Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy ...

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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
Page 1 and 2: Visitor Management Strategy Whitsun
Page 3 and 4: Table of contents 1 Executive summa
Page 5 and 6: Recreational boating at Hook Island
Page 7 and 8: MAP 1 Planning area locality Introd
Page 9 and 10: Tourism trends The Mackay region (b
Page 11 and 12: Hill Inlet Planning approach “ T
Page 13 and 14: Table 5.1 Setting High use Moderate
Page 15 and 16: Table 5.3 Visitor use permitted wit
Page 17: Cid Harbour Views of Shaw Island fr
Page 21 and 22: Management strategies » » » Conc
Page 23 and 24: Whitsunday Island » » » Table 6.
Page 25 and 26: Table 6.5.1 Future camping manageme
Page 27 and 28: 6.6 Resorts and developments The fo
Page 29 and 30: 6.8 Education and information 6.9 W
Page 31 and 32: Strategy review and evaluation This
Page 33 and 34: Acknowledgements This Visitor Manag

Whitsunday and Mackay Islands Visitor Management Strategy ...

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