Kangaroo Island residents protest over plans for lodge accommodation in Flinders Chase National Park

Operators of Australia’s largest eco-tourism walking company have held meetings on Kangaroo Island in a bid to quell concerns about a new $4 million development in a popular national park.

• FAIR GO FOR OUR REGIONS

• Ceduna mayor backs Bight drilling
• Call for KI meat works to boost business
• Why South Australia needs to back the bush
• Our crumbling country roads take their toll
• Plea for focus on Far North’s dusty tracks

Operators of Australia’s largest eco-tourism walking company have held meetings on Kangaroo Island in a bid to quell concerns about a new $4 million development in a popular national park.

The Australian Walking Company and environment department officials received a hostile reaction from locals who claim they have been blindsided by the project to build “pod” accommodation on a headland.

The plan includes two “eco-sensitive” lodges, individual two-person sleeping pods as well as an upgrade of the historic lighthouse keeper’s cottages at Cape du Couedic.

Residents Roanna Horbolt, left, and Becky Westbrook don war paint at Pardarna to raise concerns about the proposed development. Cheryl May is seated. Picture: Tom Huntley

More than 100 residents have gathered at meetings at the Kangaroo Island Yacht Club in Kingscote and at Pardarna to discuss the plans.

One of their main concerns was the intended site of the lodge and pods, to be situated in Flinders Chase National Park just kilometres from the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail — and its impact on the environment.

The transparency of the project and its visual impact were among other issues raised.

Australian Walking Company general manager Heath Garratt, told the public forums the project would be in the spirit of the company’s other projects that specialised in low-impact tours for small groups of people.

“We do small-group tourism,” Mr Garratt said.

“It is not just about the infrastructure. This is not a luxury experience. We don’t do luxury ... we do comfort.”

The Australian Walking Company is proposing to build sleeping pods in Flinders Chase National Park near the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail. Pictures: Australian Walking Company

Mr Garratt said the walking tours, that he hoped would be run by local people, would take no more than 14 people at the time.

A number of former parks employees raised concerns the project was not in the spirit of the national park, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

The Friends of National Parks has gone on strike, following the release of details of the State Government-supported project.

Environment Minister David Speirs, who was not at the meetings, said nature-based tourism was an important sector for South Australia’s future.

A number of environmental groups are planning protest rallies outside Parliament House.