2013/07: Should Victoria's national parks have been opened to private developers?

What they said...
'We need to come to a clear decision as to why we have national parks, and how much we expect to be able to develop those areas to improve our economic return...'
Dr Kevin Tolhurst, an expert witness at the Royal Commission into the Black Saturday bushfires

'Victoria has the highest national park visitation in the country, yet the economic yield from this visitation is the nation's lowest'
Dianne Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council 

The issue at a glance
On March 31, 2013, the Victorian government released guidelines outlining the conditions under which private developers would be able to invest in establishing tourist facilities in the state's national parks. This is the first time such development has been allowed within the state's national parks. Previously, any private development within the national parks has existed only because it was there prior to the area being declared a national park.
The Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith, stated, 'Victorians, as well as interstate and international visitors, will have greater opportunities to experience and appreciate the state's wonderful natural environment following the release today of guidelines for environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism in national parks.'
Opponents of this policy shift see it as the commercialisation of the State's conservation areas and as a change likely to bring irreversible harm to the national parks, destroying the qualities for which they are currently valued.

Background
Victorian National Parks
Despite their name, most national parks are state and territory run, apart from six that come under Commonwealth jurisdiction (Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Booderee, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and Pulu Keeling).

The Victorian National Parks Act 1975 states in its preamble 'that certain Crown land characterized by its predominantly unspoilt landscape, and its flora, fauna or other features, should be reserved and preserved and protected permanently for the benefit of the public.'
There are six main principles under which Parks Victoria, the body which manages Victoria's National and State parks operates:
i) They conserve the environment of the places they manage for current and future generations (including preparing for, responding to fires and helping restore land after fires).
ii) They acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the places they manage.
iii) They respect and protect the culture and heritage of the places they manage.
iv) They recognise the fundamental role of natural environments to human health
v) They plan and manage places to support use by all abilities and a diverse community.
vi) They plan and manage public land on behalf of and in partnership with the community.

On April 3, 2013, Foster Community Online posted a detailed analysis of the guidelines under which the government intends to allow private development in the state's national parks. The analysis includes comments supporting and opposing the guidelines.
It can be accessed at http://www.foster.vic.au/government-sets-guidelines-for-tourism-development-in-victorias-parks/

On April 2, 2013, Peter Ryan, the Member for Gippsland South, Deputy Premier, 
Minister for State Development and Minister for Regional and Rural Development issued a media release titled 'Enhanced opportunities for eco-tourism in national parks'. The piece argues in favour of the government's decision to allow private development on national parks.
The full text of this media release can be found at http://peterryan.com.au/_blog/Press_Releases/post/Enhanced_opportunities_for_eco-tourism_in_National_Parks_/

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