Kangaroo Island: Public shut out of ruling over plans for accommodation in Flinders Chase National Park

“I’m sure you’d like to have a say and we’d love to be in a position to let you, but unfortunately, we’re not.” The public have been excluded from a panel considering a controversial accommodation project.

The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail in Flinders Chase National Park. Picture: DEWNR

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The state’s planning rules must be overhauled to ensure people can have a say on controversial developments in national parks, the Greens say.

The call came as the chairwoman of the State Commission Assessment Panel considering Australian Walking Company’s $4 million plans for new accommodation on Kangaroo Island said it was unfortunate the public was excluded.

“To the members of the public, I’m sure you’d like to have a say and we’d love to be in a position to let you, but unfortunately, we’re not,” chairwoman Simone Fogarty told today’s panel meeting on the development, in Flinders Chase National Park.

The public was not invited to give written or verbal submissions.

This was excluded by the project’s development category. But many islanders have publicly raised worries including conservation issues and the visual impact of the plans, which include two new lodge developments at Sanderson Bay and Sandy Creek.

Greens MLC Mark Parnell thinks people should be allowed to have a say on developments in national parks. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier

Australian Walking Company’s project includes two new accommodation “lodges” comprising a total of about 20 buildings. It will open them to guests on high-end tours of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.

Greens MLC Mark Parnell told The Advertiser planning rules should be changed to ensure any development in a national park was subject to consultation. Planning panels should also consider national parks’ management plans, he said.

Mr Parnell said “dozens” of people had contacted his office frustrated they were unable to comment on the project.

“My view of national parks is they’re the pinnacle of our conservation estate,” he said.

“There’s no shortage of people saying this is the wrong development, and in the wrong location.”

Australian Walking Company already operates tours in Tasmania and Victoria. A six-day Cradle Mountain tour costs up to $4000.

Ms Fogarty said she could understand people believing “national parks should be for the public”.

“This proposal seems to come along and say, ‘We’re going to create a special trail for special people with special facilities’,” she said.

Asked what park users and the local environment would get out of the development, the Environment Department’s Matt Johnson said the plans, which his colleagues supported, would allow older and mobility-impaired people to access Flinders Chase more easily. Revenue from the venture would also help support work in conservation areas.

“It’s not easy to win investment in the state, particularly with a seasonal industry like tourism,” Mr Johnson said.

“A number of states have been in this market for some time and they’ve shown you can embrace this sort of activity in a sustainable way.”

Australian Walking Company general manager Heath Garrett said the plans would help clients become “immersed in nature”, and his company had designed its lodges to minimise environmental damage.

“We’ve done all we can to ensure they’re as low impact as they can be,” Mr Garrett said. “All of our trips have a strong environmental focus.”

The panel is yet to announce a decision.

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