Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy ...

Visitor Management Strategy
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands
Visitor Management Strategy November2007
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy

This Strategy provides the framework and guidelines for
managing visitors to national park islands in the
Whitsunday and Mackay area. It sets out the considerations,
outcomes and strategies that will form the basis on which
day-to-day management decisions will be made.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) recognises
that many of the national park islands in the Mackay and
Whitsunday area are subject to native title claims. QPWS
acknowledges Traditional Owners from the Juru, Gia, Ngaro,
Yuibera, Darumbal and Barada, Barna, Kabalbara and
Yetimarla peoples, who have a special cultural relationship
with certain areas of the Great Barrier Reef and islands.
Disclaimer
This strategy does not intend to affect, diminish or extinguish
Native Title and associated rights.
Note that implementation of some management strategies might
need to be phased in according to availability of resources.
ISBN 978-0-9803051-3-5
© The State of Queensland.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. 2007.
Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted
by the Copyright Act, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited
without the prior written permission of the Queensland Parks and
Wildlife Service. Enquiries should be addressed to PO Box 15155,
City East QLD 4002.
00396-0607 November 2007
Recycled paper saves energy and resources.
Front cover photograph: Whitsunday Island (Adam Creed, EPA)

Table of contents
1 Executive summary............................................................................................................................... 2
2 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Background and context....................................................................................................................................................4
2.2 Purpose ................................................................................................................................................................................4
2.3 Planning area.......................................................................................................................................................................4
3 Strategy overview.................................................................................................................................. 6
3.1 Conservation values............................................................................................................................................................6
3.2 Management environment.................................................................................................................................................6
3.3 Visitor environment.............................................................................................................................................................6
4 Planning approach................................................................................................................................. 8
5 Visitor management settings.............................................................................................................10
(includes maps 2,3,4 showing settings applied to the planning area)
Table of contents
6 Strategic directions..............................................................................................................................14
6.1 Conserving natural values ............................................................................................................................................... 14
6.2 Conserving cultural values............................................................................................................................................... 15
6.3 Visitor use and facilities................................................................................................................................................... 16
6.4 Management of high use visitor sites ............................................................................................................................ 17
6.4.1 South Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island.................................................................................................. 17
6.4.2 Chance Bay, Whitsunday Island......................................................................................................................... 18
6.4.3 Tongue Point, Whitsunday Island..................................................................................................................... 18
6.4.4 Beaches at Blue Pearl Bay, Black Island and Langford Spit............................................................................ 19
6.4.5 Brampton Island ................................................................................................................................................. 19
6.4.6 Refuge Bay, Scawfell Island............................................................................................................................... 19
6.5 Camping............................................................................................................................................................................ 20
6.6 Resorts and developments............................................................................................................................................... 24
6.7 Aircraft .............................................................................................................................................................................. 25
6.8 Education and information............................................................................................................................................. 26
6.9 Working with the tourism industry................................................................................................................................. 26
7 Strategy review and evaluation.........................................................................................................28
8 References.............................................................................................................................................30
9 Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................................31

Executive summary
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) manages
an extensive suite of island national parks in the
Whitsunday and Mackay regions, part of the Great Barrier
Reef World Heritage Area. The regions are a mecca for
boating, yachting, diving, snorkelling and nature-based
activity. More than 1,400,000 people visit the regions each
year and this is growing. At some islands, visitor use is
having an impact on the environment and affecting the
quality of visitor experiences.
The Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management
Strategy has been developed to ensure that:
»
»
»
»
tourism is environmentally sustainable
the regions outstanding values are professionally
presented
visitors have a rewarding experience
the QPWS, partner organisations and tourism industry
work together effectively.
Particular emphasis is placed upon integrated planning and
policies across islands, beaches and the surrounding Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The Strategy provides a policy framework for sustainable
tourism and visitor use. Key initiatives include:
»
»
»
»
Apply a system of visitor management settings to
islands and sites to help guide management decision
making, including permit assessment, site planning,
facility development and presentation.
Identify high use sites that will be managed in
partnership with tour operators to ensure a very high
standard of visitor facilities and services are provided.
Identify key visitor destinations requiring new or
upgraded facilities and information signage.
Develop an investment plan that provides a strategic
basis for seeking funding for facilities improvements
from a range of public and private sector sources.
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Manage visitor use to sensitive sites through seasonal
or permanent access closures.
Establish mechanisms to protect cultural heritage sites
and advance the interests of Traditional Owners.
Establish a diverse range of camping opportunities for
commercial operators and independent visitors.
Ensure effective communication and engagement
forums are in place between QPWS, the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the
tourism industry.
Negotiate agreements with resorts adjoining national
parks to ensure co-operative management, public access
and contributions towards park management.
Form a joint QPWS-GBRMPA-industry forum to
investigate enhanced management of aircraft
throughout the area.
Set the scene for the potential introduction of the
Tourism in Protected Areas (TIPA) initiative into the
Whitsunday area.

Recreational boating at Hook Island
Executive summary
“The region is a mecca for boating, yachting,
diving, snorkelling and nature-based activity.”
Sunbakers at Whitehaven Beach Snorkelling - a popular visitor activity Hill Inlet Lookout

Introduction
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
2.1 Background and context
The Whitsunday and Mackay area is experiencing
substantial growth. More than 1,400,000 people visit each
year making it one of the most popular tourist destinations
within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. There is
also significant residential growth in Mackay City,
Whitsunday and Sarina shires. With new residential and
tourist developments, it is expected that visitor use of
national parks and islands will continue to grow. At some
national park islands, high visitor use is having a significant
impact on the environment, as well as affecting the quality
of their experience. This Visitor Management Strategy aims
to address these issues.
Island national parks are key parts of an integrated strategy
to conserve natural and cultural heritage in Queensland.
Islands also offer unique opportunities for eco-tourism and
recreation, providing significant commercial opportunities
and contributing to regional and State economies. Despite
this environmental, social and economic importance, many
Whitsunday and Mackay islands have inadequate facilities.
Previous planning efforts have sought to address visitor
management issues in the Whitsunday and Mackay area.
Much of this effort focused on managing the marine
component of visitor use, culminating in the rezoning of
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and release of the
Whitsunday Plan of Management, both developed by the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). The
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 defines
activities that can occur within the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park and the locations in which they can occur.
Zoning plans try to balance human use with conservation.
The Whitsunday Plan of Management applies settings that
place limits on vessel size, passenger load, type of craft,
facilities and certain activities in the marine park.
The Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management
Strategy will build on, but not duplicate, previous planning
efforts. The Strategy focuses on national park islands and
adjoining beaches rather than the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park.
2.2 Purpose
The Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management
Strategy will provide a framework for future management of
visitors to national parks and adjacent beaches.
The Strategy will:
1. identify visitor sites and patterns of use
2. develop a system of management settings for islands
and individual sites
3. identify sites that require immediate site planning and
remedial works
4. provide a policy framework for sustainable tourism and
visitor use.
2.3 Planning area
This Strategy applies to offshore national park islands and
adjoining beaches between Bowen and Sarina in Central
Queensland. The planning area falls wholly or partly within
the Bowen, Whitsunday, Sarina and Broadsound Shire
Councils, and Mackay City Council. The following are not
included in the planning area:
» freehold or leasehold land on islands
» national parks or beaches on the mainland
» marine areas below low tide within the Commonwealth
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park or Queensland Great
Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park.

MAP 1 Planning area locality
Introduction

Strategy overview
3.1 Conservation values
3.2 Management environment
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
The Great Barrier Reef was declared a World Heritage Area
in 1981. It is internationally recognised for its outstanding
natural values, and one of only a few sites nominated for all
four natural criteria (refer to www.environment.gov.au/
heritage/worldheritage/sites/gbr/values.html). Although coral
reefs initially made the area famous, it comprises an
extraordinary variety of other plant and animal communities,
including fringing coastal reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds,
sandy and coral cays, sandy or muddy bottom communities,
continental islands and deep open ocean areas.
The Whitsunday and Mackay islands are visually attractive
with rugged landforms, varied geology, sandy beaches and
fringing reefs. Significant natural values are represented,
including the highest vegetation diversity recorded for any
of the Great Barrier Reef continental islands, with nearly
1000 native plant species (including 20 that are rare and
threatened). Diverse plant communities such as lowland vine
forest, eucalypt woodland, Pisonia forest and grassland are
present. Wildlife is rich and varied and includes 31 mammal,
more than 200 bird and over 50 reptile species. Several
beaches are important nesting sites for green and
loggerhead turtles.
The planning area is also culturally significant. Aboriginal
people inhabited Whitsunday and Mackay islands for more
than 6000 years. Today, evidence of this early occupation
includes shell middens, fish traps, stone quarries and rock
art. Much of the coast and near-shore islands, cays and
reefs have special cultural meaning for Traditional Owners,
fulfilling a significant role in their traditional and
contemporary lifestyles. Hill Inlet, for example is of
particular spiritual importance. The islands also contain
cultural heritage resources that are evidence of more recent
island occupation and use, including shipwrecks, tramways,
fencelines and buildings.
Visitor use of national parks and beaches is regulated and
managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
(QPWS), an entity of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), through the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and
Marine Parks Act 2004. The EPA has developed the Mackay-
Whitsunday Regional Coastal Management Plan, which
covers the coastal zone and provides direction on how
coastal resources in the region will be protected and
managed in the future.
GBRMPA manages the establishment, control, care and
development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and
World Heritage Area through the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Act 1975. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park includes
all waters to the low tide mark. Visitor use of state waters
and the intertidal zone is managed by the Queensland
Government in a complementary manner under the Marine
Parks Act 2004 and the Marine Parks (Great Barrier Reef
Coast) Zoning Plan 2004.
Local government has important responsibilities in how the
planning area is developed and used. Tourism Queensland
and regional tourism organisations market the area as a
tourist destination on behalf of local and regional tourism
businesses. Commercial operators, resorts and other park
neighbours play a critical role in presenting the parks and
providing infrastructure and services.
3.3 Visitor environment
The islands form a significant part of the Mackay and
Whitsunday regions, two of Australia’s most attractive
holiday destinations. The regions are popular with domestic
and international visitors who come to visit iconic locations
such as Whitehaven Beach. The regions are also an
important component of the Brisbane–Cairns touring route
for travellers exploring the Queensland coast.

