A year behind schedule, the realisation of Queensland’s first commercial eco-tourism trail, right on Noosa’s doorstep, is getting close. PHIL JARRATT reports.
The development of the Cooloola Great Walk as Queensland’s first state-sponsored commercial eco-tourism trail is poised to begin its construction phase, with a consumer roll-out projected for the end of this year or early 2022.
And for once, all of the stakeholders, from developers to eco-warriors, from tourism bodies to First Nations, seem to be on the same page. Symptomatic of this is an apparent softening of the Noosa Parks Association’s hard line on “do-it-yourself” camping only along the 102-kilometre wilderness trail, revealed in a letter sent to members last week.
The letter stated in part: “Our management committee’s preference has been for the Cooloola Great Walk to remain a fully DIY experience. We believe the greatest threat to the natural values of Cooloola are ever-increasing visitor numbers and resulting impacts in three areas – along Teewah Beach, the Upper Noosa River and the Cooloola Sand Patch. With another million people predicted to live within a one-hour drive of Noosa-Cooloola within 20 years, clearly these threats are not going to go away.”But, the letter continued: “At the same time, we are aware that commercially supported multi-day national park walks are becoming increasingly available and popular around the country, including with our own members. We believe that what is required is a systematic and concerted government commitment to manage visitor numbers and impacts in an integrated fashion, making sure that the impact on the environment is low.”
After outlining NPA’s participation in confidential negotiations with state government, the successful tenderer, South Australian company CABN, and the Kabi Kabi, the letter concluded: “From NPA’s perspective, significant positive progress is being made, significant improvements to the siting of accommodation have been achieved, and several matters of concern are yet to be resolved.”
NPA’s new position on Cooloola is significant because no other organisation has been more invested over such a long period in the creation and protection of Cooloola and the Great Sandy National Park. NPA’s founders were at the forefront of a decades-long battle to save this beautiful and fragile wilderness from over-development and sand mining, and subsequent generations of management have remained invested.
In 2019, under its Queensland Ecotourism Trails program, the government called for expressions of interest to design, build and operate a supported Cooloola Great Walk. There were three short-listed applicants, including Tourism Noosa, and in late February, 2020, the tender was awarded to Adelaide-based CABN, a company specialising in “eco-friendly, off-grid, nature-based accommodation”.
A source close to the process told Noosa Today: “The thinking seemed to be, Tourism Noosa has the ideas but no money, while CABN has money but no ideas. So they went with the money.”
If that was ever the case, there is ample evidence today that founder Michael Lamprell’s company is riding high in eco-tourism precisely because of its total understanding of the sensitivity attached to the environments it uses and to the rights and needs of the traditional owners. When the announcement was made a year ago, Lamprell
said that CABN was excited to propose a world class eco-tourism, nature-based walk experience, working with the Kabi Kabi.
“CABN is looking to connect people back to nature, create better work-life balance, build off-grid, first-class facilities and create a positive impact on the wellbeing of all who experience the Cooloola Great Walk,” he said.
Although creating those off-grid facilities has proven challenging in a Covid-19 year, Lamprell was still sounding excited when he spoke to Noosa Today this week: “At the moment we are working on making the final site selections within the walk, we have all the necessary planning applications in with Gympie Council and we are close to being in the same position with Noosa Shire. The walk entails the use of four sites in Gympie’s jurisdiction and one in Noosa’s.”
CABN will work with local suppliers and tradesmen and the Kabi Kabi to craft sustainable tiny eco-cabins, made from locally-sourced materials that complement the diverse range of flora, but one of the major stumbling blocks has been to locate appropriate sites that can be serviced year-round without damaging the surrounding environment. Apparently Noosa Parks Association is nearing satisfaction with the choices.
According to other sources close to the project, another hold-up has been the complex negotiations over the size and roles of the Kabi Kabi workforce, but Kabi project manager Brian Warner told Noosa Today: “There are always small obstacles along the way, but our people are completely behind CABN and the other stakeholders, and we look forward to a long involvement in the Cooloola Great Walk.”
Michael Lamprell, whose wife and children are Indigenous, is currently in the process of creating an Indigenous offshoot arm of CABN, which will deal exclusively with Indigenous companies. He said: “We are working with the Kabi Kabi to build capacity for employment opportunities at every stage of construction and management of the walk, including showcasing their art and culture. For the walk itself, we intend to offer the option of a guided tour or a DIY experience, and our guides will be Kabi Kabi.“We’re totally passionate about this project and can’t wait to deliver it.”
