Just how eco-friendly is Queensland's ecotourism plan?
Ziplines, cableways, anything that suspends tourists through the treetops. These are attractions that evoke strong emotions from Queenslanders, especially when they're suggested for a popular patch of bushland or a World Heritage-listed national park.
It wasn't that long ago that a zipline was proposed for Mount Coot-tha, sparking protests and attracting more than 3200 public submissions against the idea. Brisbane's biggest section of bushland was back in the news this week after council announced plans to upgrade it – thankfully, with no zipline in sight.
Necessary improvements do need to be made. A visit to Mount Coot-tha early on Tuesday showed a tired planetarium and a tropical dome that's seen better days. But a new proposal to add more infrastructure to the mountain has raised concerns about the environmental impact.
Plans to build a cableway through the Gold Coast Hinterland – an idea that has been floated several times in the past 30 years – have stoked similar fears.
With three decades of opposition to a plan that would involve clearing trees from a World Heritage-listed forest, you'd think the cableway would have been put to bed a long time ago. But proposals to sail through the hinterland's canopies have been reanimated with this month's announcement of Queensland's 20-year tourism strategy.
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At the centre of Destination 2045 is a plan to make Queensland a world leader in ecotourism, with the Crisafulli government pledging 45 new experiences by 2045. These are described as 'projects that are ecologically sustainable and primarily focused on experiencing an area in a way that fosters understanding, appreciation, and conservation of the area and its natural and cultural values'.
Taken at face value, encouraging more low-impact, nature-based tourism is an excellent proposition. But like a cableway cutting through an ancient forest, there's an oxymoron at the heart of this strategy.
Griffith University environmental anthropologist Georgette Leah Burns says ecotourism itself is a well-intentioned, growing industry. The trouble is, the term is not always applied appropriately.
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The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
Just how eco-friendly is Queensland's ecotourism plan?
Ziplines, cableways, anything that suspends tourists through the treetops. These are attractions that evoke strong emotions from Queenslanders, especially when they're suggested for a popular patch of bushland or a World Heritage-listed national park. It wasn't that long ago that a zipline was proposed for Mount Coot-tha, sparking protests and attracting more than 3200 public submissions against the idea. Brisbane's biggest section of bushland was back in the news this week after council announced plans to upgrade it – thankfully, with no zipline in sight. Necessary improvements do need to be made. A visit to Mount Coot-tha early on Tuesday showed a tired planetarium and a tropical dome that's seen better days. But a new proposal to add more infrastructure to the mountain has raised concerns about the environmental impact. Plans to build a cableway through the Gold Coast Hinterland – an idea that has been floated several times in the past 30 years – have stoked similar fears. With three decades of opposition to a plan that would involve clearing trees from a World Heritage-listed forest, you'd think the cableway would have been put to bed a long time ago. But proposals to sail through the hinterland's canopies have been reanimated with this month's announcement of Queensland's 20-year tourism strategy. Loading At the centre of Destination 2045 is a plan to make Queensland a world leader in ecotourism, with the Crisafulli government pledging 45 new experiences by 2045. These are described as 'projects that are ecologically sustainable and primarily focused on experiencing an area in a way that fosters understanding, appreciation, and conservation of the area and its natural and cultural values'. Taken at face value, encouraging more low-impact, nature-based tourism is an excellent proposition. But like a cableway cutting through an ancient forest, there's an oxymoron at the heart of this strategy. Griffith University environmental anthropologist Georgette Leah Burns says ecotourism itself is a well-intentioned, growing industry. The trouble is, the term is not always applied appropriately.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Just how eco-friendly is Queensland's ecotourism plan?
Ziplines, cableways, anything that suspends tourists through the treetops. These are attractions that evoke strong emotions from Queenslanders, especially when they're suggested for a popular patch of bushland or a World Heritage-listed national park. It wasn't that long ago that a zipline was proposed for Mount Coot-tha, sparking protests and attracting more than 3200 public submissions against the idea. Brisbane's biggest section of bushland was back in the news this week after council announced plans to upgrade it – thankfully, with no zipline in sight. Necessary improvements do need to be made. A visit to Mount Coot-tha early on Tuesday showed a tired planetarium and a tropical dome that's seen better days. But a new proposal to add more infrastructure to the mountain has raised concerns about the environmental impact. Plans to build a cableway through the Gold Coast Hinterland – an idea that has been floated several times in the past 30 years – have stoked similar fears. With three decades of opposition to a plan that would involve clearing trees from a World Heritage-listed forest, you'd think the cableway would have been put to bed a long time ago. But proposals to sail through the hinterland's canopies have been reanimated with this month's announcement of Queensland's 20-year tourism strategy. Loading At the centre of Destination 2045 is a plan to make Queensland a world leader in ecotourism, with the Crisafulli government pledging 45 new experiences by 2045. These are described as 'projects that are ecologically sustainable and primarily focused on experiencing an area in a way that fosters understanding, appreciation, and conservation of the area and its natural and cultural values'. Taken at face value, encouraging more low-impact, nature-based tourism is an excellent proposition. But like a cableway cutting through an ancient forest, there's an oxymoron at the heart of this strategy. Griffith University environmental anthropologist Georgette Leah Burns says ecotourism itself is a well-intentioned, growing industry. The trouble is, the term is not always applied appropriately.