Tourism trends
The Mackay region (between Laguna Quays and Sarina)
recorded 684,000 visitors in the 2005–2006 financial year:
42,000 international and 642,000 domestic visitors.
By 2016, Tourism Queensland predicts that the Mackay
region will host 853,000 visitors.
The Whitsunday region (between Bowen and Laguna Quays)
recorded 788,000 visitors in the 2005-2006 financial year:
208,000 international and 580,000 domestic visitors.
By 2016 it is predicted that the Whitsunday region will
host 1,050,000 visitors.
Tourism contributed an estimated $314 million to gross
national product and accounted for 12 percent of all
employment in the Mackay and Whitsunday regions
(Tourism Queensland, 1998/99 data). In the Whitsunday
region, 34.4 percent of the shire’s workers are employed in
tourism enterprises.
The area contains Australia’s largest group of charter boat
operators, with an annual turnover in excess of $100 million,
along with more than 760 commercially registered boats.
Recreation trends
National park islands and beaches are used by residents for
nature-based activities such as camping, bush walking,
scenic viewing, swimming, snorkelling, birdwatching and
beach activities.
The Mackay and Whitsunday regions have current
populations of 114,000 and 29,000 respectively, with
significant residential growth occurring in both places.
By 2016, these regions are predicted to have an additional
20,000 and 7000 residents respectively.
The Whitsunday region offers some of the world’s best boat
cruising opportunities, with sheltered waters and many
safe anchorages. In the Mackay and Whitsunday area,
recreational boat registrations (an indicator of how many
residents access offshore islands) numbered 14,077 in 2004,
growing annually by between 10 and 20 percent. The area
currently has about 850 marina berths, a figure estimated
to double in the next few years.
Visitor use of marine parks and national
park islands
No comprehensive figures exist for visitor use of the
planning area. Visitor use estimates can be derived from the
GBRMPA Environmental Management Charge (EMC) data,
QPWS Commercial Activity Permit returns and QPWS
camping data. General figures are provided in Table 3.3.1.
Future visitor levels to islands in the planning area will be
influenced by both domestic and international tourism
patterns and residential growth.
Strategy overview
Table 3.3.1
Visitor use of Whitsunday and Mackay marine parks and islands
Estimate type 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Visitor days to marine park 1 533,930 661,853 998,087 890,529 796,291 776,885
Change (%) from previous year 24 51 -11 -11 -2
Visitors to national park islands 2 72,000 3 84,000 4 94,000 5
not available not available not available
Change (%) from previous year -- 14 11
Camping on national park islands
(Camper nights) not available not available not available
10,551 12,446 12,885
Change (%) from previous year -- 15 3
Notes: 1. Visitor days to marine park in the Whitsunday area via commercial tour operators (EMC data, GBRMPA)
2. Number of visitors using commercial tour operators to access national park islands, not beaches (data from QPWS Commercial Activity Permit returns)
3. Data is for 2002/03
4. Data is for 2003/04
5. Data is for 2004/05
Camping at Crayfish Beach, Hook Island Lookout from South Molle Island Bushwalking at Tongue Point

Planning approach
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
A QPWS project team developed this Strategy. A multiagency
steering committee comprising representatives from
QPWS, EPA, GBRMPA, Tourism Whitsunday, Association of
Marine Park Tourism Operators and Tourism Queensland
guided the project team.
The planning process involved research into the natural,
social and cultural values, and tourism and recreational use
trends of islands. Visitor sites and management issues were
identified, and visitor attitudes at key sites surveyed.
The project team visited more than 100 visitor sites between
April and December 2005. Community representatives and
tour operators accompanied QPWS staff on a number of
trips. As part of the assessment process, teams described the
visitor site and recorded site parameters and levels of visitor
use. For each site, the level of natural and human-modified
elements in the landscape was recorded using the QPWS
Landscape Classification System. Visitor impacts, risks and
management issues were assessed and recorded. This
information was used to classify sites into visitor
management settings.
Hill Inlet
In developing the Strategy, community and industry
stakeholders were consulted through the establishment of
an Airlie Beach Management Advisory Group. This group is
made up of representatives from local government,
community organisations and the tourism industry.
Consultation occurred with GBRMPA Tourism and
Recreation Reef Advisory Committee, Mackay and Airlie
Beach Local Marine Advisory Committees, Traditional Owner
representatives and tourism operators.
A public submission process was conducted in late 2005
involving a “call for comment”. Submissions informed the
early stages of strategy development. A draft Strategy was
released for public comment in December 2006.
The Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management
Strategy has been formally adopted as EPA policy and will
provide a framework for future visitor management.

Hill Inlet
Planning approach
“ The planning process involved research into
the natural, social and cultural values,
and tourism and recreational use...”
Facilities at Whitehaven Beach Banyan Trees on Long Island Mackay Marina

Visitor management settings
The following section describes a broad framework for
managing visitor use of islands centred on a system of
visitor management settings applied to islands and
individual sites. Settings will guide decision making,
including permit assessment, site planning, facility
development and presentation.
Approach
Islands and beaches will be managed according to the
following settings:
1. Developed 2. High use 3. Moderate use
4. Natural 5. Protected
10
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
Classifying visitor sites in natural areas is an important
The names and broad intent of settings complement those
management process. The classification system places a adopted for the marine environment in the Whitsunday Plan
visitor site at a specified level of “naturalness”, ensuring a of Management (GBRMPA 1998).
mix of visitor sites remains available to meet park users’
Maps 2, 3 and 4 show settings applied to islands and visitor
needs. It also enables managers to decide on the amount,
sites. Table 5.1 confirms which visitor sites fall within each
type and capacity of facilities developed at visitor sites.
setting. Tables 5.2 and 5.3 describe management intent and
Desired outcomes
»
»
»
A consistent and justifiable framework is in place for
managers to make decisions regarding commercial and
independent visitor use.
Integrated and simplified visitor management operates
across islands and the adjoining marine park.
Certainty exists for the tourism industry regarding
QPWS policy.
visitor use guidelines for each setting.
Policies, guidelines and actions
Manage islands and beaches according to visitor
management settings assigned in maps 2, 3 and 4, table
5.1 and guidelines in tables 5.2 and 5.3.
Assess and administer new commercial activity permits
consistent with settings and policies in this Strategy.
Manage camping areas according to visitor management
settings and policies in section 6.5.
Table 5.1 Visitor sites within each visitor management setting
Setting
Visitor site
Developed Beaches adjacent to:
Camp Island — Camp Island Tourist Resort
South Molle Island — South Molle Island Resort
Long Island — Club Croc Resort, Peppers Palm Bay Resort and South Long Island Nature Lodge
Hook Island — Hook Island Wilderness Resort
Lindeman Island — Club Med Resort
Brampton Island — Brampton Island Resort
Keswick Island — Keswick Island Development
Table continued next page
»
»
»

