More than 18 months after receiving the consultants’ reports,the government released the documents on the Labour Day holiday with a broad response to recommendations and a commitment to consult on future changes.
Emergency services at the site of a fatal rollover on Teewah Beach,Cooloola.RACQ LifeFlight
The consultants examined,,and. After speaking with stakeholders,they found widespread concern there were too many people and vehicles in the areas at peak times,affecting the experience for visitors and potentially damaging the environment.
In each case,the consultants suggested capacity limits be considered – for example,1500 people and 500 vehicles at Cooloola – and speed limits be enforced or ultimately reduced. However,they also acknowledged the need for balance and a multifaceted response.
“Visitor volume and behaviour issues at Cooloola Recreation Area are of concern for local residents,Noosa Council,and conservation stakeholders,with significant coverage in local and regional media,” one report noted,pointing to persistent problems at Double Island Point,Teewah Beach and Rainbow Beach.
“At present,many of the behaviour problems experienced are attributed to younger age groups,including P-plate drivers. Focusing regulations to this age group seems a practical solution but it does raise valid social concerns. An option to consider is the impact of compliance measures that apply to all visitors but would have a particular impact on this visitor demographic – for instance,applying double demerit points to driving offences on the beach.”
The reports also raised the need for more toilets and infrastructure,higher fees,more sophisticated regulation of visits,and more vehicle exclusion zones.
The consultants were engaged after the social distancing restrictions of the pandemic made parks more popular – the government delayed responding to allow numbers to settle – and with ongoing increases in the Queensland population and demand for 4WD.
In response,the government collated and summarised the recommendations into broad themes without committing to specific actions. For example,regarding vehicle safety at Cooloola,the government has generally only committed to “working cooperatively with other government compliance and enforcement agencies”.
Two of the recommendations specifically addressed,and rejected,were an increase in fees,and a proposal that the government fund shuttle bus services for visitors to reduce the number of private 4WD vehicles in action.
However,other recommendations will now be considered by the government as it consults on separate management plans and compliance strategies for each of the areas.
“Protecting our national parks and other protected areas is in the Miles Labor government’s DNA,” Environment Minister Leanne Linard said in a statement.
The government has already installed number plate recognition systems.
