COMMUNITY groups are raising concerns about the Queensland Government’s plans for privatisation of iconic parts of National Parks in Queensland, including the Whitsundays.
Developers are being offered exclusive leases in parks, which – according to the collation of community groups – will price everyday Queenslanders out of the natural experiences the parks were created for.
It’s private profit over the community’s rights, according to the community groups, which include the Whitsunday Conservation Council and public land advocacy group Whitsundays Save our Foreshore (SOF).
“Queensland’s National Parks are a place where mums, dads and families can experience nature affordably,” SOF president Suzette Pelt said.
“However, recent moves by the current government….to grant exclusive leases to commercial operators, will transform public parks into high-priced, privatised ventures that only a few will be able to afford.”
Whitsunday Conservation Council president Tony Fontes said private developers would be charging premium prices for so-called ‘exclusive’ experiences, pricing many people out of the market.
“Camping should remain affordable, so all generations can experience the beauty of our National Parks. This is a public resource, but government is treating it like a commercial land play,” he said.
A recent public meeting in the Whitsundays, of residents and business operators, made it very clear that they did not support these moves.
While eco-tourism is touted as a benefit, many fear it has become a cover for high-end, profit-driven enterprises that cater only to wealthy tourists, instead of genuine conservation-driven activities.
“National Parks were established for conservation and for all people to enjoy,” Ms Pelt continued.
“We believe these plans are nothing less than developer land-grabs being carried out in a process that, by no stretch of the imagination, could be called open and transparent.
“Privatising National Parks undermines the very purpose of these protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.”
The community coalition is calling on the Queensland Government to put a stop to this commercialisation and to protect the rights of all Queenslanders and future generations to access and enjoy the state’s stunning natural landscapes, without financial barriers.
An e-petition was lodged with the Queensland Government and performed very well.
Principal Petitioner John Mewing, of the Alliance to Save Hinchinbrook, said National Parks should be for all Australians, not a luxury for those who can pay top dollar.
“Families will be squeezed out by operators who want to make a profit and will charge inflated fees for camping and accommodation in areas that should be publicly accessible at fair prices,” he said.
“Why can’t they be run like all other QPWS camps?”
