Cape York access: Land owners iron out details of Tip visitor fee
Land owners and tour operators are getting ready for the return of tourists to the Cape, with plans shaping up on how a proposed new fee for visitors will be handled.
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LAND owners and tour operators are keenly awaiting the return of tourists to Cape York, with processes for the collection of a new visitor fee still being finessed.
Access to the Tip of Cape York officially reopened on March 31, but visitors haven’t been able to travel to the area due to heavy weather and compulsory maintenance on the Jardine River ferry, which reopens later in April.
Gudang/Yadhaykenu Aboriginal Corporation chairman Michael Solomon said the corporation was still in talks about the finer details of how the new fees would be collected.
It is believed the additional charge will be $10 per person, but Mr Solomon said the cost was still subject to change.
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“We haven’t settled on the cost of the fee, or how to collect the fee,” he said. “The $10 price was a suggestion because we have the deed to the Pajinka, separate from the land trust council, we have to make our own money.”
Mr Solomon said a tentative plan was for land owners to collect the fee, possibly at the ferry.
“We’re planning on having Eftpos collection available, and we’re looking at getting additional volunteer rangers to assist with fee collecting,” he said. “In addition to helping collect fees, these volunteer rangers will also be able to help with sharing our stories to visitors and preventing people from disrespecting the land.”
“Work is going through on the toilets now, we’re making sure we’ve got water going in the main toilet,” he said.
“Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council is working with us to get those re-established...it should be ready in two weeks.
He said fees would help improve services including toilets, water and signage.
“The main goal is we want to make sure everything’s really good for our future generations and the tourists who come up as well.”
He said he hoped some work would be ready by the next school holiday in June.
Discovery Tours Australia operator Chris Trethowan said the business would resume Cape trips in three weeks.
“We’ve been told we’ll have access granted for all our tours, which is good news … it’s nice to be busy again” he said.
“I haven’t been told either way what’s happening with the fees, it’s one of those areas where we wait until we get there and find out the reality.”
Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said he believed the state government had a part to play in handling the crossing.
“I had a conversation at a senior level across government just to put some background knowledge into other senior ministers about native title and owning of land,” he said.
“The decision about how (the money will be) collected I expect will be led by council with the co-operation of traditional owners.”
Originally published as Cape York access: Land owners iron out details of Tip visitor fee
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