Green Paper Survey Results Summary Completed August 2015 Table of Contents Survey Demographic Summary .................................................................... 3 The Vision Statement ..................................................................................... 4 Issues from comments on the Vision Statement ................................................ 5 Comments on the Vision Statement .................................................................... 5 The Values ....................................................................................................... 9 Issues coming from comments on the values .................................................... 9 Comments about the values ................................................................................. 9 The Themes ................................................................................................... 12 Theme 1: Governance .................................................................................. 13 Issues from Governance comments .................................................................. 13 Governance comments ....................................................................................... 13 Theme 2: Environmental Management ....................................................... 16 Issues from environmental management comments ....................................... 17 Environmental Management comments ............................................................ 17 Theme 3: Access & Linkages ...................................................................... 20 Issues from access and linkages comments .................................................... 20 Access and linkages comments ........................................................................ 20 Theme 4: Maintenance & Amenities ........................................................... 25 Issues from maintenance and amenities comments ........................................ 25 Maintenance and amenities comments ............................................................. 26 Theme 5: Interpretation Information & Promotion .................................... 31 Issues from interpretation information and promotion comments ................ 31 Interpretation information and promotion comments ...................................... 31 Theme 6: Events ........................................................................................... 36 Issues from events comments ........................................................................... 36 Events comments ................................................................................................ 36 Theme 7: Accommodation ........................................................................... 40 Issues from accommodation comments ........................................................... 40 Accommodation comments ................................................................................ 40 Theme 8: Other Developments .................................................................... 44 Issues from other developments comments .................................................... 44 Other Developments comments ......................................................................... 44 Submissions to the Green Paper ................................................................ 59 Re-imagining the Cataract Gorge by Mark Bartkevicius .................................. 60 Survey Demographic Summary The Green Paper and associated survey was posted on Council’s online community engagement tool “Your Voice Your Launceston”. The survey period was from June 1 2015 to July 13, 2015. During that period 1,313 people visited at least one page on the site. Participation is separated into three categories: aware, informed and engaged and the break down of actions taken in each category is shown in Table 1. There were more female than male participants and the 56-65 and 46-55 age groups had the highest participation in the survey. Table 1: Participation in community engagement Gender Engaged Participants (Participating in survey) Participated in Surveys 267 Male Female Informed Participants 47% 53% Age Informed Actions Performed Participants (Participating in survey) Viewed a photo 46 65+ 17% Downloaded a document 702 56-65 27% Visited the Key Dates page 37 46-65 23% Visited an FAQ list Page 0 36-45 15% Visited Multiple Project Pages 568 26-35 15% Aware Participants 16-25 5% Visited at least one page 1313 There was a spike in activity between the 19/6 and 23/6 with a peak of 711 page views on the 21/6/2015. Chart 1: Visitors summary Visitors Summary 800 600 Page- views 400 Visits 200 0 The majority of responses came from the 7250-post code area followed by 7248 and 7249. Table 2: Survey participants by postcode Post No. Area code 7301 2 Longford Bishopsbourne area 7303 1 Westbury Whitemore area 7212 2 Evandale Blessington Nile 7291 1 Carrick 7290 2 Hadspen 7275 1 Exeter Frankford Glengarry area 7268 1 Lilydale Underwood 7267 1 Bangor Karoola Turners Marsh area 7262 2 Bridport Tomahawk Waterhouse Green Paper survey summary August 2015 3 Post No. Area code 7260 1 Scottsdale area 7258 2 Breadalbane Relbia White Hills 7253 1 Bell Bay Georgetown Long Reach Low Head Dilston Hillwood Lefroy Lulworth Pipers River Swan Bay 7252 7 Weymouth Windermere area Glen Dhu Kings Meadows South Launceston Youngtown 7249 27 Punchbowl Sandhill 7248 32 Invermay Mowbray Newnham Rocherlea area Blackstone Heights East Launceston Launceston Norwood 7250 187 Prospect Ravenswood Riverside St Leonards Summerhill Travellers Rest Trevallyn Waverley 7277 6 Bridgenorth Grindelwald Legana Rosevears 4575 1 Qld 3127 1 Vic 3099 1 Vic The Vision Statement The vision statement from the Green Paper is a description of the area in the future and is written in the present tense as if it has been achieved. It reads: The Greater Cataract Gorge: An Aboriginal Place Illuminating our stories, both ancient and new Connecting YOU to OUR backyard Survey participants were asked if they thought anything was missing from the vision. 78% of survey participants said no and 22% said yes. This means that the majority of survey participants felt the vision needed no change. The 22% who responded yes provided a number of comments that are listed below. Spelling and grammatical errors in the comments have largely been corrected but the content of the comments is unedited. Chart 2: Anything missing from the vision Vision anything missing? no 78 % yes 22 0 20 40 60 80 100 Issues from comments on the Vision Statement • Concern about the words “An Aboriginal Place”. The sentiment being that the place belongs to the whole community not just one part. • Include everyone’s stories – Aboriginal and European. • Concern about the word “backyard” being unsophisticated and pedestrian. • The need to include a statement about the natural values being in healthy and robust condition. • A range of positive and negative statements about the proposed JMC Sky Lift proposal that were not directly related to the wording of the vision statement. Comments on the Vision Statement The Greater Cataract Gorge: An Aboriginal Place “In thinking of what should be included in any future vision for the Greater Gorge area, no longer can the Aboriginal community be exiled from this cultural landscape. I believe that to achieve the project goal of "strengthening the connection of today's community to this place" the aspirations of the Aboriginal community must be included. It's been 167 years since Aboriginal people have been a part of this country and we need to ensure it's not another 167 years till we achieve this outcome. To provide a worthwhile outcome, we must ensure the final vision allows the Aboriginal community to participate as equals. We must be regarded as owners of this landscape. To achieve this, the group must consider ownership and management outside any provision previously attempted. To become leaders, leaders of change or game- changers is by a partnership of the level never before considered in Tasmania. One that is both conciliatory and practical for the Aboriginal community. This may include the return of land and its subsequent lease back arrangement of the broader 632 hectares. All options may be placed on the table for discussion. I likened the possibility of achieving a similar outcome to what has been achieved at Uluru (Ayer's Rock). But to achieve an outcome of this nature will require us to be creative and far- sighted; we need to consider what it takes for us to gain meaningful benefits from this opportunity. I believe such discussion will be educative and an acknowledgement of the history of the Cataract Gorge.” - Clyde Mansell • The Greater Cataract Gorge always a place to nurture, an Aboriginal place of significance, sacred sites across time enriching to our original people and now us. • Imperative that the Aboriginal Community is represented and consulted with integrity and transparency. • It is important to recognise the First Peoples; include their stories and heritage; and involve the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. It is a place shaped by history, and is loved and shared by all. • It is extremely important to the Aboriginal People, to have such a special place in Launceston for everyone to share. It will help to heal and bring us together. School groups would benefit immensely. West Launceston Primary School had an Elder take the children very rewarding. • Should the wording be "Aboriginal people" rather than "Aboriginals"?