Walking Strategy

Wet Tropics Walking Strategy SUMMARY ~ October 2001 The complete Walking Strategy is available on the web at www.wettropics.gov.au/mlr/managing_tourism.htm In brief A Vision for the future The development of a high quality walking track network will provide This Walking Strategy has been developed will tell people about the length and visitors and the local community with over the past two years to guide the future difficulty and make the walks easy to find a diversity of recreational and development and management of a range and to follow. educational opportunities. of walks throughout the Wet Tropics Guidelines have been developed to set Priorities are set for track maintenance region. standards and priorities for maintaining and upgrades and the assessment of Walking is an increasingly popular and upgrading existing tracks and new walking opportunities. activity in the Wet Tropics which can building new ones. provide benefits for visitors and local A Walking Advisory Group will provide communities. People who manage walks will work to expert advice to assist the strategy’s these standards when building or implementation. Walking allows people the time, freedom maintaining walking tracks so that they Each walk will be managed according and flexibility to interact intimately with are safe and provide the desired to a track classification system, walk the wide range of Wet Tropics experience for walkers. This strategy settings and individual walk environments. Walking can increase identifies which walks are most important management plans. people’s understanding and awareness of to spend time and money on. the region’s natural and cultural values. All those involved in managing walking Rainforest Aboriginal people will be It offers social, recreational and need to work together across the Wet given opportunities to participate in educational benefits for all sectors of the Tropics region. walk management and cultural community and can provide employment tourism. and economic benefits across the Wet There are over 145 currently managed Tropics region. walks in the Wet Tropics region, both Information will be readily available so that people can choose walks that suit The Wet Tropics region will provide a inside and adjoining the World Heritage their abilities and complete the walk diversity of walks to suit the various needs Area. Land managers, councils, Rainforest safely. and abilities of walkers. Aboriginal people, walkers, the tourism industry and conservation groups need to Educational and promotional material People are looking for different cooperate and coordinate walking will tell walkers about the region’s experiences when they go walking. Some management across boundaries. This will natural and cultural features. people like short, easy walks where they ensure that money and resources available can visit waterfalls or learn about the for walking are used for the best results. Visitor demand and impacts will be vegetation and wildlife. Others may seek researched and monitored to ensure There is a need to research and monitor challenging, overnight hikes in remote that walking is environmentally the benefits and adverse impacts of areas. sustainable and satisfies the needs of walking. People need information about what types walkers. Improved research and monitoring will of walks there are, how to find them and A coordinated system of walking help land managers by finding out what what preparations they need to walk management will enable different sort of walks people enjoy, what sort of safely. government agencies, local councils, information walkers need, how to prevent Aboriginal people, the tourism Comprehensive information about walkers damaging the environment and industry and walkers to work together walking and safety will be readily available how walking contributes to the local to achieve these goals. through tourist centres, brochures, guide economy. books and the internet. Signs on the walks Keeping on track We are interested in your comments and advice about walks and their management. Please write to WTMA at PO Box 2050 Cairns 4870 OR Call the WTMA Office on: 07 4052 0555 OR Email: [email protected] Wet Tropics Walking Strategy 1 Cooperative Management Working together Aboriginal Research participation There is a diverse cross-section of people Rainforest Aboriginal people have a There is little research information and groups involved in walking special interest in walking management available which focuses on walking in the management in the Wet Tropics region, due to the cultural significance of many Wet Tropics. The strategy will ensure both inside and adjoining the World tracks. Some walks, especially longer ones coordinated research into the demand for Heritage Area. They include a wide range and those leading to significant features, walking, its benefits and environmental, of state and local government land follow traditional Aboriginal routes which economic and social impacts. It will agencies, local bushwalkers, the tourism connect all facets of their life and culture. encourage research that is relevant and industry, Aboriginal groups and These walks are often regarded as accessible to on ground managers and conservationists. significant cultural sites by Aboriginal assist them in monitoring of walks. people, manifesting their connections To manage walking effectively across the with nature through dreaming tracks. Wet Tropics region, a cooperative working relationship will be established between Aboriginal participation in walking Key actions all these management agencies and management offers opportunities for ➣ Commission research: interest groups. The strategy encourages employment through tourism operations, the development of existing local guided walks and track construction and • to provide information regarding community networks to help provide maintenance. walker use, demand and satisfaction effective management at a local level. levels and ways to improve walker education. • to identify, measure and monitor walker impacts and their relationship Key actions Key actions with walker behaviour. ➣ Coordinate communication and ➣ Refine and put into action agreed actions between WTMA and • into the economic and social benefits protocols for detailed consultation and land managers. of walking and the role of walks negotiation about walking track routes. ➣ (especially ‘icon’ walks) in the Establish a Walking Advisory Group ➣ Ensure protocols apply consistently development of local tourism. to provide expert advice to assist the across management agency boundaries strategy’s implementation. and the cultural integrity of walking ➣ Ensure local participation in walking tracks is maintained and cultural sites management through community protected. advisory groups. ➣ Facilitate economic opportunities for Aboriginal communities in cultural tourism and walking track construction Aboriginal Consultation and maintenance. Rainforest Aboriginal people have ➣ Ensure effective input by Aboriginal been involved in the development of people in the issuing of permits for this strategy and have provided a designated activities associated with substantial report on their walking such as commercial operations, expectations and concerns. Aboriginal research and interpretation. traditional owners have been ➣ Provide cross-cultural training for consulted regarding the inclusion of land managers and Aboriginal organisations and representatives. specific walking tracks on their country. Additional cultural walks may ➣ Seek resources for Aboriginal liaison officers and to train and employ be included as Aboriginal groups Aboriginal track workers, either as full develop tourism and cultural time employees, contract workers or education on their country. workers on particular clan lands. Wet Tropics Nature Based Tourism Strategy The Walking Strategy concentrates specifically on those issues affecting management of walking. It complements the Nature Based Tourism Strategy (2000) which provides broad policies and strategic directions for the future management of nature based tourism and recreation within the Wet Tropics. It is available on the web at www.wettropics.gov.au/mlr/managing_tourism.htm 2 Wet Tropics Walking Strategy Creating a diversity of walking experiences Short walks It is important to provide diverse walking overnight walks. The Thorsborne Trail on Key Actions experiences to match the abilities and Hinchinbrook Island is a remote long expectations of walkers. Currently there distance 5 day walk which is usually used are 148 managed walks covered by the to capacity. The popularity of the long Walk diversity Walking Strategy in the Wet Tropics region walks available suggests that there is a ➣ Develop walks which will improve the (see the attached map for details). Most of need for others. The strategy identifies diversity available in the Wet Tropics. these are public walks managed by the various day and overnight walks to The following types of walks have been Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service be developed, preferably as part identified as priorities: or local governments. The majority of an extended network of • Full day and overnight walks, of walks tend to be short walks of tracks which will enable including long distance walking an hour or less and most walkers walkers to choose a route, networks with access points to enable use just a few of these. It is distance and degree of them to be used for shorter walks estimated that about 95% of difficulty to suit their needs as well, the

Load more