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December Journal Journal of the Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association Page 1 ACKMA Journal No. 89- December 2012 No. 89 December 2012 Australia Post- Print Post Approved: PP381624/02050. ISSN 1835-537 Published Quarterly The ACKMA Journal ACKMA Inc. OFFICE BEARERS 2012-2013 Official Publication of the Australasian Cave and President Karst Management Association Incorporated Peter Chandler Email: [email protected] Published quarterly in March, June, September and New Zealand Vice President December Dave Smith Email: [email protected] The opinions expressed in the ACKMA Journal are those of the individual authors and not necessarily Australian Vice President those of ACKMA Inc. or its officers. Dan Cove Email: [email protected] EDITOR: Steve Bourne Executive Officer SUB EDITORS: Andy Spate, Tony Culberg Catherine Sellars Email: [email protected] Photos taken by the authors or editor unless Treasurer and Membership Officer otherwise acknowledged. Grant Gartrell Email: [email protected] PRINTER: Hansen Print, Smith Street, Naracoorte, South Australia 5271. Ph: (08) 623699 Publications Officer and ASF Liaison Officer ACKMA Inc. is cross affiliated, or otherwise Steve Bourne Email: [email protected] associated with: Conference Convener Australian Speleological Federation, New Zealand Libby Chandler Email: [email protected] Speleological Society, Australasian Bat Society, The WCPA Working Group on Cave and Karst Committee member Protection, Guiding Organisations Australia, Bat Sasa Kennedy Email: [email protected] Conservation International, American Cave Conservation Association, International Show Committee Member Caves Association, Cave Diving Association of John Brush Email: [email protected] Australia, The Malaysian Karst Society, The Jenolan Caves Historical & Preservation Society Committee Member and the USA National Speleological Society Cave Kirsty Dixon Email: [email protected] Conservation and Management Section LIFE MEMBERS of ACKMA Inc. Webmaster Rauleigh Webb Email: [email protected] Michael Chalker*, Peter Chandler*, Brian Clark*, Alan Costigan, Kent Henderson*, Elery Hamilton- International Relations Officer Smith*, Ernst Holland*, Greg Martin*, Chester Andy Spate Email: [email protected] Shaw*, Andy Spate*, Clyde Stiff, Dianne Vavryn*, Rauleigh Webb*, Kevan Wilde*, David Public Officer Williams*. Miles Pierce Email: [email protected] (*previously elected as Fellows) FELLOWS of ACKMA Inc. John Ash, Anne Augusteyn, Peter Bell, Steve Bourne, Dale Calnin, Deborah Carden, Arthur IN THIS ISSUE Clarke, Grant Gartrell, Ken Grimes, Ian Houshold, Editorial - Steve Bourne Page 3 Neil Kell, Kevin Keirnan, Lana Little, Robyn McBeath, Cathie Plowman, Dennis Rebbechi, Presidents Message - Peter Chandler Page 6 Barry Richard, Dave Smith, Nicholas White, Anne Lascaux II- Rolan Eberhard Page 7 Wood, Phil Wood. Jenolan Caves Interpretation - Anne Musser Page 10 ACKMA PRESIDENTS Middleton Plaqued - Steve Bourne Page 13 Ernst Holland 1987-91, Andy Spate 1991-95, Cave Rescue - Deborah Carden Page 15 Michael Chalker 1995-97, Greg Martin 1997-99, Waitomo Conference Page 17 Brian Clark1999-2001, Peter Dimond 2001-02, Waitomo Conference Registration Form Page 22 Peter Chandler 2002-03, Robyn McBeath 2003-05, Waitomo Conference Update Page 25 Steve Bourne 2005-11, Peter Chandler 2011- Notes from Naracoorte Caves - Deborah Carden Page 29 FRONT COVER:. Spellbound Glowworm Cave Yarrangobilly Caves House - Andy Spate Page 31 Tour. Photo: Peter Chandler A very important word- David Summers Page 32 BACK COVER: Top left. Gypsum speleothem, ISCA Conference - Dan Cove Page 34 Waitomo. Photo: Peter Bosted. Bottom left. Vivienne’s Needle, Gardner’s Gut Research Congress Report - Alessio Fabbricatore Page 35 Cave. Photo: NZSS collection. Book Reviews - Andy Spate Page 39 Top right. Caves of the Spirit. Photo: Spellbound Mulu Quiz Page 42 Tours. Bottom right. Ruakuri Cave development - Notice of AGM Page 43 contractor encouragement. Photo: John Ash. Page 2 ACKMA Journal No. 89- December 2012 EDITORIAL FROM THE EDITOR The ACKMA Waitomo conference looms ever closer! Full financial profit. ACKMA life member Brian Clark and I details for the conference are included in this journal have discussed this often and Brian puts it very including an update from the organisers. Even though succinctly; commercial activities in parks should be the conference is to be held off peak tourism season, seen as partial cost recovery strategies rather than Waitomo is a very busy site so it’s best to book early. I profit makers. also encourage you to prepare a paper and share the The privatisation of Jenolan Caves is once again in the work you are doing at your site. New South Wales (NSW) government’s thinking, as In this journal, we once again have a variety of articles. shown in these newspaper clippings. It must be tough Alessio Fabbricatore, Director of Grotte Gigante, Italy, times for Dan Cove and the Jenolan crew, when has provided a report on the Congress held in Ministers make statements like “the precinct had the September in Slovenia, at one of my favorite cave sites, potential to be a premier tourist attraction, but it had Skocjanske Jama. I was particularly interested in the “failed to flourish.””