Arthur Gorrie
As pressure mounts over national park management at the Cooloola Coast, including state government plans to develop tourist accommodation facilities in sensitive parts of the area, a formal Cooloola Recreation Area Management plan is still a long way off – probably at least a year.
Environment Minister Leanne Linard has indicated a draft of the plan may be released for public comment in the first half of next year, closely followed by a plan for the northern half of the Great Sandy region, K’gari (Fraser Island).
The announcement follows meetings last year between government representatives and the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and the Kabi Kabi First Nations People.
Ms Linard was responding to a parliamentary Question on Notice from Gympie MP Tony Perrett, who asked last year when the draft would be released for public consultation.
An exact date for the release is hopefully part of an answer from Ms Linard to a further question last week, with an answer due on 14 July.
Ms Linard said the government was “committed to genuine engagement with our First Nations partners.
“The Great Sandy National Park management planning process provides a unique opportunity to collaboratively plan for how traditional lands should be managed into the future,” she said.
“The sharing and integration of traditional knowledge into contemporary and scientific park management will improve cultural, conservation and tourism outcomes and cannot, and should not be rushed.”
She said regular formal meetings with First Nations representatives were part of the process.