! So that’s why it is almost impossible for grey nomads at the moment to get permits , to get into the parks. Have to get e. tickets , pay and book ahead, print out a ticket yourself , but sorry national parks, can’t take bookings from apple I phones. Just travelled for 3 months in north Qld, and couldn’t manage to get a pass for any parks,
Bring back the friendly park rangers, !
The only $5 camps are walk in, with a tent
I wish the LNP would leave our NP’s alone. They are often the last piece of that type of vegetation in that area and was designated a NP for that reason. Their eco tourism will help destroy it and leave us with just another resort in the bush.
I have huge concerns regarding this proposal. Ensuring that National Parks & Marine parks are protected both environmentally and for those plants and animals who live in each of these environments is being blatantly ignored. I believe that the LNP really has no real love of the state of Queensland. All they are interested in is building up their coffers and building things that suit their own interests. Shame on them.