Table 5.1
Setting
High use
Moderate use
Natural
Visitor sites within each visitor management setting [CONTINUED]
Visitor site
Hayman Island — Blue Pearl Bay Beach
Langford Island — Langford Spit
Black Island — Black Island Beach
Whitsunday Island — Tongue Point, Lookout Beach, Betty’s Beach, South Whitehaven Beach, Chance Bay
Brampton Island — Jetty site, Western Bay, Hillsborough Lookout, Carlisle Lookout, Brampton Walking
Track Circuit
Scawfell Island — Refuge Bay
Gloucester Island — Bona Bay
North Molle Island — Cockatoo Beach
South Molle Island — Sandy Bay, Spion Kop, Cultural Quarry, walking tracks, Paddle Bay
Long Island — Pandanus Bay, Fish Bay, Sandy Bay, walking tracks north of Sandy Bay
Hook Island — Nara Art Site, Maureen’s Cove, Crayfish Beach, Bloodhorn Beach
Border Island — Cateran Bay
Whitsunday Island — Central Whitehaven Beach, Sawmill Beach, Dugong Beach, Dugong-Sawmill
Walking Track
Haslewood Island — Stockyard / Chalkies Beach
Henning Island — Northern Spit
Lindeman Island — Boat Port, Plantation Beach, Coconut Beach, Gap Beach, Mt Oldfield, walking tracks
Seaforth Island — Orchid Beach, walking tracks, South Beach
Goldsmith Island — Roylen Bay
Rabbit Island — Tug’s Point
Newry Island — Camping Area, Sunset Beach, walking tracks
Carlisle Island — Neil’s (Sandy) Beach
Brampton Island — Turtle Bay, Dinghy Bay West
St Bees Island — Turtle Beach, Homestead Bay
Flat Top Island
Camp Island
Gloucester Island — East Side Bay
Saddleback Island
Armit Island
Denman Island
Tancred Island
Planton Island
Long Island — South Long Island Walking Track (proposed)
Cid Island — Homestead Bay
Hook Island — Curlew Beach, Steen’s Beach
Whitsunday Island — Joes Beach, Naris Beach, North Whitehaven Beach, Peter Bay, Whitsunday Peak
Walking Trail
Henning Island — Geographers Bay
Maher Island — Phantoms Cave
Shaw Island — Neck Bay
Thomas Island — Naked Lady Beach, Sea Eagle Beach
South Repulse Island – South Repulse Beach
Goldsmith Island — Sting Ray Bay, Looking Glass Bay
Linne Island
Outer Newry Island — Hut and walking track
Carlisle Island — Melaleuca Swamp
Brampton Island — Dinghy Bay East, Oak Bay
Cockermouth Island
Keswick Island — Singapore Bay, Victor Bay
St Bees Island — North and South Egremont beaches
Penrith Island
Round Top Island
Prudhoe Island
Digby Island
Curlew Island — North Beach, South Beach
South Percy Island — North West Beach
Table continued next page
Visitor management settings
11

Table 5.1
Setting
Protected
Visitor sites within each visitor management setting [CONTINUED]
Visitor site
Holbourne Island
Middle Island
Olden Island
Grassy Island
Double Cone Island
Shute Island
Deloraine Island
Whitsunday Island — Hill Inlet, Far North Whitehaven Beach
Pentecost Island
Shaw Island — Burning Point beaches
Carlisle Island — Squeaky Beach
Mausoleum Island
Calder Island
Wigton Island
Bushy Islet
Pine Islet
Note: Maps show settings for more islands. Islands listed above are those with identified visitor sites.
12
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
Table 5.2
1
2
3
4
5
Description and guidelines for management settings
Setting Description Management intent Management guidelines
Developed
High use
Moderate use
Natural
Protected
Beaches
immediately
adjoining resorts
and major
residential areas
Sites providing a
focus for tourism
Sites providing for
significant levels
of tourism and
local recreation
Visitor sites
generally free of
facilities
Natural areas set
aside for
conservation with
minimal visitor use
Manage in close co-operation with
the relevant resort or development.
Provide for sustainable interaction
between the resort or development
and the adjacent beach.
Manage for high levels of
visitor use.
Manage for sustainable visitor use.
Manage for conservation
outcomes while allowing for low
levels of self-reliant visitor use.
Manage for conservation
outcomes. Some areas with unique
or outstanding conservation and/
or cultural value are seasonally or
permanently closed to visitors.
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Each site will require detailed
assessment of adjacent development
proposals; may also require additional
site planning to determine appropriate
visitor management arrangements.
Sites will have appropriate facilities
to minimise visitor impacts and help
improve the visitor experience.
Each site will have specific strategies
to guide site development and
management as per section 6.4.
Sites will be managed for large groups
of people.
Sites will have appropriate facilities to
minimise visitor impacts and enhance
the visitor experience.
Visitor sites generally free of facilities
unless they are essential to minimise
visitor impacts e.g. toilets.
Commercial activity permits may be issued.
Group activity permits and special
activity permits will not be issued.
Some sites may be set aside for noncommercial
use only.
No generators or compressors permitted.
No facilities provided.
Group activities and special activity not
permitted.
Filming generally not permitted.
Commercial use generally not permitted
(may be permitted in special
circumstances – see section 6.1).
Free and independent traveller use
permitted, except for locations with
seasonal or permanent closures.
No generators or compressors permitted.

Table 5.3
Visitor use permitted within each setting.
Visitor use
Setting
Developed High use Moderate use Natural Protected
Commercial use Yes 1 Yes Yes Optional 2 Optional 3
Access for free and independent travellers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, except for
closed areas
Permanent facilities (includes walking tracks) Yes Yes Yes Optional No 4
Special activities 5 Optional Optional Optional No No
Group activities 6 Yes Yes Yes No No
Filming for advertising and feature films Yes Yes Yes Yes No 7
Use of compressors and generators Yes Optional Optional No No
Commercial tented accommodation Yes Optional No No No
Commercial reef walking tours No 7 No 8 No No No
Motorised water sports 9 Yes No No No No
Motor vehicle use on beaches 10 Yes No No No No
Goods and services vending and hire Yes No No No No
Notes:
1 Yes = allowed, but if permit or agreement required, subject to
assessment and conditions
2 Optional = at discretion of QPWS. Individual applications will be
assessed by QPWS with consideration to site characteristics,
potential environmental impacts, potential effect on other park
users, availability of a suitable alternative location and other site
factors that might exist
3 QPWS may permit access under special conditions for ecocertified
commercial tour operators (see section 6.1)
4 No = not permitted
5 Special activity as defined in section 104 of the Queensland
Marine Parks Regulations 2006
Whitsunday Island
6 Group activity = organised use of a protected area in a way that may
interfere with general public use of the area
7 QPWS may allow exceptions under strict conditions after
considering: environmental impacts; effect on other park users;
suitability of alternative locations and potential management or
significant public benefit
8 Unless allowed under an existing permission
9 Motorised water sport as defined in the GBRMPA Whitsunday Plan of
Management 1998
10 Motor vehicle as defined in the Nature Conservation (Protected Areas
Management) Regulation 2006
Visitor management settings
13

Strategic directions
14
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
The following section specifies policies, guidelines and
actions to help with visitor management of Whitsunday and
Mackay national park islands and beaches.
6.1 Conserving natural values
Visitors using islands may impact on natural values by:
transporting weeds from one visitor site to another
»
»
»
»
»
disturbing dune vegetation which contributes to erosion
disturbing wildlife (such as seabirds and turtles) during
important breeding and roosting periods
damaging vegetation and areas of reef flat when
moving between vessels and islands
leaving rubbish and waste at visitor sites.
Many islands and beaches support significant wildlife and
cultural values that are sensitive to visitor use. Bushy and
Redbill islets are particularly important. The values of these
places will be managed to minimise visitor use through
seasonal or permanent access closures.
Desired outcomes
»
»
»
Visitor use is ecologically sustainable and has minimal
impact on natural values.
Islands and sites of natural significance are protected.
Visitors are aware of appropriate behaviour when
visiting natural areas and the potential impacts they
may have on park values.
Policies, guidelines and actions
»
»
»
»
Minimise disturbance to native plant communities and
wildlife through site planning and infrastructure placement.
Develop and distribute information on minimal impact
practices to island visitors.
Work with the tourism industry to apply minimum
impact practices to tourism operations.
Maintain the policy of no fires or domestic animals on
national park islands and adjacent beaches.
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Apply seasonal access restrictions (1 October–31 March
inclusive) to protect natural values on Armit, Double
Cone, East Repulse, Grassy, Holbourne and South
Repulse islands, Steen’s Beach (Hook Island) and
Burning Point Beach (Shaw Island).
Limit access to Bushy and Redbill islets for research and
monitoring purposes only, through declaration as
national park (scientific).
Apply a permanent access restriction to Bird Island.
Keep visitor access to Hill Inlet and wetland areas inland
from Whitehaven Beach to an absolute minimum.
Encourage tour operators to obtain eco-certification
through provision of tangible incentives, including
extended permit terms and inclusion in EPA / QPWS
marketing and promotion.
Consider tour operator access to protected settings
(setting 5) where the operator:
›
›
›
›
›
has advanced eco-certification
has demonstrated experience and capabilities to
operate with minimal impact in sensitive areas
is prepared to contribute to park management at the
site (e.g. weed control, litter collection, wildlife
monitoring etc.)
can demonstrate that the site provides a significant
environmental or cultural education experience or
management benefit
can demonstrate that the activity cannot reasonably
occur in another less sensitive locality.
The Whitsunday Plan of Management provides for
commercial reefwalking at Black Island (identified as a high
use setting). This provision will continue as an exception to
this strategy for tour operators with existing permission.
Encourage commercial tour operators to provide their
own waste management facilities when accessing
islands without established toilet facilities. Phase out
permitted access for operators without such facilities.
Operators who are directly affected by this policy will be
identified and contacted to allow adequate time to
adjust their operations.

