GREAT SANDY REGION Management Plan 1994 - Revised version September 2005 Note This management plan is not a statutory management plan under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, Recreation Areas Management Act 2006 or the Marine Parks Act 2004. It is considered a management statement for the purpose of providing management direction for the region. This plan is currently being reviewed. September 2011 This plan does not intend to affect, diminish or extinguish Native Title and associated rights. It is envisaged that all of the provisions in this Management Plan will be able to be implemented by or before the year 2010, subject to approval within normal budgetar y processes, or subject to special funding arrangements. Note that implementation of some management strategies might need to be phased in according to availability of resources. In 1994 the indicative cost of implementation of this Management Plan was $220 million over 16 years. The level of funding allocated to implementation of the Plan ultimately depends on the budget priorities of the Commonwealth, State and local governments, the extent to which funding can be met from permit fees and other user charges, and the level of participation by the private sector. Original version published 1994 This revised version 2005 ISSN 1037-4698 © The State of Queensland. Environmental Protection Agency. 2005. Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited without the prior written permission of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Ser vice. Enquiries should be addressed to PO Box 15155 City East BRISBANE QLD 4002. RE501 September 2005 Recycled paper saves energy and resources. Minister’s Message 1994 The Plan envisages only a very limited range of future, environmentally responsible tourist Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the developments on Fraser Island. These world. The Island and the surrounding Great developments will cater and provide Sandy Region have been formed from sand accommodation for high, middle and low deposited over more than a million years by the income earners. Fraser Island will not become rivers of northern New South Wales and an exclusive playground for the wealthy but will southern Queensland. These rivers continue to be available to all Australians. deposit sand, which migrates northward along Beach camping and four-wheel-drive access will the coast, with newer sand deposits being be controlled, however not with a view to directed out to sea past Sandy Cape along eliminating these activities or curtailing them for Breaksea Spit due to the colossal mass of Fraser the sake of curtailment, but to ensure that we Island. pass on to our children an environmental asset On a bed of sand, magnificent rainforests have which has been preserved. Certainly this is the grown, as well as massive trees with trunks wish of the residents of and visitors to Fraser nearly three metres thick that reach 50 metres in Island who have come to love the place for its height. Crystal clear and tea coloured freshwater charm and natural beauty. lakes lie perched above sea level, held in The great thrust of new commercial development watertight basins of age-old plant material. for the Region is expected to occur in the Hervey Majestic sand dunes and spectacular sandblows Bay, Maryborough and Rainbow Beach areas. tell the story of the ceaseless building and The Management Plan seeks to direct new wearing away of the sandmass. The lazy Noosa tourist developments towards those areas River meanders its course to the sea through where the economic benefit to the local reminders of great landscape change. population will be the greatest – away from All of these magnificent features proclaim the Fraser Island. Great Sandy Region and Fraser Island to be a So, by the year 2010, the vision of Fraser Island wonderful inheritance to humanity. At the same and the Great Sandy Region is for a place where time, Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Region nature’s evolutionary processes can continue are a valuable tourist attraction and a fishing unimpeded, a bequest to all humanity, where and recreation area for local residents, the the forests can regenerate and flourish, where communities of south-east Queensland and the freshwater lakes contain pure unpolluted four-wheel-drive enthusiasts from all over rainwater, where the sand dunes built up over Australia. the ages continue to tell their story of geological The present generation of Queenslanders has wonder, where Indigenous heritage and both a responsibility and an opportunity at the aspirations can find true expression, where same time. Our responsibility is to pass on to residents can earn their living, and where future generations an environmental treasure tourists from Queensland, interstate and undiminished by the enjoyment and use of our overseas can enjoy its splendour and tranquility generation. The opportunity is to present that and return home without having marred their treasure for the appreciation and pleasure of not priceless inheritance. only Queenslanders and other Australians, but We have the power, the opportunity and the of people from around the world. responsibility to secure our heritage for this and With the end to sand mining and logging on future generations. The Great Sandy Region Fraser Island, the World Heritage listing of the Management Plan is designed to translate that Island, and the extension of national parks in great task into a reality. the Region, the opportunity has been created to preserve the natural beauty and the essential evolutionary processes of the Region. That The Honourable Molly Robson, MLA opportunity is grasped in the Great Sandy Minister for Environment and Heritage Region Management Plan, as implementation of the Plan will preserve this rich heritage and share it with all who would benefit, without diminishing the natural splendour and life of the Region. Great Sandy Region Management Plan Minister’s Message 2005 Day use areas have been improved at several sites with the provision of car parks, The Great Sandy Management Plan was boardwalks, viewing platforms and toilet prepared and approved in 1994 to protect facilities. Camping areas at Lake McKenzie and natural, cultural and economic values of the Indian Head have been closed, with the Region. It is pleasing to reflect on the great retention of the day use area at Lake McKenzie. progress made by everyone involved over the The Fraser Island Great Walk, which was opened last 11 years towards achieving the Plan’s in June 2004, provides a continuous walking desired outcomes for conservation and the track and associated visitor facilities between community. Dilli Village and Happy Valley. Since 1994, great strides have been taken to Community education and awareness have been secure protected areas. The national park estate a major emphasis in management of the Region, has increased from 140,000ha to 220,000ha and a very high standard of information is through the creation of the Great Sandy National available to all visitors and residents. Safety is a Park that includes Cooloola and most of Fraser key concern, and a campaign has raised Island. Proposals are well under way to awareness, especially in relation to averting amalgamate and extend the existing marine further problems with dingo attacks. park to create the Great Sandy Marine Park. The Long-term monitoring and research projects Great Sandy Strait Ramsar Area was declared in directed at natural resource status and 1999, recognising the international importance conditions are being undertaken in the Region of the Region for migratory shore birds. by a number of agencies. QPWS and the Fraser Opportunities for co-operative management and Island World Heritage Area Scientific Advisory partnerships between Traditional Owners, Committee have prepared a research agenda for government, industry and the community have Fraser Island. The agenda aims to better link greatly increased, with Advisory Committees research projects with the Region’s needs and to taking on an important role in providing provide for a more co-ordinated approach with independent advice and assisting with good tertiary and scientific research institutions. decision-making. The Queensland Government QPWS undertook a mid-term review of the Plan is committed to working with Traditional Owners from 2001–2004. This review was a requirement in the management of land and water in the of the 1994 Plan to ensure the Plan remained Region. relevant to current conditions. The reviewers Tourism management policies for protected considered input and comments from areas of the Region have been developed government, industry and community through the Tourism in Protected Area (TIPA) representatives, Traditional Owners and other initiative. These policies provide the basis for key stakeholders. The review did not alter the positive partnerships between the Queensland fundamental direction and desired outcomes of Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and the 1994 Plan. commercial tourism operators who use the This revised Plan closely resembles the 1994 protected area estate. Plan, but includes updated information and Vehicular use of beaches will continue to be reflects the current management context. It managed to balance access needs with provides a framework for decision-making to environmental and recreation considerations. continue achieving the desired outcomes from Road and beach closures have been the 1994 Plan, and will be effective until 2010. implemented consistent with the zoning plan. I look forward to the Plan’s implementation No new road closures are proposed in this continuing to be a co-operative effort by State, revised Plan. Federal and local government and Traditional Inskip Avenue on Inskip Peninsula has now Owners, as well as private industry and the been upgraded to an all-weather standard, and community. this area has been developed to include a sustainable and attractive camping area. Desley Boyle Camping facilities throughout the Region have been improved with substantial development at Minister for Environment Central Station, Fig Tree Point and Harry’s Hut.