Sky News AU
12-06-2025
- Sky News AU
Mackay beach with sand like talculm powder among drawcards, as Queensland ramps up for 2032 Brisbane Olympics
Tourists travelling to Queensland from interstate and abroad will have 45 new ecotourism experiences to choose from as the state prepares for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Some will be in the World heritage listed Wet Tropics in the Daintree rainforest and Cape Tribulation rainforests and beaches. Andrew Powell, Queensland's Minister for the Environment and Tourism, said the Wet Tropics was of global significance with remnants of the Gondwanaland, the vast prehistoric supercontinent that once covered Australia and part of Antarctica. Some flora and fauna there are found nowhere else on earth. Indigenous groups will operate a new Daintree Cultural and Ecotourism Centre, he said. There will be an upgrade also to Lake Eacham, a crater lake in Crater Lakes National Park. It is about an hour south of Cairns and is a popular spot for swimming and bird watching. In Queensland's far north tourists flock to what may be the world's best beach. MacKay Cay is a tiny speck of real estate off the coast of Cape Tribulation. The sand is like talcum powder. The journey is a pleasant day excursion under sail from Port Douglas. On the mainland, work has begun on the Wangetti Trail, a 94-kilometre hiking and biking trail from Palm Cove to Port Douglas while the Smithfield Mountain bike network in Cairns will be extended by 53km. Mr Powell also flagged new hotels, new international airline connections, new cruise ship stop-overs and upgrades of Great Barrier Reef islands. In outback Queensland there is an emerging dinosaur trail. Palm Island off Townsville, the scene of riots in 2004, will be reborn as an Indigenous tourism resort with new infrastructure to cost $500,000. The improvements to Queensland holiday destinations are part of a 20-year strategy announced by Premier David Crisafulli. Mr Crisafulli said Queensland wanted to attract more sports and cultural events. 'Queensland will become Australia's events and ecotourism capital, delivering more ways for locals and visitors to experience and travel around our great state,' Mr Crisafulli said. The $9 billion upgrade to the Bruce Highway that runs for 1,679 km from Brisbane to Cairns, would increase drive holidays. Mr Crisafulli said a successful tourism industry was essential to the Queensland economy which supports more than 270,000 jobs and generates $115 million a day in visitor expenditure. About nine out of 10 tourism operations are small businesses. The Gold Coast would broaden its appeal by hosting more mega events like the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 and by building on the success of existing events such as the Gold Coast marathon, the world surfing championships, and Blues on Broadbeach musical event. A new visitors hub will be built in the Gold Coast Hinterland in Springbrook National Park with upgrades to the Purling Brook Falls precinct, lookouts and walking tracks. Queensland was also working to attract new international flights to the Gold Coast. Work has begun on a $7.7 million ecotourism centre at Girraween National Park on the Granite Belt in the heart of the Queensland wine district. Mr Powell said a major new tourist attraction was underway on Hinchinbrook Island National Park, or Munamudanamy as it is known to the Indigenous community. He flagged enhancements to the Thorsborne Trail, including new facilities, trail upgrades and new guided tours run in partnership with traditional owners. 'World Expeditions, global leaders in small-group, multi-day, sustainable walking experiences, will work with the Bandjin and Girramay people to deliver small group guided tours rich with Aboriginal culture on the trail,' he said. Meanwhile, Madonna's 1984 hit song Holiday has inspired a big-budget tourism push. Tourism and Events Queensland hopes to crack the 30 million mark for tourist visitations, up from 29 million last year. The Holiday song is performed by Queenslander Kita Alexander. It provides the soundtrack for a marketing campaign inviting visitors to explore iconic destinations like the Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef, Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Outback. Madonna first performed her hit song 12 years before Alexander was born. Craig Davidson, the chief executive of Tourism and Events Queensland, said the campaign would help give operators and destinations a meaningful, lasting asset. 'This brand isn't just a campaign – it's a long-term platform the industry can take ownership of and activate in their own way,' Mr Davidson said.