Cid Harbour
Views of Shaw Island from Lindeman Island
Whitehaven Beach
Opportunity
6.2 Conserving cultural values
A significant Indigenous cultural relationship with the Great
Barrier Reef and islands predates non-Indigenous
involvement in the area. Contemporary Indigenous peoples
are attempting to retain their cultural association with their
values and use of the area, in the face of increasing pressure
from coastal development, commercial fishing and
recreational and tourism use. Native title claim applications,
lodged by the Juru (Cape Upstart area), Gia (Proserpine
area), Yuibera (Mackay area), Darumbal (Percy Isles area)
and Barada, Barna, Kabalbara and Yetimarla (Cape
Palmerston area) peoples cover various national park islands.
The Ngaro people are also associated with the Whitsunday
islands. Islands also contain cultural heritage resources that
are remnants of the region’s more recent settlement and
development.
Visitors are interested to learn about the area’s cultural
significance. However visitors can damage cultural sites
through souveniring cultural artefacts, vandalism, graffiti
and disturbing fragile sites. Traditional Owners keep the
location of many cultural sites secret to avoid visitor
disturbance.
Desired outcomes
»
»
»
QPWS will consider limited access for eco-certified
tour operators to protected setting sites, where a
significant environmental or cultural education
experience for visitors or a management benefit
is provided and the activity cannot occur in
another setting.
Partnerships exist between Indigenous peoples, tour
operators and QPWS to ensure cultural values and sites
are appropriately protected and presented.
Visitor use has minimal impact on cultural values.
Indigenous communities’ aspirations to participate in
the tourism industry are explored and appropriately
included in tourism planning initiatives.
Policies, guidelines and actions
»
»
»
»
»
»
Promote and foster active partnerships between QPWS
and Traditional Owners to enable the management,
protection and presentation of islands.
Support an active role for Traditional Owners in
providing tourism services to significant cultural sites.
Collaborate with Traditional Owners to manage visitor
use of significant cultural sites at Nara Inlet (Hook
Island), South Molle Island and Hill Inlet (Whitsunday
Island), including preparing site plans, improving
facilities and on-site interpretation.
After consulting Traditional Owners and other
stakeholders, explore opportunities to give visitor sites
and locations suitable Indigenous names.
Undertake cultural heritage impact assessments before
new facilities are developed and/or major
redevelopments are undertaken.
Undertake a cultural heritage study in the Whitsunday
region to identify significant cultural heritage places on
islands and investigate management requirements,
including listing of State significant places on the
Queensland Heritage Register.
Flat Top Island near Mackay is about to be
designated as a national park. Round Top Island
National Park already exists nearby. An opportunity
exists to create a new amalgamated national park
with a suitable Indigenous name.
The Nara Inlet art site, Dugong–Sawmill walking
track, South Molle quarry site and Newry Island
camping area could be given Indigenous names.
Opportunity Opportunity
Strategic directions
15

16
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
6.3 Visitor use AND FACILITIES Policies, guidelines and actions
Visitors to the Whitsunday and Mackay islands participate in
a wide range of activities, including nature appreciation,
snorkelling, diving, picnicking, bushwalking, boating,
motorised and non-motorised water sports, beach games
and adventure activities. National parks and adjacent
beaches are suitable locations for some of these while
others are better suited to locations where nature
conservation is not the primary purpose.
Extensive walking track networks are found on South Molle,
Long, Lindeman and Brampton islands and shorter walking
tracks are located on Newry, Seaforth and Whitsunday islands
(the last of which includes an informal trail between Cid
Harbour and Whitsunday Peak). There are also opportunities
for beach walking, particularly on Whitehaven Beach.
QPWS is sometimes requested to allow special events such
as large commercial beach parties and fireworks displays on
islands and nearby beaches. Similarly, clubs and other
community groups request access to these areas for organised
events. Beach games, music, food, alcohol, marquees and
other structures associated with some special events may
conflict with nature-based experiences of other visitors.
There can also be litter and waste management problems.
In addition to visitor activities during the day, QPWS is
sometimes requested to consider night time activities, such
as formal beach dinners and major filming.
Educational groups often use islands for field trips and
environmental education. These groups can be quite large
and may exceed camping area capacities.
QPWS does not have accurate data on the number of
people visiting sites on national park islands, either as part
of a commercial tour or independently.
Desired outcomes
»
»
»
»
»
Visitors have minimal impact on the natural values of
islands.
Visitor use is managed at sustainable levels, providing
quality experiences for all visitors.
A range of opportunities exists for visitors, including a
suitable mix of commercial and non-commercial use.
Management policies and systems address the expected
increasing demand for use of islands.
This Strategy guides the development and implementation
of a comprehensive capital works program.
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Manage all walking tracks to a predetermined standard.
Allow expansion of the current level of permitted special
events on national parks and adjacent beaches only
where compelling circumstances exist such as significant
management or public benefit.
Mark and manage, with minimal improvements,
the Cid Harbour–Whitsunday Peak walking trail.
Visitors will need to be experienced bushwalkers and
totally self-reliant. Commercial tour operator use of the
trail will be subject to a QPWS safety assessment and
will be managed through a commercial activity permit
or agreement.
Allow educational groups to occasionally exceed
maximum group sizes set for camping areas where a
sound practical reason exists and the group is
adequately supervised to ensure minimal visitor impact.
Develop a Great Walk involving sailing and boating
between several Whitsunday islands, with a series of
new or upgraded short walks to viewing spots.
Undertake surveys to measure visitor use at high use
sites and more broadly throughout the Whitsundays to
better understand current and future use and visitor
satisfaction levels.
Co-ordinate available funds and resources to implement
the policies and programs arising from this Strategy.
This document will provide a strategic basis for seeking
additional funding from a range of sources. Table 6.3
identifies significant capital investment requirements
and includes a:
›
›
›
Priority rating (high, medium or low)
Target date for completion
Potential funding source.
The Cid Harbour–Whitsunday Peak walking trail
will be marked and managed with minimal
improvements. Visitors will need to be
experienced bushwalkers and totally self-reliant.
Opportunity

Table 6.3 Significant capital investment requirements
Investment Priority Target
date
Potential funding source
Public (State and Private
Commonwealth)
Comment
Redevelop lookouts at Tongue Point, Whitsunday Island. High 2007 P
Develop major on-site interpretation at Tongue Point,
Whitsunday Island.
Upgrade facilities and walking tracks on Tongue Point,
Whitsunday Island.
High 2008 P
High 2009 P P
Develop all-tide access in Tongue Bay, Whitsunday Island. High 2009 P P
Redevelop day-use and camping area at South
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island.
Replace and upgrade toilet facilities at South Whitehaven
Beach, Whitsunday Island.
Develop major on-site interpretation at South
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island.
Develop walking track from Chance Bay to South
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island.
Develop lookout at South Whitehaven Beach,
Whitsunday Island.
High 2007 P
High 2007 P
High 2008 P
Subject to
feasibility and
marine site plan
High 2009 P Part of Great
Walks project.
Medium 2009 P
Develop Great Walk on Whitsunday islands. High 2009 P State-wide
initiative to
develop Great
Walks across
Queensland
Redevelop area at Sawmill Beach, Whitsunday Island. High 2010 P
Develop major on-site interpretation in the Dugong–
Sawmill area, Whitsunday Island.
Low 2011 P
Redevelop camping area at Northern Spit, Henning Island. Medium 2010 P
Redevelop facilities at Nara Rock Art site, Hook Island. Medium 2007 P
Strategic directions
17
Develop major on-site interpretation at Nara Rock Art site, Medium 2008 P
Hook Island.
Develop all-tide access at Black Island Beach. Low 2016 P
Develop major on-site interpretation at South Molle Island. High 2009 P
Redevelop campground at Sandy Bay, South Molle Island. Medium 2009 P
Redevelop campground at Paddle Bay, South Molle Island. Low 2011 P
Develop walking tracks behind South Long Island Nature
Lodge, Long Island.
Low 2016 P
Redevelop campground at Bona Bay, Gloucester Island. Low 2016 P
Develop campground at Plantation Beach, Lindeman Island. Low 2011 P
Redevelop day-use area at Western Bay, Brampton Island. Medium 2010 P
Subject to
feasibility and
marine site plan
Subject to
feasibility study
Develop facilities adjacent to the Brampton jetty site. Medium 2010 P P
Develop major on-site interpretation at Brampton Island. Medium 2010 P
Develop major on-site interpretation at Newry Island. Low 2007 P
Develop campground at Turtle Beach, St Bees Island. Low 2009 P
Redevelop visitor area at Refuge Bay, Scawfell Island Medium 2009 P P