(emphasis mine- editor). work of Prof. Heros Lobo on the impacts of visitors to Jenolan Caves has been enormously successful in the show caves. Some of his work, Projection of tourist NSW and Australian Tourism Awards, winning the scenarios onto fragility maps: Framework for Australian Tourism Awards for the Best Tourist determination of provisional carrying capacity in a Attraction in 2011. At the 2012 NSW awards celebrated Brazilian show cave has been published recently in in November, Jenolan Caves was awarded a silver award Tourism Management. Copyright restrictions prevent in the Tourist Attraction category for The Magic of publication in this journal, but it is available on line or Jenolan, a gold award in the Ecotourism category for contact me for a copy. Prof. Lobo has indicated he will Jenolan Caves - Ancient Underworld, and a gold award publish another study with his colleagues in the in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism category for ACKMA journal. Jenolan Caves - Written in Stone. The balance between preserving the cave environment and the need for a site to generate revenue is challenge for all managers. I know first hand the pressure during the busy times to put just a few more visitors on each tour to cater for large numbers: more pressure on the guide and the cave environment. In Australia, it appears most state governments are reducing budgets in the environmental sector and looking for more ways to generate revenue to offset budget cuts. The point that seems to be continually missed is that national parks and tourism do have a mutualistic relationship, but that does not mean their operations can generate a Clippings from the Sydney Morning Herald announcing plans to privatise Jenolan Caves. Page 3 ACKMA Journal No. 89- December 2012 EDITORIAL This is a very mixed message. The substantial paper at the Buchan Caves guides conference on a investment into Jenolan Caves has been rewarded with palaeontological tour of Jenolan caves and presents her the reinvigoration of Australia’s premier cave attraction, ideas here. It shows the opportunities that are available leading the way with lighting and the diversification of in caves to tell many different stories using the same tours creating a wealth of visitor experiences. The letter cave or caves. below published in response to the plans may voice the concerns of many. Anne Musser speaking at the Buchan Caves guide conference Greg Middleton’s contribution to caves on Rodrigues has been recognised in a ceremony held at Francois Leguat Nature Reserve on the island. I have seen first hand Greg’s work and the high regard the locals have for him and this recognition is thoroughly deserved. Some cave systems operate very successfully in the private sector. Princess Margaret Rose Caves in Victoria and Gunns Plains Caves in Tasmania are two under private operation, but still have government investment for major infrastructure upgrades. This could be a good topic for discussion at the Waitomo conference with its theme of “The Triple Bottom Line.” This journal has a contribution from Dr Anne Musser, Greg Middleton (right) at a dinner in 2006 on Rodrigues who works at Jenolan Caves as a guide. Anne is a held at the launch of a book by Julian Hume. Owen palaeontologist by training and spent many years Griffiths, founder of the Francois Leguat Nature Reserve in which Grande Caverne and other caves are located, is researching the Riversleigh fossil site. Anne presented a second from left. Page 4 ACKMA Journal No. 89- December 2012 EDITORIAL Rolan Eberhard provides a critique on the value of Andy Spate has reviewed two books and has also artificial caves, following a visit to Lascaux II in France. circulated others through the email list. I appreciate any David Summers, President of the International Show reviews of books that members purchase and am happy Caves Association (ISCA) provided his address from the to publish reviews such as what Andy ahas provided. recent ISCA conference and Dan Cove a short report plus Andy Spate has also provided the following: an interesting image. Those ACKMA people who attended the AGM in Wee Deborah Carden has a holiday with a difference, Jasper last May contributed about $1600 to the Wee involving herself in a
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