Geotourism development in Australia:the need for geopark prototypes

Juli 2015

Content1. Introduction2. A suitable area (incl. case study)

3. Set up of prototypes (incl. case study)

4. Cooperation of self-acting prototypes5. Creation of a professional network6. Expansion of the network

1. IntroductionA geopark prototype:Early sample region to test the geopark concept and to act as something to be replicated or learned from.

Why?• Chance for early and inexpensive failure • To gather more accurate requirements• To address foreseen and unforeseen challenges• To align different opinions or visions• To increase the probability of funding

Kanawinka Geopark, a prototype?• Great effort and successful in:

• establishing local enterprises and small business• training programs • new jobs• protecting geo-sources

• But not really a suitable prototype:• not compact • not easy to manage• interstate approach

Geoparks - when navigating for success:1. Rise of suitable areas2. Set up of prototypes 3. Cooperation between self-acting prototypes 4. Creation of a professional network5. Expansion of the network

Constraint:- Independent from UNESCO or any other international organisation

2. A suitable area• Existing tourism destination, but:– not one of Australia’s main attractions – not part of World Heritage List

>> different tourism strategy (no focus on geotourism)• Compact and manageable size• Regional approach• Geotourism potential –A of Attractions • Meet the other 4 A’s too

Finding a suitable area, a case study:

The Glass House Mountains (Qld)• existing tourism destination • not a main attraction or World Heritage• compact and manageable size• regional approach

“What about its Geotourism potential (Attractions) and the other 4 A’s – Access, Accommodation, Amneties & Activities?”

Case study Glass House Mountains

Attractions (geotourism potential - 1)

Geological features:• Flat plain punctuated by cores of extinct volcanoes

(formed 26-27 mln years ago)

• Representative of a former volcanic area (the East Australian Hotspot)

• Alignment of peaks due to fracturing

Case study Glass House Mountains

Attractions (geotourism potential - 2)Cultural values• Significant to local Aboriginal community

(the Gubbi Gubbi people)• Numerous sites that show

– varied aspects of Aboriginal ways of life – the ancient occupation of this landscape

• Fascination for this area by artists– inspired a number of works by significant Australian artists

Case study Glass House Mountains

Attractions (geotourism potential - 3)Natural facts• Rich in vegetation

• Home to a variety in birds and land animals

• Spectacular natural lookouts

• A mild, subtropical climate

Case study Glass House Mountains

Access• Easy access from Brisbane (airport) and the Sunshine Coast:– By car • Next to Bruce Highway

– By train• 3 stations:– Glass House Mountains– Beerburrum– Beerwah

Case study Glass House Mountains

Accommodation A wide range of holiday accommodation:

– Resorts– B&Bs– Boutique hotels– Farmstay accommodation– Motels– Cottages– Eco lodges– Camping area– Wheelchair-accessible accommodation

Case study Glass House Mountains

Amenities• Public transport• Car parks• Hiking trails• Bike trails• Horse riding trails• Wheelchair accessible tracks• Signages• Great outlooks• Ecological Education Centre

Case study Glass House Mountains

Activities• Rock climbing• Abseiling• Different graded walking tracks• Mountain biking• Horse riding• Guided tours (schools, groups)• Scenic flights• Hot air ballooning

Case study Glass House Mountains

The Glass House Mountains:• existing tourism destination– not a main one – not a World Heritage

• compact and manageable size• regional approach• geotourism potential (Attractions)• meets the other 4 A’s too

» a potential prototype

3. Set up of prototypes• Cooperation between:– stakeholders • governments, landowners and land managers

– partners from different disciplines• geology, ecology, culture, education, tourism and the agricultural

sector• Creation of:– an imaginative area– with imaginary boundaries– that’s easy identifiable – and easy marketable

An imaginative areaAboriginal culture - appearance of the landscape has a story to tell - use of drawings => tell the stories of their history and culture

Prototype- an imaginary design in Aboriginal style that has a story to tell - not mapped in a conventional territorial sense

=> let’s return to Case study: Glass House Mountains

Case study Glass House Mountains

With imaginary boundaries• A connected area of:– Glass House Mountains National Park– Conservation Parks– State Forests– Forest Reserves

• Resulting in:– a ‘wild horse’ shaped land form– with imaginary boundaries with no political meaning

Case study Glass House Mountains

Easily identifiable• By its shape

– wild horses use powerful kicks, often with both back legs at the same time, to ward off predators

• By link with area– Wild Horse Mountain = one of the Glass House Mountains

• By link with name– Wild Horse Geopark– or a name in Gubbi Gubbi language: Yaramana (horse) Bangguran (wild) Geopark?

Case study Glass House Mountains

Easily marketable• simple • distinctive • recognizable• advertisable• visualizable => see next page

YaramanaBangurranGeopark?

About step 2• Glass House Mountains, a great example

……but a prototype needs to be a truly locally or regionally initiative!

• Ideal situation: – a few prototypes – spread out over the Australian continent – involvement of every state

(excl. VIC/SA => presence of Kanawinka Geopark)

4. Cooperation of self-acting prototypes

• Prototypes – work out their own ideas– create their own strategy– do their own implementation

>> must be truly a local or regional effort!

• But there is cooperation between prototypes on adhoc basis• Protoypes learn from eachothers mistakes and successes

Example prototypes for a good variety:1. WA: Sea Turtle Geopark (Nambung NP/Leda NR/Wanagarren NR/Cervantes)2. TAS: Dorsal Fin Geopark (West Coast: Queenstown/Strahan/Zeehan)3. NSW: Dingo Puppy Geopark (Morton NP/Bundanoon/Ulladella)4. NT: Litchfield Snake Geopark (Litchfield NP/Batchelor/Adelaide River)

Prototypes of Australia?

5. Creation of a professional geopark network

After a few years when prototypes become more mature:=> Start of an independent Australian Geopark Network

– independent from any international geopark network– cooperation between prototypes and Kanawinka formalized– working on a joint strategy– incl. a sustainable development approach– based on experiences from individual prototypes– with regular meetings and evaluations– start cooperation with foreign geoparks

6. Expansion of the network• New local initiatives• Help them setting up a Geopark

– Prototype stage has ended• Offer them membership to Australian Geopark Network• Study chances of an Oceania or South-Pacific Geopark Network

– Match with initiatives in the South Pacific?• Initiatives in New Zealand • Cook Islands: promoted as a geotourism destination since 2006

A path towards

a Geopark?