Snorkelling
18
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
6.4 Management of High use visitor sites
Sites within the high use setting are either currently a focus
for tourism and have high levels of visitor use, or are sites
that will become a focal point in the future as a planned
outcome of this Strategy. High use sites are:
»
»
»
»
»
»
South Whitehaven Beach
Chance Bay
Tongue Point and Lookout Beach
Beaches at Blue Pearl Bay, Black Island and Langford
Island (Spit)
Brampton Island walking track circuit, Brampton Peak
lookouts and Western Bay picnic area
Refuge Bay at Scawfell Island.
High use sites are special places that showcase the natural
values of island and marine environments. These sites will
have high quality facilities such as boardwalks, lookouts and
information panels where required to protect the site and
accommodate high visitor numbers. QPWS, GBRMPA,
tourism operators and organisations should work together
to ensure these sites are presented in a way that contributes
to quality visitor experiences and thus enhances the region’s
tourism reputation.
Sections 6.4.1 – 6.4.6 show an estimate of current visitor
use for each high use site. This estimate includes:
»
»
»
Commercial tour operator customers each year — the
number of visitors each year who access a site through
commercial tour operators
Free and independent travellers each year — the number
of visitors each year who access a site as free and
independent travellers (i.e. non-commercial use)
Total visits each year — the number of times a site is
visited each year.
Note: The estimates of day use are based on information collated
in 2005/2006 and are estimates of current use levels at that time.
At Refuge Bay (Scawfell Island) the estimate is based on a projected
level of use that would occur if the commercial tour operator
visiting the site in 2005 continued to do so. These figures are
not intended to provide any indication of future permitted use.
Desired outcome
»
High use visitor sites are managed at a sustainable level.
Policies, guidelines and actions
»
»
»
»
Manage high use visitor sites based on policies specified
in sections 6.4.1–6.4.6.
Monitor visitor use of high use sites.
In the event that TIPA is applied to commercial tourism
use of Whitsunday island national parks, QPWS and the
tourism industry will collaboratively allocate a
sustainable visitor capacity to selected sites and manage
commercial use through commercial activity agreements.
Encourage tour operators to provide their customers
with regular transport between the beach and their main
vessel so they can use vessel facilities.
6.4.1 South Whitehaven Beach,
Whitsunday Island
Whitehaven Beach is an iconic visitor destination, one of the
most recognisable tourism sites in Australia. Visitor activity
and facilities are concentrated at Whitehaven’s southern end,
the most sheltered anchorage in the prevailing south-east
winds. Some visitors use island facilities; others simply use
the beach and rely on their vessel transport to provide facilities.
Visitor impacts on the beach area are likely, although these
are difficult to observe and measure. Likely impacts include:
disturbance to dune vegetation; compaction of beach areas;
and disturbance to wildlife, particularly beach nesting birds
such as beach stone-curlews. Waste management (toileting)
facilities are inadequate to cope with the current level of
visitor use.
Table 6.4.1 Current estimates of day use at
South Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island
Visitor type
Commercial tour operator customers
Free and independent travellers
Estimate of
annual day use
160,000
110,000
Total visits 270,000

Management strategies
»
»
»
Concentrate all facility development, and large vessel and
large group access at the southern end of Whitehaven Beach.
Diversify visitor activities and spread the distribution of
visitors by providing a walking trail to a lookout behind
South Whitehaven Beach and a walking trail to Chance
Bay as a part of the Whitsunday Islands Great Walk.
Redevelop facilities to ensure camping and day-use areas
are separated.
6.4.2 Chance Bay, Whitsunday Island
Chance Bay is a low-key visitor site for most of the year.
Facilities include a walking track leading from the beach to
a small day-use and camping area (consisting of two tables
and a rudimentary toilet). Kayakers occasionally use the site
as a camping destination. The bay is exposed to prevailing
south-east winds, often making it unsuitable for vessel
anchorage. When northerlies blow, a large number of tour
operators who would normally visit South Whitehaven Beach
go to Chance Bay. It is allocated a high use setting as it
becomes an alternative destination to Whitehaven in northerly
winds. When consulted, a number of commercial tour
operators requested a walking track from Chance Bay to
South Whitehaven Beach.
The dunes at Chance Bay show evidence of erosion, although
how much visitor use contributes to this erosion is unknown.
It is important to minimise visitor access to these dunes to
reduce the likelihood of sand disturbance and further
erosion. Weeds such as cobbler’s pegs and caltrop are present
— these usually occur as a result of disturbance.
Management strategies
»
»
»
Maintain commercial visitor use at current levels; any
increase will not be sustainable.
Develop Chance Bay as a trailhead for access to South
Whitehaven Beach. This should reduce visitor density
on the beach when the site is intensively used. The
trailhead and walking track will be developed as a part
of the Whitsunday Islands Great Walk.
Redevelop facilities to ensure camping and day-use are
separated. If there is a significant increase in day use of
Chance Bay beach, evaluate the interaction between day
users and campers. In the event that the two activities
are determined to be incompatible, close Chance Bay as
a camping area and manage for day-use only.
6.4.3 Tongue Point, Whitsunday Island
After Whitehaven Beach, Tongue Point is the most popular
visitor destination in the planning area. Visitors to Tongue
Point can walk along a short walking track of less than 1km
to a lookout that provides world-class views of Hill Inlet, or
down a boardwalk to Lookout Beach and Betty’s Beach.
Visitors often sun bake or play games on the beach. There is
an information shelter at both Hill Inlet lookout and
Lookout Beach. Access to Tongue Point is via Tongue Bay
where vessels moor or anchor and transfer visitors over a
reef flat to a small beach. Alternatively, visitors can access
the site via Betty’s Beach at the south-eastern end of Tongue
Point. At low tide, access is difficult from both approaches.
Facilities are inadequate for the current level of visitor use.
Hill Inlet lookout is frequently crowded and long lines of
visitors often have to wait for access. The walking track is
regularly congested with lines of visitors who have been to
the lookout squeezing past visitors who are still en-route.
The site shows signs of visitor impact. The walking track to
the lookout has many exposed tree roots, poor drainage and
evidence of litter and bush toileting. There has also been
damage to the reef flat next to the access point in Tongue Bay.
At Lookout Beach, it is clear that visitor disturbance is causing
sand to move off the beach and cover existing facilities.
Management strategies
»
»
»
»
»
»
Until facilities are upgraded maintain commercial visitor
use at June 2007 levels; any increase will not be
sustainable. A moratorium on issuing any additional
commercial activity permit capacity for the site will be
introduced to implement this strategy.
Work with GBRMPA to develop an integrated site plan
for Tongue Point and Tongue Bay that explicitly
encourages site access via Tongue Bay.
Examine the feasibility of establishing all-tide access at
Tongue Bay. Implementation would depend on
obtaining funding through a public-private partnership.
Consistent with the site plan, redevelop the walking
track and lookout facilities to manage current visitor
use. This will involve developing a loop track and toilet
facilities, and establishing a second lookout.
Minimise facility development and vessel access at Lookout
Beach to keep this part of the site as natural as possible.
Work with GBRMPA to keep Hill Inlet as natural as
possible to preserve the view.
Strategic directions
19
Table 6.4.2
Current estimates of day use
at Chance Bay, Whitsunday Island
Visitor type
Commercial tour operator customers
Free and independent travellers
Estimate of
annual day use
10,000
4000
Total visits 14,000
Table 6.4.3 Current estimates of day use
at Tongue Point, Whitsunday Island
Visitor type
Commercial tour operator customers
Free and independent travellers
Estimate of
annual day use
90,000
40,000
Total visits 130,000

Visitors access Tongue Point via Tongue Bay Snorkellers at Blue Pearl Bay Brampton Island Resort
20
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
6.4.4 Beaches at Blue Pearl Bay,
Black Island and Langford Spit
Blue Pearl Bay, Black Island and Langford Spit are three
of the most popular snorkelling and diving sites in the
Whitsundays. The beaches are used as platforms to begin
underwater exploration. There are picnic tables and a pit
toilet on Black Island and a picnic table on Langford Island.
Various commercial tourism vessels, private vessels and guests
from Hayman Island Resort visit the sites. There are numerous
moorings and/or reef protection markers at all of the
beaches. Channel guides have been installed at Blue Pearl
Bay to control visitor access and help separate snorkellers
and divers from small vessels accessing the beach.
Black Island beach shows clear evidence of erosion,
although this is most likely a result of extreme weather
conditions. The pit toilet provided on Black Island is at the
end of its operational life.
Management strategies
»
»
»
»
Focus visitor use on beach areas, with an emphasis on
the majority of facilities being provided by associated
vessels. Provide facilities at Black Island only if they are
necessary to address visitor impacts. For example, there
will be a need to improve toilet facilities.
Work with GBRMPA to collaboratively develop
integrated site plans for Black Island and Langford Spit.
Subject to the Black Island site plan, investigate
developing all-tide access at Black Island Beach to limit
damage to the reef flats.
Due to significant conservation values of Black Island,
investigate and implement strategies to minimise visitor
use of the island’s southern end through appropriate use
of on-site interpretive signage and restricted access areas.
6.4.5 Brampton Island
Brampton Island offers numerous attractive beaches and
bays and excellent scenic views along an extensive walking
track system. The bays are located on the island’s southern
and eastern sides, where vessels tend to anchor when winds
are from the north. Water is shallow and vessel use
restricted at low tides. In south-east winds, vessels usually
anchor near the public jetty on the north-west side of the
island. Brampton Island Resort is located on the island’s
northern tip and accommodates between 11,000 and
12,000 guests each year. There are plans for the resort to
expand. Aside from resort guests, free and independent
travellers and customers of commercial tour operators use
the island’s walking tracks, lookouts and facilities at
Western Bay, Dinghy Bay West and Turtle Bay. Tour
operators deliver customers to a public jetty where they
walk to Western Bay and may then explore the rest of the
island. Alternatively, if conditions are suitable, customers
can be delivered directly to Western or Dinghy bays.
Brampton Island has a significant weed problem. Weeds
such as snakeweed and cobbler’s pegs usually spread as a
result of visitor use. There is clear evidence of bush toileting
at the jetty site.
Management strategies
»
»
Manage the walking track system and lookouts, the area
next to the public jetty and Western Bay as high use
settings.
Manage Dinghy Bay West and Turtle Bay visitor sites as
moderate use and Dinghy Bay East and Oak Bay as
natural settings.
Table 6.4.4 Current estimates of day use at Blue Pearl Bay, Black Island and Langford Spit
Visitor type
Estimate of annual day use
Blue Pearl Bay Black Island Langford Spit
Commercial tour operator customers 73,000 22,000 27,000
Free and independent travellers 32,000 9000 13,000
Total visits 105,000 31,000 40,000

