Help for Ecotourism Investors:

Finding the right path

Neal Muller

General Manager, DTESB

23 November 2016

Value of Qld Tourism

• $23 billion industry

• 2014-15

– 135,000 direct jobs

– 84,000 indirect jobs

Value of Qld Ecotourism (National Parks)

• 51 million domestic and 7.9 million international visitors a year

• $749 million a year

Key themes

1. Driving innovation

2. Showcasing the GBR

3. Stimulating investment

• Develop Ecotourism Toolkit

• Portfolio of investment projects

• Best practice and certification programs

4. Expanding Indigenous ecotourism

5. Promoting ecotourism experiences

Challenges in creating

eco facilities

• Construction costs due to location

• Limited services and utilities

• Impact of weather events

• Insurance costs

• Costs of eco services and fees

Purpose of toolkit

To provide guidance about

developing ecotourism products

and experiences:

• planning and environmental

regulatory process

• native title and cultural heritage

• land tenures

Who is this for• Small to medium scale developers and investors

How to use this• During concept formulation

• Indicative planning and regulatory approvals process for ecotourism development on different land tenures

• Information about dealing with other related approvals and Native Title matters

Toolkit application

Market ID; Concept Site;

Viability;

Consultation

Regulation;

Design

Approvals

Construction

Operation;Decommission

Key steps in Ecotourism Development Process

Approval processes – land tenure

Note:

Toolkit includes 11 flowcharts

Some key steps• Pre-lodgement meeting with NPSR

• Check level of assessment required

• Prepare/submit Stage 1 application for NPSR evaluation

• Native title assessment, if required

• Detailed proposals negotiation with NPSR

• Scope and obtain any other approvals needed

• Governor-in-Council makes regulation amendment

• Enter into agreement to works lease

• Construct and commission

• Obtain ecotourism accreditation and operating lease

• Implement decommissioning/restoration plan as required.

National and conservation parks

DTESB Case study (Obi Obi Zipline)

• Study to establish viability

• Engagement with Community (meetings)

• Traditional Owners endorsement at public meeting

Addressing native title

Key elements• Establish native title status

• If necessary, comply with Native Title Act 1993– Identify relevant native title party

– Min: Give notification of activity to the native title party

– Max: Reach agreement for activity to proceed through an ILUA, and register ILUA

Obi Obi Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Review

• Consistent engagement with

Jinibara people

• Encompassing:

– Understanding the history of the

area

– Consultation about activities that

disturb or modify land surface

– ensuring that cultural

considerations are incorporated

into the design

Recent developments

Scenic Rim Trail, Main Range

Redevelopment of walking and mountain bike

trails and eco-camps linked to eco-lodges

on freehold land adjacent to Main Range NP

• NPSR preliminary review and Owners

Consent

• Native Title still being considered

• Local Council DA approvals currently

being sought

• EPBC referral

Recent developments

Green Mountains

Redevelopment and operation

of the campground and caretaker house

15 safari tents, 20 powered sites, communal

kitchen, new bathrooms, community hall

• Concept plan & environmental values report

• Meeting on site with DTESB/NPSR

• Program of actions developed

• Conditional approval obtained

Recent developments

Walkabout Creek, western Brisbane

Development of activity centre - canoe and mountain bike hire, adventure ropes course; later stage, a zipline - Commercial proponents

• Concept Master plan developed

• Commercial terms discussed with SEQwater

• Meeting with Minister for Tourism

• Owner (QPWS) consent

• Local Council DA

• Canoe, Segway & mountain bike hire now in place

• Seeking 30 year lease to enable discussions about rope skills course and treetops walk, zipline

Walkabout Creek

Canoe hire

Walkabout Creek Segway and mountain bike hire

• Case studies

• When you need Commercial Activity Permits

• When you need Development Approval

• Development Approval Roadmap

• Local Government Planning Scheme

• Other approvals e.g. Commonwealth, EPBA

• Checklists

Other features of the toolkit

Industry comment

James Pearce

General Manager, Spicers Canopy

“I am impressed with the toolkit. It

explains the approvals process well,

along with flow charts. I wish we had

had a document like the toolkit when

we started their proposal for the

Scenic Rim Trail project.”

Rod Hillman

CEO Ecotourism Australia

“The Toolkit is a great initiative and

the government should be applauded

for it.”

Emma McDonald, Manager,

Austrade

“This is a great initiative for

investors, works particularly well

with Austrade’s proposed Regional

Tourism Infrastructure Investment

Strategy.”

Anne Greentree

Executive Director, NPSR

“The Toolkit is an excellent

resource providing practical

assistance and clear guidelines for

proponents developing ecotourism

products across Qld.”

Conclusion

• Queensland is open for business

• Strong partnerships - NPSR, DTESB, DNRM, and TEQ.