MEDIA RELEASE 17 October 2018 Alliance to Save Hinchinbrook Inc. Queensland Government wants built accommodation OUTSIDE resort lease – on self-reliant WILDERNESS walk! The last time we called HANDS OFF HINCHINBROOK! was in the 1990s – to protect Hinchinbrook Island from the depredations of white shoe brigader Keith Williams. Williams wanted track hardening of the Thorsborne Trail, rock walled harbours and other built infrastructure on Hinchinbrook Island - outside the resort lease.
"The purpose of all national parks is conservation"
“These two portfolios denigrate the Trail as “rudimentary” (see below) – they don’t seem to understand that “self-reliant” and “wilderness” means: no buildings, no guides, no commerce.” “And they have ignored the recently reviewed Hinchinbrook Island National Park Management Plan.” The Thorsborne Trail is internationally renowned as a rare recreational experience; a 4-5 day remote area wilderness walk, available to those who can carry all they need for a nature immersion experience. Small walking parties – singles, couples, families – can appreciate this special experience, out of sight and sound of other walkers. The success of a wilderness trail is measured not by “how many” visitors but by whether or not natural processes remain undisturbed. On 26 April 2018 the DES Minister’s Office advised ASH that we would be notified of matters affecting Hinchinbrook Island. ASH received no such notification. FROM THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT Thorsborne Trail, Hinchinbrook Island National Park The Thorsborne Trail is an existing rudimentary 32 kilometres class 5 trail along the eastern coast of Hinchinbrook Island off Cardwell, Queensland. The island is home to the world’s largest number of man-grove species and has significant environmental and natural attraction. The public has access to the track and associated facilities, albeit with a limit of 40 people at a time. There is a well-recognised potential for an upgrade of the track and boardwalks as well as construction of accommodation pods to enable 3/4-day walks. For more information on the existing trail, visit Department of Environment and Science website Located on the largest island national park in Australia, the Thorsborne Trail features public campsites, toilets, picnic tables and water collection points. The Trail is 32km long, not graded or hardened and, as a Grade 5 trail in its most difficult sections, is considered challenging to hike. Most visitors hiking the entire Trail take between three and seven days to do so. (FROM The Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games has transitioned to the Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games. We are continuing to update this website working with other Queensland Government departments.) SEE ALSO HINCHINBROOK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN, The government's MEDIA RELEASE: and The government's invitation for EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST HERE and HERE
2 Comments
Leigh Jane Pentecost
12/11/2018 09:07:26 pm
I am disgusted at the proposal to turn the wilderness trail that Arthur and Margaret Thorsborne fought so hard to establish and preserve for all of our futures. The track is known world wide as a wilderness walking track that attracts over 500 people from across the world and yet these proposed developers want to turn it into something you might find in tacky America. Well, as a local I say NO to this. Leave our National Parks alone and it is the thin edge of the wedge if we let developers into our National Parks in our state. What next!. Say NO to selling off our National Parks for the almighty DOLLAR! Come on Queenslanders say NO to these developers from down south!!! Don't forget these National Parks of ours are public land for the use and enjoyment of us all - not just the rich who want to turn our lands into a money making venture.
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20/11/2018 11:01:51 pm
Commercial interests have a long and tragic history of corrupting and subverting science, economics and governance to the determent of the ecosystem and future generations - National Parks are of critical importance and must be maintained by government and quarantined from toxic business and fashion. (This site could use some facebook share links)
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