Whitsunday Island
»
»
»
Table 6.4.5 Current estimates of day use at
Brampton Island
Visitor type
Assess the feasibility of developing toilet facilities and
visitor information at the jetty site. This would depend
on obtaining funding through a public-private
partnership.
Close Western Bay as a camping area and promote
alternative camping at Neil’s (Sandy) Beach on
Carlisle Island.
Redevelop Western Bay as a day-use only site. Subject to
environmental and cultural assessment, increase this site’s
size in anticipation of use by large groups of visitors.
6.4.6 Refuge Bay, Scawfell Island
Scawfell Island is the largest island in South Cumberland
Islands National Park. Granite cliffs line the coast with large
areas of rainforest on steep mountain slopes. Refuge Bay
offers protection from south-east winds and is a popular
seasonal anchorage for yachts moving north or south along
the coast. The bay has attractive areas of coral and a 1.3km
beach with vessel access via a sandy channel allowing
all-tide access without damage to the reef flat. Refuge Bay
has a camping and day-use area, which has a shelter, pit
toilet and picnic tables at the beach’s eastern end. In 2005
a Mackay-based tourism operator started to take tourists to
Refuge Bay. Other operators have expressed an interest in
taking larger groups to the island. Refuge Bay is an ideal
location for visitors to experience underwater life. However,
sea conditions off Mackay are often rough, meaning that
tour operators can only comfortably access the site using
a large vessel.
Estimate of
annual day use
Commercial tour operator customers 1000
Resort guest visits 25,000
Free and independent travellers 6000
Total visits 32,000
The island is largely undisturbed and highly attractive.
Impacts from vessel use of Refuge Bay, including coral
damage from anchors, are not known. The camping area
has weeds such as caltrop and Mossman river grass.
Presence of these weeds usually indicates visitor site
disturbance. Some visitors to the island light fires on the
beach or in the camping area. This results in impacts such
as broken tree limbs, rubbish and damage to signs. Likely
visitor impacts on the beach include disturbance to
wildlife, particularly beach nesting birds such as beach
stone-curlews.
Management strategies
»
»
»
»
Table 6.4.6 Current estimates of day use at
Refuge Bay Scawfell Island
Visitor type
Provide for a significant increase in day-use of Refuge
Bay Beach.
If there is a significant increase in day-use of Refuge
Bay Beach, evaluate the interaction between day users
and campers. In the event that the two activities are
determined to be incompatible, close Refuge Bay as
a camping area and manage for day-use only.
Allow for redevelopment of facilities and subsequent
growth in visitor use. Implementation would
depend upon obtaining funding through a
public–private partnership.
Work with GBRMPA to collaboratively develop an
integrated site plan for Refuge Bay.
Estimate of
annual day use
Commercial tour operator customers 4000
Free and independent travellers 2000
Total visits 6000
Strategic directions
21

22
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
6.5 Camping
QPWS currently manages 50 camping areas ranging from
bush camping to sites with toilets, picnic tables, shelters
and visitor information displays. Camping areas are used by
free and independent travellers and tour operators providing
their customers with a camping experience. The large
number and remoteness of camping areas represents a
significant management burden.
Commercial camping agreements that introduce a
competitive process for guaranteed commercial access to
selected island camping areas have been previously
developed in the Whitsundays. Six agreements are currently
in place until July 2007.
Desired outcomes
»
»
»
»
Varied camping opportunities are available, ranging
from sites with no facilities for self-reliant campers, to
sites with facilities.
Camping areas provide for recreational and commercial
camping, with commercial camping limited at some sites
to ensure continued access for non-commercial park users.
All camping areas are managed to a high standard of
presentation.
Campers have minimal impact on natural values.
Policies, guidelines and actions
»
»
»
Manage camping areas according to Table 6.5.1.
Manage commercial camping access so that free and
independent travellers can continue to use QPWS
camping areas, particularly those close to the mainland
in school holidays.
Permit limited opportunities for school groups to exceed
camping capacities at Neil’s (Sandy) Beach on Carlisle
Island, Cockatoo Beach on North Molle Island, Sandy and
Camping at Hook Island
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Paddle bays on South Molle Island, and Newry Island.
Permit limited opportunities for school and dive groups
to exceed camping capacities for Maureen’s Cove on
Hook Island. School groups may only exceed camping
capacities if there is no practical alternative.
Close camping areas on Armit Island and Steen’s Beach
on Hook Island from 1 October–31 March each year to
limit visitor impacts on seabird and turtle nesting.
Permit only one group at a time to book camping on
Denman, Planton and Tancred islands, the hut on Outer
Newry Island, Tug’s Point on Rabbit Island and Victor
Bay on Keswick Island.
Phase out camping at Tug’s Point, Rabbit Island by 2010.
Convert the camping area at Sawmill Beach to a
day-use site.
Undertake a review of commercial camping agreements
in 2007 and establish new agreements with existing
commercial camping operators with consideration to
this Strategy.
In the event that TIPA is applied to commercial tourism
use of Whitsunday island national parks, review commercial
camping arrangements. Make available any unused
camping capacity to new or existing commercial camping
operators through an expression of interest process.
Review waste management facilities and systems at all
camping areas; progressively upgrade facilities and
improve standards.
QPWS will progressively develop new camping
areas at Plantation Beach (Lindeman Island) and
Turtle Beach (St Bees Island). Existing camping
areas at South Whitehaven Beach (Whitsunday
Island), Sandy and Paddle bays (South Molle Island)
and Bona Bay (Gloucester Island) will be upgraded.
Opportunity

Table 6.5.1 Future camping management arrangements
Closures
Maximum %
available for
commercial use
Planned capacity
(no. people/night)
Existing
capacity(no.
people/night)
Camper nights
2005
Site Island Setting
A. New camping areas
Plantation Beach Lindeman Island Moderate use not applicable not applicable 24 100
Turtle Beach St Bees Island Moderate use not applicable not applicable 24 50
B. Camping areas to be upgraded
Paddle Bay South Molle Island Moderate use 673 12 36 100
Newry Island Camping Area Newry Island Moderate use 42 not available 36 100
Bona Bay Gloucester Island Moderate use 335 36 36 100 No commercial camping in school holidays
Sandy Bay South Molle Island Moderate use 1522 36 36 100 No commercial camping in school holidays
South Whitehaven Beach Whitsunday Island High use 2073 52 36 70
C. Maintain current infrastructure
Denman Island Denman Island Natural 336 4 6 0
Planton Island Planton Island Natural 565 4 6 0
Armit Island Armit Island Natural 8 12 12 50 1 October–31 March to protect wildlife
Saddleback Island Saddleback Island Natural 126 12 12 50
Neck Bay Shaw Island Natural 13 12 12 50
North Beach Curlew Island Natural not available not available 6 0
Prudhoe Island Prudhoe Island Natural not available not available 6 0
North West Beach South Percy Island Natural not available not available 12 100
South Repulse Island South Repulse Island Natural 39 12 12 100 1 October–31 March to protect wildlife
Cockermouth Island Cockermouth Island Natural not available not available 12 0
Singapore Bay Keswick Island Natural not available not available 12 100
Victor Bay (Stanley Bay) Keswick Island Natural not available not available 6 0
Penrith Island Penrith Island Natural not available not available 12 100
Curlew Beach Hook Island Natural 400 12 12 100
Mackerel Bay / Crayfish Beach Hook Island Moderate use 1172 12 12 100
Steen’s Beach Hook Island Natural 175 12 12 100 1 October–31 March to protect wildlife
Peter Bay Whitsunday Island Natural 401 12 12 100
Naris Beach Whitsunday Island Natural 205 6 6 0
Table continued next page
Strategic directions
23

24
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
Table 6.5.1 Future camping management arrangements [CONTINUED]
Closures
Maximum percent
available for
commercial use
Planned capacity
(no. people/night)
Existing
capacity(no.
people/night)
Camper nights
2005
Site Island Setting
Joes Beach Whitsunday Island Natural 438 12 12 50
Dugong Beach Whitsunday Island Moderate use 729 36 36 100 No commercial camping in school holidays
Chance Bay Whitsunday Island High use 80 12 12 100
D. Camping areas where capacity will be reduced
Neil’s (Sandy) Beach Carlisle Island Moderate use 125 30 12 50
East Side Bay Gloucester Island Natural 30 8 6 0
Cockatoo Beach North Molle Island Moderate use 286 48 24 100
Tancred Island Tancred Island Natural 88 12 6 0
Northern Spit Henning Island Moderate use 242 24 18 100
Maureen’s Cove Hook Island Moderate use 638 36 24 100
Roylen Bay Goldsmith Island Moderate use 116 30 12 100
Hut Site Outer Newry Island Natural 120 10 6 0
Tugs Point Rabbit Island Moderate use 886 30 12 0
Refuge Bay Scawfell Island High use 100 30 12 0 Close camping area if camping conflicts with
increased levels of day use
E. Camping areas to be closed
Olden Island Olden Island Protected 0 12 not applicable not applicable
Geographers Bay Henning Island Natural 109 12 not applicable not applicable
Bloodhorn Beach Hook Island Moderate use 38 0 not applicable not applicable
Homestead Bay Cid Island Natural 0 12 not applicable not applicable
Sawmill Beach Whitsunday island Moderate use 457 24 not applicable not applicable
Turtle Bay Whitsunday Island Natural 86 12 not applicable not applicable
Boat Port Lindeman Island Moderate use 31 12 not applicable not applicable
Burning Point beaches Shaw Island Protected 0 12 not applicable not applicable
Naked Lady Beach Thomas Island Natural 92 12 not applicable not applicable
Sandy Bay Long Island Natural 51 12 not applicable not applicable
Western Bay Brampton Island High use 58 8 not applicable not applicable

