Transcript Slide 1

National Ecotourism Australia Conference – Hobart, Tasmania
1 December 2005
Townsville: Fostering Partnerships
and Opportunities in Ecotourism
Cr. Ann Bunnell
Deputy Mayor - Townsville City Council
(paper by Ann Bunnell & Greg Bruce)
» Welcome to Townsville
» Townsville
is Queensland’s largest regional City, and together with the
neighbouring City of Thuringowa is home to over 158,500 people and covering a
combined area of c. 4000 km2 (TCC – 1800 km2).
» A Distinctive Queensland Experience
» Townsville is where the Tropical Savannas meet the coast and is the southern
gateway to the Wet Tropics and at the City’s Strand foreshore abuts the Great
Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
» Our area has coastal mountains, wetlands and a diverse marine environment
consisting of fringing coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass gardens, and islands.
» To
this extent we offer our own distinctive experience along the Coast of
Queensland and even in Australia.
»
Monsoonal-influenced tropical savannas and
wetlands at Mt Stuart and the Townsville Town
Common Conservation Park
»
World Heritage Wet Tropics Rainforests from
Mt Elliot to Paluma
»
Extensive areas of RAMSAR listed wetlands at
Bowling Green Bay National Park (57,900 ha)
& Cromarty
»
World
Heritage
marine
and
coastal
environments of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon
from the seagrass beds, mangroves and
estuaries of our intertidal wetlands to our
fringing coral reefs of Magnetic Island and
Cleveland Bay
» Some of
Townsville’s
Key Habitats
and
Environments
» (TCC only)
» Townsville’s Vision for Ecotourism
» Taken from the Ecotourism Australia definition:
"Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on
experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural
understanding, appreciation and conservation".
» We have developed our own Townsville Ecotourism Vision Statement:
“To ensure an ecologically sustainable and economically viable ecotourism
industry in the Townsville region. Where the rich natural diversity, cultural
heritage, and unique lifestyle are so valued by the entire community, that they
are proactive in its management and conservation for future generations.
Ecotourism represents the pre-eminent form of tourism in the region and
engage, educates and delights our visitors”.
» Townsville undertaken to promote ecotourism in our region, commencing with
the development of a community-based “Townsville Ecotourism Strategy” progressively implemented.
» Included
developing and promoting opportunities for business and
fostering cooperation across the North Queensland region in collaboration
with Townsville Enterprise (TEL) and others
» Included the notion of the “Townsville Experience” with our own distinctive
culture, people (Aboriginal & Settlement), history, and not least environment.
» The redeveloped Strand Foreshore has become in many ways an icon to
this particular aspect of promoting the “Townsville Experience” and features
not only great facilities and friendly people but environmental art, interpretation,
protection of natural environments (turtles & dugong) and scenic views to the
World Heritage “waters” of Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island.
» The Townsville Ecotourism Strategy builds on the recommended roles of local
government in facilitating Ecotourism opportunities as specified in the
Queensland Ecotourism Plan and provides a response relevant for the
Townsville municipality and community.
» The Strategy was developed from two community consultation sessions
held in 1998 (Townsville Ecotourism Workshops) representing a broad cross
section of the community, including academics, researchers, ecotourism
operators, local government, Tourism Queensland and Townsville Enterprise
Ltd.
» Townsville’s Ecotourism Strategy - implementation
»This strategy has included development of the Council’s innovative and
dynamic web-based
Townsville Regional Natural Assets Database and
www.townsville.qld.gov.au/nad/
State of Environment Report 2003
www.soe-townsville.org/
www.soe-townsville.org/ecotourism/
» Other Significant Outcomes arising from Strategy
» Working regionally with stakeholders and community to develop partnerships,
business opportunities, networks and visions for the future of ecotourism in
Townsville & region
» Implementing interpretative eco-landscapes on the ground and across the
city (Nelly Bay Habitat; Strand & wind turbine; Mt Stuart; Rowes Bay)
» Upgrades of facilities and walking tracks both locally & regionally
» Emergence of eco-catchment tours for promoting environmental awareness,
ownership and integration
» Increase
in number of local & regional nature-based or ecotour operators
from 1-2 to 9
» In
addition Townsville Enterprise has taken up the ambit and is facilitating
additional regional ecotourism initiatives such as the Regional Bird Watching
Cluster and Discovering Tropical Queensland Loop project.
