By Darlene Gower President, Noosa Parks Association
There has been a good deal of speculation and some spurious assertions about Noosa Parks Association’s (NPA) approach to the State Government’s proposed commercial venture known as the Cooloola Great Walk.
The Cooloola Great Walk running from Noosa to Rainbow Beach was built in 2010 by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service for self-guided walkers. It became clear three years ago that the State Government planned to allow a commercial operator to utilise the trek, including some form of glamping style accommodation as it takes five days to complete the hike.
From the outset, NPA expressed its opposition to commercial accommodation along the Cooloola Great Walk. However, on learning that the Queensland Government intended to proceed with this concept, NPA determined it should seek to influence the decision-making process with the primary aim of minimising negative environmental impacts on the National Park. NPA thus determined to continue working for the best possible environmental outcomes.
NPA has advised the State Government that, if they proceed with their proposal, we believe the walking trail must not become exclusive to the commercial operators and should remain available to anyone wishing to experience Cooloola. Furthermore, it is essential that any commercial accommodation, whether tents or cabins, should only be for people traversing the walk. Importantly, we believe there should be no accommodation within the catchment of environmentally-sensitive Lake Poona.
None of these recommendations should be taken as an overarching endorsement by NPA of the commercialisation of the Cooloola Great Walk. The final details remain under discussion by the State Government, the Kabi Kabi Traditional Owners and the proponent, CABN. NPA is not part of that decision-making process. Nor does NPA ever suggest that it represents the Noosa community. Rather, NPA represents the environmental values of its membership.
It has been suggested that the proposed deal with CABN will establish a problematic precedent for commercial use of the park.
In fact, private businesses have been operating inside Coooloola NP for many decades. Under a lease arrangement, commercially operated accommodation began in Cooloola National Park’s Elanda Point in 1985. That development now includes a restaurant and brewery.
Also, under permits, commercial tour operators have long been accessing the park by utilising the Noosa River. That such activities occur is not an endorsement for the Cooloola Great Walk proposal but rather a reflection of commercialism that currently exists. NPA acknowledges that there are a wide range of reasonable views regarding the broad issue of commercial activity in national parks.
The NPA played a decisive role in the creation of the Cooloola section of The Great Sandy National Park, whilst also fighting off logging, mining and development interests as far back as the 1960s.
Over six decades, NPA has achieved huge conservation gains through constructive engagement with every state government as well as other relevant stakeholders.
As a completely volunteer association we are grateful to our members who continue to work towards better outcomes for the local environment.
Importantly, NPA looks forward to increased participation by Kabi Kabi traditional owners in the management and custodianship of Cooloola. We respect their crucial role as original custodians of this land.
