Two South Australian tourism jewels in the spotlight for development, but locals ask for better consultation

Developments in South Australian national parks are coming under fire from locals and environmentalists who have accused the State Government of handing over pristine land to private developers without proper community consultation.

• Business and government in talks to develop national parks
• Work nears on huge Yorke Peninsula open-range sanctuary

Developments in South Australian national parks are coming under fire from locals and environmentalists who have accused the State Government of handing over pristine land to private developers without proper community consultation.

Volunteers on Kangaroo Island are calling on the state’s 150 friends of national parks groups, who save the government thousands of dollars a year in manpower, to follow their lead and strike.

In Marion Bay locals are frustrated the government is planning to grow tourism to region by rejuvenating the Innes National Park, without fixing up infrastructure in the region that swells from 172 people in the winter to up to 5000 in the summer.

The projects at the centre of the concerns are a walking trail and accommodation in the Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island and the redevelopment of accommodation options, and the possibility of new accommodation in the Innes National Park on the Yorke Peninsula.

West Cape Headland in Innes National Park, would form part of a new open-range sanctuary under the Great Southern Ark project, planned for the Yorke Peninsula. Picture: Tourism Australia

President of the Friends of Parks, Kangaroo Island Western District, Rick Andrews said the walking trail development – that would include accommodation villages for two untouched coastal locations at Sandy Beach and Sanderson Bay – will establish a precedent and the public will have no say in future developments in other parks.

“An information session for Kangaroo Island residents was held only after the development proposal had been submitted to the State Commission Assessment Panel,” he said.

“There was no process for the community to express its views.”

Chairman Marion Bay Community, and local business owner Josh Harkin supports development in Innes National Park but he is concerned the government will fail to get public support for the project without better community consultation.

“Marion Bay and Innes National Park is the crown jewel in South Australian tourism but doing things without putting it all on the table could hinder support for many locals

“If they were upfront I’m sure they will get more support from the community.”

Environment minister David Speirs said the Kangaroo Island the project had been in the pipeline for decades.

“When it comes to environmental projects consultation is not going to persuade people who are fundamentally opposed to something for ideological reasons that it should go ahead,” he said.

“I think there will always be opposing views on these matters.

“Our aim is to minimise any environmental impact as much as possible.”

Mr Speirs said the government understands it is important infrastructure in places like Marion Bay is updated as tourism numbers grow.

Opposition tourism spokeswoman Zoe Bettison said the government must ensure they invest in the infrastructure to support it.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” she said.

“It is critical to get this right.”