Sustainable Development and Management of Tourism in Moreton Bay
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sustainable development and management of tourism in moreton bay SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CRC Michelle Whitmore and Terry De Lacy 1 Sustainable Tourism in Moreton Bay AUTHORS Prepared by Michelle Whitmore and Terry De Lacy, STCRC with funding from Brisbane City and Redland Shire Councils. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to Dr Jan Warnken for putting together the GIS maps, Jan Olaf Meynecke for doing a lot of the groundwork for the GIS maps and Kate Lawrance for her assistance with some of the environmental information. This project would not have occurred if it were not for the Moreton Bay Taskforce. Special thanks go to Brisbane City Council and Redland Shire Council for their funding and support. Sincere appreciation is directed to all those who participated in the surveys, interviews and focus groups or assisted in anyway. ACRONYMS B&B Bed and Breakfast BMB & I Brisbane’s Moreton Bay and Islands EPA Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland GIS Geographic Information System MBTF Moreton Bay Taskforce MSQ Maritime Safety Queensland NSI North Stradbroke Island QPWS Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service SEQ South-East Queensland SQID Stormwater Quality Improvement Device STCRC Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre STP Sewerage Treatment Plant VIC Visitor Information Centre VIM Visitor Impact Management DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared for consideration by the Local Government Authorities constituting the Moreton Bay Taskforce. It does not represent the opinions or policy position of these Authorities. The report provides evidence from research in order to assist in the planning and programming of sustainable tourism and recreation within the Moreton Bay region. Neither the STCRC nor any of its partners are liable for any action taken or not taken as a result of this document. PHOTO CREDITS The cover photograph of dolphin feeding is provided courtesy of Tourism Queensland. All other photographs used throughout this document are the property of Michelle Whitmore except where otherwise stated. Sustainable Tourism CRC ii Sustainable Tourism in Moreton Bay CONTENTS Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ix 1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Project Background ............................................................................................................2 1.1.1 Aim and Objectives........................................................................................................3 1.1.2 Methods ...........................................................................................................................3 1.2 A Description of Moreton Bay.........................................................................................5 1.2.1 Moreton Bay Region......................................................................................................5 1.2.2 Management of Moreton Bay and the Marine Park..................................................6 1.2.3 Natural and Cultural Values of Moreton Bay and Islands .....................................10 2 Tourism and Recreation in Moreton Bay................................................................................. 11 2.1 Statistical Regions of Moreton Bay ................................................................................11 2.2 Tourist Numbers...............................................................................................................12 2.2.1 Tourism Operator Survey Responses........................................................................13 2.3 Tourism Activity ...............................................................................................................14 2.3.1 Accommodation...........................................................................................................15 2.3.2 Survey of Tourism Operators and Stakeholders......................................................16 2.4 Visitors to the Bay – Tourists and Recreationists ........................................................20 2.4.1 Moreton Island .............................................................................................................21 2.4.2 North Stradbroke Island .............................................................................................24 2.4.3 Redland Shire ................................................................................................................25 2.4.4 Caboolture.....................................................................................................................25 2.4.5 Bribie Island ..................................................................................................................26 2.4.6 Redcliffe.........................................................................................................................27 2.4.7 Wynnum-Manly ............................................................................................................27 2.5 Recreational Activity.........................................................................................................28 2.5.1 Boating...........................................................................................................................28 2.5.2 Fishing............................................................................................................................29 2.5.3 Survey of Recreational Groups ..................................................................................32 2.6 Summary.............................................................................................................................32 Sustainable Tourism CRC iii Sustainable Tourism in Moreton Bay 3 Socio-Economic Impacts of Tourism....................................................................................... 33 3.1 Gross Demand (Spend) ...................................................................................................33 3.2 Estimated Employment ...................................................................................................35 3.3 Social Impacts of Tourism...............................................................................................35 3.3.1 Survey Responses .........................................................................................................36 3.4 Summary.............................................................................................................................37 4 Tourism Infrastructure................................................................................................................ 39 4.1 Private Product..................................................................................................................39 4.2 Public Infrastructure.........................................................................................................41 4.2.1 Additional Infrastructure.............................................................................................42 4.3 Summary Maps..................................................................................................................43 5 Tourism and the Environment in Moreton Bay ..................................................................... 47 5.1 The Health of the Moreton Bay Ecosystem .................................................................48 5.1.1 Bramble Bay ..................................................................................................................51 5.1.2 Deception Bay...............................................................................................................52 5.1.3 Bribie Island ..................................................................................................................53 5.1.4 Pumicestone Passage ...................................................................................................53 5.1.5 Central Bay ....................................................................................................................53 5.1.6 Eastern Bay....................................................................................................................54 5.1.7 Moreton Island .............................................................................................................55 5.1.8 North Stradbroke Island .............................................................................................55 5.1.9 Waterloo Bay.................................................................................................................56 5.2 Environmental Impacts of Tourism ..............................................................................57 5.3 Model for Analysing Impacts..........................................................................................61 5.3.1 Impacts of Tourism on Wildlife.................................................................................63 5.3.2 Impact of Boating.........................................................................................................66 5.4 Summary.............................................................................................................................70 6 Stakeholder Issues........................................................................................................................ 71 6.1 Surveys - Tourism Operators..........................................................................................71