National Park heritage approval closer
Thu 22 July 2010
Sharon Wright, Bachelor of Communication
The Cooloola area of the Great Sandy National Park is one step closer to becoming part of the Fraser Island World Heritage site, after a plan 20 years in the pipeline.
The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has just closed submissions for public comment on the proposed boundary changes, and is now preparing to put their nomination forward for World Heritage listing to the Federal Government.
DERM World Heritage manager Peter Ogilvie explained this marks the beginning of a long and highly competitive process.
First the Federal Government must firm up the tentative boundaries in consultation with local community groups, which is expected to take about 12 months.
Once any amendments are agreed, the government puts the final nomination forward to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for assessment.
This process involves comparing the Cooloola region with other sites of global natural importance, and can take up to two years.
“We are in competition with three other sites just in Australia, including Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia,” Mr Ogilvie said.
“However, we have a good chance of achieving World Heritage listing because we are putting the nomination forward as an extension of the existing Fraser Island World Heritage site, not as an entirely new submission.”
The entire Great Sandy National Park was nominated for World Heritage listing back in the early 90s, but only the Fraser Island section was granted the iconic status.
The proposed World Heritage area will extend south from Fraser Island to the Noosa River mouth, and west to include the Noosa everglades and Cooloola section of the national park.
Gympie Regional Council director of engineering Bob Fredman has raised concerns over whether the projected income from tourism will be enough to replace the existing roads, rubbish, sewerage and water resources that currently exist on council land.
“At the end of the day the ratepayers will have to bare the brunt of the cost,” Mr Fredman said.
“We need to weigh up the net benefit.”
Tourism Noosa CEO Steve Cooper welcomes the move, but warns that key stakeholders such as local fishermen and conservation groups must be involved in the process.
“It is important that industry and the community are brought into the consultation process to underpin and sustain a common purpose,” Mr Cooper said.
The projected increase in tourist numbers to the area is a welcome prospect for local tourism operators.
“South-East Queensland is recognised as one of the eco hotspots globally,” Mr Cooper said.
“The world traveller is more discerning these days, and having the World Heritage listing in conjunction with the biosphere status will certainly provide more international marketing opportunities.”
Noosa Parks Association vice president Dr Michael Gloster has been working on the project since the first World Heritage submission was made in 1991.
“We’re on the home straight now,” Dr Gloster said.
“There will be a great sense of satisfaction and relief if we get it…I just hope it happens in my lifetime.”
The World Heritage Centre is expected to announce their decision by 2012-13.
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