6.6 Resorts and developments
The following resorts and residential developments are
located on islands and adjoin national parks:
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Club Med, Lindeman Island
South Molle Island Resort, South Molle Island
Peppers Palm Bay, Long Island
Club Crocodile Long Island Resort, Long Island
South Long Island Nature Lodge, Long Island
Hook Island Wilderness Resort, Hook Island
Brampton Island Resort, Brampton Island
Keswick Island Development, Keswick Island
Camp Island tourist lease, Camp Island
Homestead Bay lease, St Bees Island.
Some resorts hold leases over national park while others hold
special leases under the Land Act 1994, which is administered
by the Department of Natural Resources and Water.
Resorts play an important role in providing a range of
visitor facilities and activities. In many cases, resort and
development managers rely on nearby national parks to
provide tourism and recreation opportunities for their clients.
Requests for group and special activity permits on parks
usually come from resorts hosting large company events.
Resort guests often use adjacent national parks at no cost.
Various arrangements are currently in place for resorts and
developments to contribute to the cost of park management.
Resort managers and park neighbours provide in-kind
support such as temporary accommodation for QPWS staff,
facilities to store equipment, vessel transport and staff to
help with park management. Elsewhere, funds are provided
to QPWS for park management and to assist resorts with
environmental education and nature-based visitor activities.
As resorts are located close to bays with good boating
access, public access to an island national park may require
visitors to pass through a resort lease. Often the only public
vessel service to the island uses a jetty next to a resort or
development lease. Air transport to a national park island
usually requires use of a resort airstrip. Generally, resort
leases have easements and conditions that provide for
public thoroughfare. Resort and development managers are
sometimes reluctant to encourage public access through
their facility, as they are concerned this may detract from
their guests’ experience, or that public visitors may use
facilities specifically provided for resort guests.
Managing boundaries with resorts and residential
developments is often challenging for both QPWS and
park neighbours. Important issues include weed and pest
animal invasion, risk of wildfire and impact of native
wildlife on grounds, facilities and guests.
QPWS has authorised park neighbours to locate
infrastructure such as water tanks, dams and service utilities
outside their lease on adjacent national park. Occasionally,
park neighbours wish to develop walking tracks and visitor
facilities for their guests on nearby national park.
Desired outcomes
»
»
Neighbouring resorts and developments work
co-operatively with QPWS to minimise impacts on
national parks.
Neighbouring resorts and developments contribute to
park management where tourism and recreation
opportunities are provided for guests.
Policies, guidelines and actions
»
»
»
»
Negotiate formal agreements with all park neighbours
to ensure that appropriate financial and/or in-kind
contributions are being made for park management.
These agreements will be negotiated recognising that
commercial activity fees and charges are not fully levied
on neighbours.
Before 2009, review and renegotiate all existing
agreements between neighbours and QPWS with
particular emphasis on:
›
›
›
›
co-operative management of domestic animals, fire,
weeds and pests
safe and clearly marked public access through resorts
and developments to neighbouring national park
contributions to park management
minimising pre-existing non-conforming uses of
protected area estate.
Allocate a developed setting to beaches immediately
adjoining resorts and major residential developments.
With resort managers, investigate future private
investment to develop infrastructure at Long and
Brampton islands. All facilities will be required to be
open for public access. Exclusive operator use will not
be permitted.
With resort managers, investigate future private
investment to develop infrastructure at Long and
Brampton islands. Facilities must be open for
public access.
Opportunity
Strategic directions
25

26
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
6.7 aircraft
Aircraft are used in protected areas for emergencies, park
management, enforcement and compliance, scenic and
recreational overflights, transport of visitors and
commercial filming. Aircraft noise in national parks is a
significant environmental management issue that is
becoming increasingly important as tourism to natural
areas grows. In recent years, the number of small fixedwing
aircraft providing scenic fights in the Whitsunday
area has decreased while helicopter numbers have
increased. The table below shows some of the commonly
used aircraft in the Whitsundays, the level of noise they
make (decibel rating, where sound level roughly doubles
with an increase of 10 decibels) and the number of
visitors they can carry (passenger capacity).
The management of aircraft landing within the
Whitsunday area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is
addressed in the GBRMPA Whitsunday Plan of
Management 1998. Aircraft landing or taking off from
waters more than twice per week are restricted to
designated aircraft landing areas. It also limits scenic
flights below 1000 feet. QPWS applies this policy to
beaches and waters adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park in the Whitsunday area.
Desired outcome
»
An appropriate balance exists between flexible access
arrangements and minimising impacts of aircraft on
wildlife, dune vegetation and visitor experiences.
Whitehaven Beach
Table 6.7.1 Aircraft commonly used in the
Whitsunday area
Aircraft type
Decibel
rating
Passenger
capacity
DHC2 Beaver airplane 95 7
C208 Cessna Caravan airplane 82.7 12
Bell 206 helicopter 88.4 4
Robinson 44 helicopter 81 3
Policies, guidelines and actions
»
»
»
Permit landing of aircraft for tourism purposes on
existing leases at Lindeman and Brampton islands and
designated helipad sites. Other aircraft landings for
tourism purposes will not be permitted within national
parks (does not apply to adjacent beaches). There is no
intention to provide any new designated landing areas
on national park islands, although QPWS may declare
a temporary helipad site on a national park for
emergency or management purposes.
Form a working group of QPWS, GBRMPA, aircraft
operator representatives and other park users to develop
policies and procedures for aircraft management,
particularly helicopter beach landings and overflight
impacts on park visitors. This may include an analysis of
appropriate flight levels over key visitor sites and
developing Fly Neighbourly Agreements, an agreement
between aircraft operators and authorities to reduce
aircraft disturbance.
Until such time as the working group outcomes are
adopted, apply the following interim policy when
undertaking aircraft permit assessments:
›
Aircraft undertaking scenic flights are not permitted
to fly below 1000 feet above any island national
park, unless for the purpose of taking off and
landing, management purposes, emergencies,
or visual flight rules and safe flying.
QPWS and GBRMPA develop Fly Neighbourly
Agreements with aircraft operators at key sites.
Opportunity

6.8 Education and information
6.9 Working with the tourism industry
The outstanding natural beauty of the Whitsunday and
Mackay islands attracts large numbers of visitors seeking
diverse recreation activities and experiences. Visitor
experiences are enhanced by educational and interpretive
information. Environmental education messages also foster
support for conservation and help to effectively manage
natural and cultural heritage resources.
Desired outcomes
»
»
»
Visitors have knowledge, understanding and
appreciation of the area’s natural and cultural values.
Visitors are aware of potential impacts they may have
on park values and behave appropriately when visiting
natural areas.
Tour operators and resort managers provide appropriate
and accurate information to their customers on natural
and cultural values and minimal impact standards.
Policies, guidelines and actions
The Whitsundays area is a focal point for Queensland
tourism and requires close working relationships between
park managers and tour operators. QPWS communicates
and consults with the tourism industry through forums such
as the GBRMPA Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory
Committee and Airlie Beach and Mackay Local Marine
Advisory Committees. It also liaises with tourism industry
bodies such as Tourism Whitsundays, Mackay Tourism, the
Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, the
Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association and
Whitsunday Bareboat Operators Association.
QPWS and tourism industry representatives have discussed
opportunities for tourism operators to contribute to the cost
of providing and maintaining visitor facilities. Better
facilities would offer tourism and conservation benefits.
Suitable agreements that focus on positive outcomes for the
environment, operators and the general public would be
negotiated with tourism operators.
Opportunity
»
»
»
»
Develop a QPWS Whitsunday and Mackay islands
information and community engagement strategy. A
central part of the strategy will be presenting and
showcasing the work of QPWS in managing parks and
biodiversity. This strategy will also examine the most
effective way that QPWS can deliver information to
visitors passing through Airlie Beach.
Develop major on-site interpretation facilities at South
Whitehaven Beach, Tongue Point, Sawmill–Dugong area
(all Whitsunday Island); Nara Art site (Hook Island); and
South Molle, Brampton and Newry islands.
Develop site orientation, interpretation and
management guidelines at other significant visitor sites.
Encourage tour operators, bareboat charter managers
and resort managers to provide accurate information to
visitors and develop an awareness of the potential
impact of human activities on beaches, islands and
marine areas.
QPWS develops on-site interpretation at South
Whitehaven Beach, Tongue Point, Sawmill–
Dugong area (all Whitsunday Island); Nara Art
site (Hook Island); and South Molle, Brampton,
and Newry islands.
QPWS, Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism
Industry Council have developed the Tourism in Protected
Areas (TIPA) initiative, a new way of managing commercial
tourism in national parks, marine parks and State forests.
Under TIPA tourism operations at premium visitor sites will
be managed on the basis of a commercial partnership via
commercial activity agreements, rather than through
permits. QPWS is currently trialling TIPA in south-east
Queensland and will consider implementing TIPA in the
Whitsundays in the near future.
TIPA will give the tourism industry a more sophisticated and
streamlined management system, which provides greater
business certainty and an improved investment
environment. This will be done by granting up to 10-year
access rights with annual rolling renewal where performance
requirements are met. One of the foundations of the TIPA
system is “sustainable visitor capacity”: the type and level of
visitor use that can be supported at a site over a given
period without causing excessive environmental damage or
diminishing the quality of the visitor’s experience.
Issues to be addressed as part of implementing TIPA include:
»
»
allocating a sustainable visitor capacity (SVC) at
premium visitor sites. The TIPA process will use
information on visitor numbers compiled during the
development of this Strategy, as well as information
from other sources, to assist in determining SVCs.
reviewing the commercial activity permits system to
ensure current limits are appropriate. At many sites the
number of visitors permitted at any one time far exceeds
any observed levels of use. Factors such as weather, sea
conditions and available clients restrict actual use.
Strategic directions
27