(TCC and other regional Councils are contributing financially to this project)
»
Emerging from the progression of the Ecotourism Strategy are three themes
that help to encapsulate this rationale:
»
»
»
Ecotourism – Economy, Environment and Future
Environmental Education and Experience, and
Regional and Local Partnerships and Opportunities
» Ecotourism – Economy, Environment and Future
»Townsville City Council has been for a long time committed to providing
recreational opportunities for our citizens and visitors, which is seen as vital
to maintaining a prosperous, vibrant, tropical city and region where people
enjoy living, working and visiting.
»Ecotourism is seen as making an important contribution to both the local
and regional economy, by meeting the growing expectations of tourists for
quality experiences which include the natural environment and information.
»The 4th National Conference on Tourism Futures (2005) clearly states in
its Conference Communiqué that Ecotourism was considered the top
opportunity for growth.
»This perception aligns well both with the competitive advantages identified
in the communiqué – including pristine beauty, unique experience, culture &
friendly people, and the same assets and advantages seen in our local
area.
»In 2003 International “ecotourists” were recorded as being almost double
the number of non-ecotourists, and stayed twice as long and subsequently
spending much more per trip
»Environmental Education and Experience
» Locally ecotours environmental and eco-attractions such as Reef HQ
and Billabong Sanctuary, along with provision of eco-learning
landscapes are see as key aspects of ensuring our region and city are
seen as sustainable and attractive place to visit and stay.
» They
are seen as important opportunities to educate locals and
visitors about our environment, and assist our own community to find
our own ‘sense of place’.
» They
also provide opportunities for people to become involved as
volunteers or start their own business providing ecotours/attractions.
» “A shift is happening in the way we engage with our communities,
people want to find a ‘meaning of place’ and tourism has an important
role and opportunity for community capacity building”.
(2005 Tourism Futures Conference – Gold Coast)
» Regional and Local Partnerships and Opportunities
» Townsville has a strong commitment to the development
of a vibrant
ecotourism industry as demonstrated by Council’s ongoing support to creating
networks, fostering partnerships working closely with eco-tour operators, local
business, Townsville Enterprise and neighbouring Local Governments.
» Council
participates fully in the TEL Ecotourism Sub-Committee (Tourism
Advisory Committee)
» Eco-tours across the region establishing and promoting ecotourism including
interpretative signage, attractions, and tours.
» Arguably these ecotours have played a key part in breaking down some of the
barriers which historically existed between our various communities. Thus
enabling participants (including volunteers, Councillors, and Local Government
staff) to see that we are essentially all part of one integrated region.
» There
are now many integrated and collaborative nature-based tourism
projects under way across the region, which demonstrate the effect of this.
» Townsville Ecotourism Networks
- fostering regional cooperation and partnerships
»
TCC has provided a senior officer as Chair of Ecotourism Sub-Committee
Townsville Enterprise Ltd. for three years
»
With key objective to foster and develop regional partnerships in order that
the region works together and obtains resources and support appropriate to
needs.
»
Key projects and outcomes include:
»
Ecotours to various Local Government areas promoting initiatives,
integration, awareness and partnership (Townsville, Burdekin, Magnetic
Island, Hinchinbrook, & Thuringowa);
»
Networking and sharing information on local eco-tourism initiatives
such as attractions (e.g. walking tracks) and interpretative facilities;
»
»
Mapping of ecotourism attractions and potential sites and maps; and
Producing web pages of ecotourism by each Local Government across
the region and uploading on TEL web site.
»
Future initiatives include exploring Green Globe certification,
encouraging Ecotourism Accreditation and becoming a network
cluster of the emerging Centre of Excellence in Tropical Design
(Sustainability & Innovation).
»
In addition the principles and objectives for promoting ecotourism
in Townsville and region tie in with the development of
Townsville’s own Healthy Cities Plan and Sustainable
Townsville Program (& Reef Guardians Councils).
»
The Healthy City Plan includes facilitating social capacity
building, and integrating health, welfare, environment/tourism, and
culture as a way of reinforcing the idea of linking and integrating
community, business, prosperity and environment (sustainability).
