by Max Winning » Wed 07 Aug, 2019 7:25 pm
I have drafted the following submission, but I would appreciate hearing the opinion of other concerned people, before I finalise the wording. (Apologies for the long read!)
The National Parks and Wildlife Service’s Draft Light to Light Walk Strategy, should raise concern among Eden’s tourist industry and lovers of nature, because it diverts tourist dollars out of town and risks damaging the unspoilt charm of the National Park, which is the reason for undertaking the Walk and why the walk has the potential to be among the best in Australia.
The NSW Government’s $7.9 million funding for regional growth is a fantastic opportunity to capitalise on the value of the National Park and boost the local tourism industry.
However, the strategy makes a key assumption that should be questioned; that the best way to deliver regional economic benefit from the Walk, is by providing accommodation services on-site, at the National Park, thereby ignoring the option of providing accommodation off-site in under-utilised infrastructure in Eden.
This strategy expects a visitor will spend four days undertaking the Light to Light Walk, accommodated in the National Park, in huts with food provided. It suggests tourists might spend a night in Eden pre and post walk, but that may not occur, because tour operators may take visitors straight to the accommodation in the Park. In any case, Eden will lose many valuable ‘visitor nights’ whilst NPWS takes the profit.
The strategy skips over an option to gain accreditation as a ‘Great Walk of Australia,’ by providing off-park accommodation. Accreditation could be achieved now if NPWS partnered with a private tour operator that can provide a luxury experience, including guides and high-quality accommodation.
Alternatively, the Light to Light Walk could be offered as day walks with accommodation in Eden, transported to the walks daily, provided by Eden based operators with food and guides laid on, then come back to town to get a bed and food, with flow on economic benefits to Eden that the proposed strategy can’t offer. There are already at least two operators providing this option.
The far south coast tourist industry suffers from low visitor numbers out of season, despite there being an abundance of natural beauty on offer. The shortage is in demand. Funding to improve options for tourists to book a trip and to provide basic infrastructure and support for pleasant tourist transfers, would make it easier.
The strategy turns the NPWS into a developer with a financial incentive to damage the natural beauty and environment. Yet it will retain little risk because the development is funded by tax payers and if the operation fails, NPWS can sell a licence to a private operator or leave it empty. The strategy doesn’t provide a business case to support the proposed management model and there is no discussion about the risks that would flow from a potential business failure, although the strategy assumes an optimistic 36 persons per night and high running costs, that include three on-site managers.
The Walk is a great experience that could be enhanced and capitalised, but that should be done without damaging the National Park. This strategy provides very little guidance about how the conservation values of the National Park are being prioritised and omits any reference to the environmental impacts. The increased development will damage the National Park and the Walk experience.
The National Park has existing access facilities at Bittangabee Bay and Saltwater Creek. These locations are nicely spaced to facilitate a variety of easy to medium difficulty walks, with opportunities to transform the way visitors interact with the Walk, by improving access for people who are less able or time poor and interactive learning opportunities. Some of the funding could be invested directly to the Light-to-Light Walk, especially to undertake the proposed track upgrades and to improve the amenity, sustainability and increase access options to beaches and points of interest.
The strategy proposes significant clearing and development of pristine parts of the National Park for new hut sites, in two of the most unique and beautiful sections of coast line, but there is no argument for why these are required to meet either the funding objectives, the Park’s objectives or demand.
The strategy proposes development of huts around Hegartys Bay, which will also require a substantial upgrade to access tracks, that aren’t mentioned. The area has qualities that make it so unique that it should never be disturbed, including aboriginal heritage, a bay with spectacular rock colours and forms, a steady fresh water stream, wet land and forest.
The strategy also proposes huts for Mowarry Point, which would convert an unspoilt beach with heritage values into a beach side camping resort.
The current use of Hegartys Bay and Mowarry Point with uncontrolled camping is not sustainable so diverting human activity to improved facilities at other, existing facilities at Bittangabee Bay and Saltwater Creek is a better option.
It is also proposed to develop outside the existing Light House Keeper’s compound, but there is no reason given for risking the heritage values of the site.
The strategy proposes restricted access to the new huts, by booking the complete walk experience and excludes other users to remain at the existing camp sites. This would establish an ‘us and them’ divide between park users and would attract criticism that ‘glamping’ was being commercialised by NPWS, to advantage the privileged few.
An alternative is to use the funding to develop options for off-site accommodation and improve existing National Park facilities, especially aimed at boosting access options and controlling human impact. Easy day walks without packs can be managed from existing access points, especially if a drop-off and pick-up service is provided out of Eden. This would provide greater economic opportunity for Eden and surrounds and protect the environment.
This strategy fails to meet the interests of the people of Eden, is a poor response to the funding objectives and will damage the environment, so I recommend it be rejected.