LLaarraappiinnttaa TTrraaiill MMaannaaggeemmeenntt SSttrraatteeggyy Janet Mackay & Ian Brown December 2004 © Planning for People and Northern Territory Government December 2004 Photography © Ian Brown The views expressed are those of the authors Larapinta Management Strategy December 2004 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................................... 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................... 3 BACKGROUND TO THE STRATEGY .............................................................................................................................. 3 KEY ISSUES ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 FUTURE MANAGEMENT.............................................................................................................................................. 4 THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE TO BE PROVIDED ................................................................................................................ 5 STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING THE VISION .................................................................................................................. 5 MARKETING ACTIVITIES .......................................................................................................................................... 10 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LARAPINTA TRAIL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ................................................................ 10 1. BACKGROUND TO THE STRATEGY .................................................................................................... 12 2. THE TRAIL TODAY................................................................................................................................... 13 3. CONTEXT FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE LARAPINTA TRAIL..................................... 15 3.1 MANAGEMENT OF THE WEST MACDONNELL NATIONAL PARK................................................................... 15 3.2 MANAGEMENT OF ABORIGINAL LAND AND HERITAGE ................................................................................ 16 3.3 TOURISM CONTEXT ..................................................................................................................................... 17 3.4 THE LARAPINTA TRAIL AS PART OF A RANGE OF WALKING OPPORTUNITIES................................................ 18 TABLE 1 RANGE OF WALKING OPPORTUNITIES ......................................................................................................... 19 4. KEY ISSUES TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE TRAIL.. 20 5. MANAGING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE ........................................................................................... 22 5.1 VISION FOR THE LARAPINTA TRAIL............................................................................................................. 22 5.2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES................................................................................................................................... 22 5.3 KEY OBJECTIVES......................................................................................................................................... 22 5.4 THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE TO BE PROVIDED ................................................................................................. 22 5.5 WHO IS THE MARKET? ................................................................................................................................ 23 6. STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING THE VISION..................................................................................... 25 6.1 KEY OBJECTIVE 1........................................................................................................................................ 25 6.2 KEY OBJECTIVE 2........................................................................................................................................ 31 6.3 KEY OBJECTIVE 3........................................................................................................................................ 37 7. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LARAPINTA TRAIL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY....................... 43 PARTNERSHIPS ......................................................................................................................................................... 43 LARAPINTA TRAIL FOUNDATION.............................................................................................................................. 44 WORKS PROGRAMS................................................................................................................................................... 44 RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................................................................................................44 APPROVALS .............................................................................................................................................................. 45 REVENUE.................................................................................................................................................................. 45 MANAGEMENT STRATEGY REVIEW.......................................................................................................................... 45 PRIORITIES, TIMEFRAMES AND RESPONSIBILITY ....................................................................................................... 45 BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................................................................... 61 APPENDIX 1................................................................................................................................................................ 62 PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES ON THE LARAPINTA TRAIL................... 62 APPENDIX 2................................................................................................................................................................ 63 SUGGESTED SHORT WALK OPTIONS (1-4 DAYS) ON THE LARAPINTA TRAIL ........................................................... 63 APPENDIX 3................................................................................................................................................................ 64 Larapinta Trail Management Strategy December 2004 1 SUGGESTED CAMPSITES (TO BE RECOMMENDED IN TRAIL INFORMATION) ............................................................ 64 APPENDIX 4................................................................................................................................................................ 65 PROPOSED WALKING TRACK GRADES FOR THE LARAPINTA TRAIL........................................................................ 65 APPENDIX 5................................................................................................................................................................ 66 SUGGESTED TRACK CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE LARAPINTA TRAIL (AS PER AS 2156.1) ........................................................................................................................................................................ 66 APPENDIX 6................................................................................................................................................................ 67 RECONSTRUCTION/IMPROVEMENT OF PARTS OF LARAPINTA TRAIL TO ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES......................................................................................................... 67 APPENDIX 7................................................................................................................................................................ 70 PROPOSED REVISED WALKING TIMES (TO BE SHOWN IN TRAIL INFORMATION) ..................................................... 70 APPENDIX 8................................................................................................................................................................ 72 SUGGESTED FEATURES FOR NAMING OR RENAMING ON LARAPINTA TRAIL (PROVISIONAL LIST): ....................... 72 APPENDIX 9................................................................................................................................................................ 73 LIMITS TO ACCEPTABLE CHANGE (LAC) ................................................................................................................... 73 APPENDIX 10.............................................................................................................................................................. 75 TRAIL PACKAGE – FURTHER DETAILS OF POTENTIAL APPROACH .......................................................................... 75 APPENDIX 11.............................................................................................................................................................. 76 DESIGN GUIDELINES.................................................................................................................................................. 76 APPENDIX 12.............................................................................................................................................................