Kangaroo Island locals poised for legal fight over Australian Walking Company’s Flinders Chase National Park lodges
A legal battle is brewing over Flinders Chase National Park, after the State Government announced plans for new accommodation to service the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail had passed their last major hurdle.
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Opponents of Australian Walking Company’s plans for new accommodation in Flinders Chase National Park are poised to launch a legal battle against the development.
The State Government today announced the plans for new lodges at Sandy Creek and Sanderson Bay had passed their last major sign-off required, from the Native Vegetation Council.
Kangaroo Island Eco Action’s Fraser Vickery is co-ordinating plans to take legal action against the development, after his and other groups crowdfunded almost $40,000 towards the cause.
The groups have engaged a QC to fight on their behalf, and Mr Vickery said their battle may also include “civil disobedience and other interference with the development”.
He was frustrated that the groups had been “blindsided” by today’s news, after requesting the Native Vegetation Council update them on any developments after they provided feedback on the proposal.
“There were a lot of people that put in submissions and we weren’t told a thing,” Mr Vickery said.
The project includes a total of about new 20 buildings at Sandy Creek and Sanderson Bay. Australian Walking Company will also refurbish the Government-owned former lighthouse keepers’ cottages at Cape du Couedic, and all sites would be used by walkers taking part in high-end guided tours of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.
Friends of Parks KI Western Districts publicity officer Bev Maxwell was concerned about the development’s impact on “absolute untouched vegetation and habitat of endangered species”.
“If this cannot be stopped … then there is nowhere safe from development,” Ms Maxwell said.
“This decision just flies against everything that the Native Vegetation Act is for.
“We know that access to the park is a great way for people to understand its importance — we’re just saying this is an inappropriate location.”
Ms Maxwell is among dozens of volunteers who have stopped working on Kangaroo Island in protest of the plans.
“We believe it makes a mockery of all the hours we put in on environmental management at the parks, to have it undermined by this decision,” Ms Maxwell said.
“Kangaroo Island is without any volunteers at its parks now. Considering a third of the island is parks, I think that should be a concern.”
Australian Walking Company general manager Heath Garratt said the plans would create a “$4.8 million world-class tourism experience” on the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.
“Australian Walking Company is a recognised leader in environmentally sustainable travel practices with more than 30 years’ proven experience in delivering award-winning guided walks within national parks,” Mr Garratt said.
The “stringent” approvals process helped produce “an outstanding solution”, Mr Garratt said.
“Australian Walking Company will continue to work with the community to ensure this experience reaches its full potential, bringing significant benefits to Kangaroo Island, while also creating advocacy for the protection of its special wild places,” he said.
Tourism Industry Council South Australia chief executive officer Shaun de Bruyn said Kangaroo Island was a “special place for nature-based tourism”.
“(The project) adds further weight to Kangaroo Island’s offering globally,” Mr de Bruyn said.
“There will be new visitors that will come to Kangaroo Island because of this experience, which will result in jobs.”
Mr de Bruyn said Australia Walking Company had a swath of experience running tours through national parks and was capable of operating with “absolute sensitivity”.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au