If commercial operators fully used their permitted
»
Develop a QPWS Tourism Contingency Policy in
capacities, visitor use at these sites would not be
consultation with the tourism industry and GBRMPA.
environmentally or socially sustainable. For example,
This policy will:
»
the current permit system allocates commercial tour
operators almost 1,000,000 visitor days per year at both
South Whitehaven Beach and Tongue Point. A current
estimate of use at these sites is 160,000 and 90,000
visitor days per year respectively.
offering tangible benefits to high standard commercial
tour operators who operate on national park islands and
beaches. Benefits are provided where tourism practices
help protect and present national parks and marine
parks and where operators work in partnership to help
manage the natural environment.
›
›
›
›
be developed in recognition of the financial
hardship a tourism operator may suffer if a visitor
site temporarily becomes severely degraded due to
an environmental incident
encourage tour operators to work within their
current permit arrangements if possible
permit commercial tour operators with a current
QPWS commercial activity permit or agreement to
temporarily relocate their activity to another visitor
site with a similar setting
allow for an operator to erect facilities in the
Natural disasters and incidents such as cyclones and
alternative visitor site to accommodate the
bushfires may degrade a site’s quality to the extent that it
temporary change of use
temporarily does not meet visitor expectations. Temporary
relocation of the tourism activity may be necessary to avoid
undue financial hardship for the operator.
›
favour relocating a tourism activity to another
existing visitor site, rather than opening up
a new one
QPWS is developing a Great Walk involving sailing and
boating between several Whitsunday islands, with a series
of short walks to viewing spots from mooring points and
»
›
not consider relocation to sites where significant
natural or cultural values may be impacted by use.
Work with the tourism industry to maximise the
camping areas on the islands. This initiative could provide
commercial opportunities the Whitsunday Islands Great
significant service and marketing opportunities for
Walk could provide.
Whitsunday tourism operators.
»
This Strategy makes recommendations that affect
28
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
Desired outcomes
»
»
»
Working together, QPWS, GBRMPA, the tourism
industry, Traditional Owners and community
representatives provide sustainable long-term
opportunities for tour operators to access visitor sites.
In the event that TIPA is implemented in the planning
area, the framework provided in this Strategy is adopted.
As a result, commercial tour operators have greater
business certainty and an improved investment
environment.
A strategic program guides public and private
investment in developing and maintaining facilities.
Policies, guidelines and actions
»
»
Actively participate in existing tourism industry forums
and closely monitor the effectiveness of QPWS/tourism
industry engagement.
Establish a Whitsunday Parks Tourism Forum to help
develop and maintain open dialogue and relationships
between the Whitsundays tourism industry, tourism
organisations, GBRMPA and QPWS.
tourism operator permissions and agreements. In
implementing new conditions for commercial use of
marine and national parks, QPWS will:
›
›
›
implement new policies and guidelines as part of
permit or agreement renewal processes in
consultation with tour operators
continue to work with GBRMPA to simplify the
current dual permit system for tour operators using
both the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and
Queensland’s national parks; policies will be
adjusted if simpler ways of managing tourism to
marine and national parks are identified
amend policies and guidelines in this Strategy that
are affected by other higher order initiatives such as
the TIPA policy.
With tour operators, QPWS will investigate private
investment to develop facilities at Black Island
Beach and Tongue Point (all-tide access) and
Refuge Bay on Scawfell Island. Facilities must be
open for public access.
Opportunity
»
Investigate private investment to develop facilities at
Black Island Beach and Tongue Point (all-tide access)
and Refuge Bay on Scawfell Island. If these facilities
proceed, exclusive operator use will not be permitted.
All facilities will be required to be open for public access.

Strategy review and evaluation
This Strategy will guide visitor management in the
Whitsunday and Mackay islands for the next 10 years.
The Strategy will be evaluated and reviewed as follows:
»
»
»
Each year, outcomes from regional and district annual
business plans and works programs will be assessed
against this Strategy’s outcomes and priorities.
Changes may be necessary to respond to a major shift in
management policies and systems (e.g. a review of the
GBRMPA Whitsunday Plan of Management or
introduction of initiatives like TIPA).
After five years, the Strategy will be evaluated to reflect
new and previously unidentified issues and make any
necessary amendments. This will be a major review and
will evaluate progress in implementing the Strategy
against its stated desired outcomes. This review will:
›
›
›
›
include consultation with community and tourism
stakeholders who will be surveyed to gauge
community and industry response to
implementation of this Strategy
examine strategies and management agreements
that are developed in response to this Strategy
examine visitor numbers and capacities at key sites
to determine if the Strategy’s framework is effective
in managing increased visitor use
re-examine visitor site condition at key sites
to determine if settings are being maintained
and facilities managed to a high standard
of presentation.
Strategy review and evaluation
29

References
30
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy
Airspace and Environment Regulatory Unit (2005) Fly
Neighbourly Agreements (Guidelines for their preparation
and use). Airservices Australia.
Colfelt, D. (2004) 100 Magic Miles of the Great Barrier Reef.
The Whitsunday Islands 7th edn. Windward Publications Pty
Ltd., Berry NSW.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (1997) Strategic Plan
for the Management of Whitsunday Marine and National
Parks. Australian and Queensland Governments.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (2006) Visitation
to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Report prepared by
Hocking Research & Consulting. Australian Government.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (1998)
Whitsunday’s Plan of Management. Australian Government.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (2005)
Whitsunday’s Plan of Management. Australian Government.
Queensland Government (2006) Marine Parks Regulation
2006. Queensland Government.
Queensland Government (2006) Nature Conservation
(Protected Areas Management) Regulation 2006.
Queensland Government.
Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service (1998)
Bushy Island National Park Management Plan. Queensland
Government.
Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service (1998)
Holbourne Island National Park Management Plan.
Queensland Government.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (2005) Tourism in
Protected Areas — Sustainable visitor capacity for premium
sites. Queensland Government.
Tourism Queensland (2005) Mackay-Whitsunday Regional
Tourism Investment and Infrastructure Plan 2006-2016.
Tourism Queensland and the Department of Tourism, Fair
Trading and Wine Industry Development.
Tourism Queensland (2005) Mackay-Whitsunday Regional
Tourism Investment and Infrastructure Plan — Stakeholder
Workshop 3 November Presentation. Queensland
Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry
Development.
Tourism Research Australia (2006) International Visitor
Survey, year ended September 2006. Tourism Research
Australia Canberra
Tourism Research Australia (2006) National Visitor Survey,
year ended September 2006. Tourism Research Australia
Canberra
Tourism Research Australia (2005) Niche Market Snapshot
on Nature Based Tourism in Australia, June 2005. Tourism
Research Australia. Canberra.
Tourism Whitsunday (2005) Presentation to Whitsunday and
Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy Steering
Committee. Tourism Whitsunday.

Acknowledgements
This Visitor Management Strategy was prepared by a
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service project team
comprising David Marshall (Project Manager), Mikaela
Griffiths, Greg Greene, Damien Head, Ross Courtenay,
Steve Hoseck, Doug Crossman and Carolyn Williams.
QPWS Whitsunday District staff assisted with the
assessment process.
Development of this Strategy was guided by a steering
committee comprising Keith Twyford (QPWS – Chair),
Ralph Henderson (QPWS), Artie Jacobson, Greg Greene
and Damien Head (QPWS), Coral Rowston and Rebecca
White (EPA), Peter McGinnity, Lisha Mulqueeny and Chris
Briggs (GBRMPA), Matthew Williams and Peter O’Reilly
(Tourism Whitsundays), Col McKenzie, David Windsor and
Bernard Heimann (Association of Marine Park Tourism
Operators), Kayleen Allen, Donna Krause-McCosker and
Birte Zurhold (Tourism Queensland) and David Marshall
(QPWS). There were some changes to steering committee
personnel during the time it took to develop this Strategy.
References / Acknowledgments
31
Design by Trish Salisbury, production by Ray Jamieson,
EPA Multimedia Services Unit. Photography
is contributed by the EPA Photo Library and QPWS staff.
Maps by Dan Dent, QPWS Central Region. Editing by
Margaret Fay.
The involvement of organisations and the public
who contributed to the Strategy is acknowledged
and appreciated.

Border Island, Whitsunday Islands
32
Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy