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THE FUTURE OF TASMAN PENINSULA

by John Hepper Hepper Marriott and Associates,

Tasman Peninsula is, and could continue to be, a valuable multiple-use resource, but careful and co-ordinated planning will be required, if past errors are to be overcome and its potential realised. Key Words: Tasman Peninsula, , resource management, tourism. From SMITH, S.l. (Ed.), 1989: IS HISTORY ENOUGH? PA ST, PRESENT AND FUTURE USE OF THE RESOURCES OF TA SMAN PENINSULA . Royal Society of Tasmania, Hobart: 149-151.

INTRODUCTION limiting and very indirect as a way of achieving what you want for the future of a place like Tasman If there is any place that needs people to start thinking Peninsula. about the future and about where it is going, it is I have strong feelings about Tasman Peninsula Tasman Peninsula. - it is a great place to be and a great place to live, This paper deals with the future by looking but, more importantly, it is the landscape which, to back at the past; this is not really advocating that we me, brings it all together, that is, not just the scenery go ahead by looking backwards, but rather, if we but in a total sense - the heritage can be seen as understand where we have come from and whatwe part of the environment as well as the people. are doing, we are likely to knowbetter where we are Therefore talking about and appreciating Port Arthur going. Some general observations about the past, means appreciating the water, the forest, the backdrop present and future of Tasman Peninsula will be made. - all those types of things come together to give it Then� are four points to be stressed. Firstly, an image of the past. A gentleman by the name of history is, and will only be, a part of the total make­ Alan Gusso summed it up pretty well, when he said, up of Tasman Petiinsula. Secondly, there is a strong "We're not separate from our landscapes, the relationship between the present land use pattern and landscape which surrounds us is a record of our past activities; in particular, the landscape provides a behaviour - an expression of our values - it is vivid record of social and economic conditions of the not simply visual resources which we manage, it past. Thirdly, economic, social and environmental is rather something in ourselves which we attempt change has always been a feature of the peninsula to manage. The evolving landscape is a visual lifestyle and always will be. Lastly, rarely has the statement of who we are as a nation. When we peninsula ever been planned, developed or managed endanger the landscape it is part of ourselves which with full recognition of its total range of use values. we threaten." I would like to give you my impression about Tasman Peninsula because this does bias my values In other words, it is more than just beauty, and thinking about the area. About eight years ago I there is a whole lot of cultural meaning in the was asked to do a planning study and planning scheme landscape. for the whole municipality and found it a very The peninsula has meaning because of its enjoyable and challenging experience. I was able to inherent quality and diversity in terms of the visitor learn more about the peninsula; to mix with the local experience provided, but there is a real danger that people and understand their way of life; to consider the peninsula could lose its quality, its special the impact of other people's actions in a place as character and meaning, and slip into mediocrity significant as Tasman Peninsula; and to appreciate through the zealous pursuit of the quick dollar. I use the conflicts that occur between a society, a local the term quality in a broad sense, as referring not community and an outside community. More only to the outstanding elements of the natural and importantly, I learned that planning tools were very built environments but also to the lifestyle and 150 .J. F-Jepper experiences of those living on or visiting the the adjustments made to the peninsula way of life, A peninsula, few observations carl be made: --, change has always been part of the peninSUla - people A PLACE OF CHANGE have had In adapt their way of life to the vulnerability of outside influences and the local It is worth considering just some of the changes that environmellt ha" had to accept all the ohanges imposed have occurred on the peninsula, They include on it; - thl; impact on the landscape has increased with ---� the disruption of the land managers of the time --, we are making more changeil in less time; area -- the Oyster Bay which occupied lhe - the impact from many small decisions peninsula for thousands of years prior 10 European has added a regional impact (e,g. colonisation; degradation the ):, -- the indelible impression on the landscape resulting - this change has been created withoUl understanding from convict labour during 1830-77, which provided what the impact might be -� without, for example, the impetus for much of the basic infrastructure any provision for archaeological invcstigations on roads, jetties, farmland, etc.; aboriginal sites around the coastline. - the growth of the tourism industry from a trickle to a "big stream", accompanied by a tourism infrastructure to capture the lucrative dollar; SIGNS OF DEGRADATION - the ever-changing shifts ill the rural economy with ils hoom and bust years -�- once steamer links allowed From a viewpoint, the peninsula is a resource produce to reach HobaIt Town within a day; the very much threat, and the signs of degradation advent of the motor car changed this -- orcharding are there for everyone to see: boomed during the early to mid--part of this ccntury; as with many rural areas, the influence of outside -- sporadic holiday home developments around the market forces and JestmctuJing of the primary industry coastline; led to rural migration and loss of services; -- intensive land clearing on private lands; -- the fluctuating features of the timber milling ,- ribbon development along most scenic routes; industry, which helped to put settlements like - ad hoc tourism and commercial developments; Nuheena, and Carnavon on the map at its - loss of forested skylines and dominant visual heyday in the 1920s when the orcharding industry elements; was booming and required wooden crates forcstry -- poorly and sited buildings; activity is due to become a more significant aspect of ---, over--use visitor sites; the peninsula's resource base in the near future; - localised environmental hazards caused by - a decline and general ageing in the population overdevelopment; which has occurred in line with the downturn in the -� historic sites suffering from neglect. rural economy; however, growing numbcrs of people retiring into holiday home areas and an influx of young "alternative lifestyle" groups in recent years FUTURE PROSPECTS has alTested this general trend; -- the changes, with time, in the size of land hold­ A number of previous speakers have already alluded ings original development was stimulated by to the relative prospects for new development and favourabJe land alienation legislation, and the growth on the peninsula. They include: intensive orcharding operations allowed for smaller -- tourism as a result of the established vISItation units of land; as the rural. economy suffered and the pattern forthe peninsula (part of the almighty circle onus changed towards grazing, land holdings tended route of Tasmania) --- increased day-based touring; to increase - the recessionary period from the ] 9705 changes in the market towards more "experienccd" onwards has been coupied with iandowners selling type of travel; growth in special interest markets; smaller blocks of land to "keep their heads above increased numbers of international visitors and so water'�; on; - the shift in the economic and employment bases - the opportunity for innovative entrepreneurs to from dependence on primary industry to leisure (e.g_ change a into a positive, present examples tourism) and community services industries. being quail and the PortArthur Apple Cider Many other examples of change could be ciled Company; which highlight the "dynamics" of the economy and - the potential growth of the aquaculture industry TheJl,lure 151 and continued reliance on the high-value fish species Cat then says, "Well, It does not matter which path of crayfishand abalone in the genera! fishingindustry; take." That sum, up th,' that face in

.--� continued growth of Tasman Peninsula as a holiday Tasmania. even more maybe it is iike home and recreation destination; shuming the chairs on Ihi;Titanic to get a good -- the expected increase in forestry operations on view, without really caring where you are going. In both private and Crov/l1 land. other words, VlC run the rl&k of taking actions in There are a number of critical involved isolation from any desired future [or the p,�ople or with the abovc resource uses and other future use& the environmem. the peninsula, including The second option involves longer··lefm systematic planning and management of the (1) Who should make the decisions aboul what " peninsula's inherent resources and its potential to appropriate usc of the resources? realise more sustainable retums with reduced conflict. (2) Who should pay costs involved? Conservation mnst not he made in isolation (3) Who wiil co-ordinate the actions of all those from the resources of the peninSUla; forest involved in affecting trw resource base? management plans must co-ordinate efforts for both (4) How will the impacts be assessed? private and public land; tourist deVelopment should be along guidelines which try to bring out the uniqueness and flavour of Tasman Peninsula rather SCENARIOS FOR THE FUTURE than degrade it.

It is to consider some scenarios for the the peninsula; two will be discussed here. The first is "business as usual", which i''ACING UP TO THE CHALLENGE that the peninsula should accommodate consequences of ou··going piecemeal policies of the For successful achievement there are various thing to public and private sectors. The end result will be a he considered, one being creative We need resource base without a unique identity, continuing to rethink through the issues, pursue our opportunities, land use conniet and ultimately a major loss of challenge our limitations and make a commitment resource values. V'lc can expect more local problems for a more desirable future. We have to overcome with increased public expenditure to rectify them. resource constraints, which will reQuire a The danger is that we will replace quality with of priorities. We have to change o�r attitudes, from mediocrity and begin the experience of "she'll be right, someone else will look after that" or Tasman Peninsula, so high-quality settings like "take what you can while the going is good and let Port Arthur will be mixed with degraded settings like tomorrow look after itself'. The peninsula has to be the A.rthur Highway trip. recognised as an asset for the future and not just a The second scenario involves taking stock of resource for today. We have to improve co-ordination the situation and what is to be achieved - a efforts and upgrade our data base. for the better" scenario. This is a redirection If issues about the future of the resource terms from "can we afford it?" in the short remain unresolved, then fUlure resource term to "can we afford in the long term to lose itT' and ullrelated. With time, the available This scenario is very much interwoven with the whole become more difficult to achieve. The future of Tasmania and what sort of should be implications will undoubtedly impah the created for the future. The Hotel is a of the as a valuable classic example of the dilemma that we face, whereby resource. Tasman Peninsula is far 100 we do not really know where we are and what be allowed to slide inlo mediocrity when we have we are to achieve, and end up a pretty the ability to rethink and reshape its future - POOf result. is probably best summed up by Lewi� obviously not repair all that has happened bUI certainly Carroll in Alice in Wo nderland, where Alice is walking retain its inherent qualities for all to enjoy. This along a track which breaks into numerous different respon'libility cannol be put on a few shoulders but paths. She asks the Cheshire Cat, "Which path should on many, and requires a commitment from those living I take?" The cat "Where do you want to go?" here and outside who want a better future for Tasman and Alice says, not care much." The Cheshire Peninsula and for Tasmania generally.