by Nuts » Thu 26 Apr, 2018 1:43 pm
A graveled track still needs maintenance, especially in the first years as the fill settles. Fair enough.
Nothing has yet been 'funded' by this track until such a stage where the principal has been repaid? Or what other benchmark do we use?
At even the current cost per walker will that ever happen given the interest on such a large expense?
(it doesn't much matter where the money came from, it's public revenue)
Better this than ? Forestry or mining? Agreed, that if it was a like for like (dislike) this (form of tourism) may be more 'sustainable' but jobs aren't being swapped other than in some version of an idealistic future. More likely forestry/mining/'eco'-tourism.
Meanwhile consider the relative return or worth of such projects.. if there is a net cost into the imaginable future maybe consider similar, profit driven, commercial operations. I caught, for example the Tas wine industry, a minor yet growth area of our economy with a return of $115m. A guestimate of 25-30 private hut strings littering our wilderness, to even measure up! Is a paltry $115m then even enough? We are led to believe this economy is necessary! That the (measurable & immeasurable) cost is justified!? .. Closer to the point, could we just agree to this $100+m Eco-resort at Freycinet and call it 'enough'.
In regards to clearing detritus, setting up a practice that will become first accepted, then expected. Like clearing hut and track footprints, clearing debris is generally, as far as environment is concerned, alteration and 'damage', at the very least of no direct benefit. And, safety-wise, an open ended responsibility, burdened on our park service.
Last edited by
Nuts on Thu 26 Apr, 2018 3:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.