»
The Sustainable Townsville Program consists of all
sustainability programs and initiatives (environmental, economic
and including Ecotourism Strategy) which compliments the
objectives of the Healthy City Plan.
www.soe-townsville.org/sustainable/
» Environmental Protection, Facilities and Interpretive Learnscapes
» Castle Hill - Castle Hill is now a reserve
managed for environmental protection and
has been subject of intensive walking
track upgrades and development of scenic
viewing platforms
» Town Common –The setting aside of a
significant portion of the city developable
area in the Town Common for nature
conservation has ultimately left a legacy of
tropical savanna covered hills and peaks,
lowland woodlands, estuarine habitats and
freshwater-marine wetlands.
» Environmental Protection, Facilities and Interpretive Learnscapes
» Magnetic Island – Situated within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage
Area, “Maggie” has an extensive and well used natural and protected walking
tracks system complimented by:
» Nelly Bay Habitat Interpretive Centre – an award-winning facility used
extensively by local tour guides and has proved an invaluable resource.
» Landscape Ecology, Flora & Fauna, and Heritage signage &
interpretive stations across the island – giving a “sense of place”
» Other examples of Council providing interpretative signage, walking
track, and viewing platform experiences for visitors include Mt Stuart lookout
and along the Ross River Parkway
» The Strand itself is featured with environmental interpretation mainly as
artworks and includes featuring past and present habitats of the area
» Further Coastal Learnscapes are planned for neighbouring Rowes Bay,
promoting marine habitats of mudflats and sponge gardens with their strange
and colourful creatures. This is another example of a joint project with TCC
working with researchers at James Cook University, local business, and
community.
» Townsville Ecotourism Operators and Opportunities
» Townsville
historically has a growing number of eco-tour operators, some with
National Ecotourism Accreditation, others working towards it, or still providing excellent
interpretive and interactive ecotourism experiences
» Billabong
Sanctuary Billabong Sanctuary was the first
attraction and is highly successful wildlife park with excellent
interpretative facilities and educational staff
» Reef HQ education & interpretative centre-aquarium for Great
Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
» Magnetic Island Sea Kayaks hold the highest level of EcoTourism Accreditation. As winners of 12 local and state tourism
awards, they have developed and excelled at bringing a unique
and eco friendly experience to Magnetic Island visitors
» Magnetic
Island Reef Eco Tours are operated by local
marine biologist Dr Andy Lewis and take in the under-water world
of Magnetic Island’s off-shore reefs
» Conservation Volunteers Australia Conservation Volunteers
Australia (CVA) is a national, not-for-profit community-based
organisation. CVA operates volunteer and Ecotour experiences in
Australia and overseas through conservation initiatives and projects.
» Townsville Tropical Tours, Ironbark Tours, NQ River & Roads,
Pop Sullivan Cruisers offer Ecotour experiences exploring aspects
of the region that make it unique and introducing visitors to parts of
our city and surrounds that even residents may never have known
existed
» Townsville City Council (EMS) Eco-Catchment Tours provide
local eco-catchment tours to international and national visitors,
locals and students (2000 students in 2004) and forms another
emerging component of the “Townsville Experience”
» Summary
Townsville boasts some great ecotourism environments and has responded
by developing an integrated suite of educational information and facilities
including great on-line ecological information.
Like all communities with exceptional and distinctive environmental character
our community places great importance on the conservation of it.
With two of the world’s great environmental icons on our doorstep and
backyard (Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Areas) – we have
an important responsibility to showcase them and
Provide opportunities for tourism business which melds with our own areas
aspirations for a Sustainable Townsville and Health City.
Townsville’s own distinct environments melding tropical wetlands, savannas,
rainforests and marine environments offer an important vision for integrating
community with a sustainable future.
Council has sought to do this through partnerships and fostering regional
cooperation.
THANK YOU
Acknowledgements:
Elizabeth Booth (EMS) – for preparation PPT slides & photos
Photographs: TCC, Dr A.Lewis, GBRMPA, D.Silke, Townsville Tropical Tours,
Billabong Sanctuary, and MI Sea Kayaks,
Presentation and Paper will be available on web site:
www.soe-townsville.org/sustainable/