The NT’s Top End tourism industry asked for feedback to the Draft Kakadu Tourism Masterplan to be extended

THE Territory’s Top End tourism industry has asked Parks Australia for the two week deadline for feedback to the Draft Kakadu Tourism Masterplan to be extended

Kakadu Tourism Master Plan Promotional Images. Picture: Supplied

• First look: $276 million Kakadu master plan revealed

THE Territory’s Top End tourism industry has asked Parks Australia for the two week deadline for feedback to the Draft Kakadu Tourism Masterplan to be extended beyond the two weeks allocated.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley released the masterplan yesterday saying the landmark strategy will reinvigorate Kakadu.

Tourism Top End’s general manager Glen Hingley said the significance of the masterplan to the future of Kakadu and its traditional owners is so great that the response to the document cannot be a two week rush job.

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“We can’t be rushed into just rubber stamping this masterplan as an industry,” Mr Hingley said.

“We have been calling for this plan since it was announced prior to the last federal election when Prime Minister Scott Morrison flew into Jabiru to announce the $216 million. It’s taken time, it’s behind schedule and we appreciate it has taken extensive consultation. We are extremely grateful that they have done that, but now we as an industry need some time to go over it.

Guluyambi Cultural Cruise boat on the upper East Alligator River. On the right hand side bank is Kakadu National Park and the left hand side Arnhem Land escape October 18 2020 wishlist

“Tourism businesses are in a different situation to what they were this time last year.

“So many of our operators today are genuinely owner/ operators at the moment.

“They are cleaning the dishes, they are serving in the restaurants, making the beds, driving the boats, the buses. The luxury of owning a business and being able to manage it and look at documents like this does not exist.”

Mr Hingley said Top End Tourism members had reacted positively to the release of the document.

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“However one of the challenges we see in it is that this is a masterplan that is only partially funded,” he said

. “We’re looking at it and asking where’s the operational funding, both for this 10 year plan, but also the operational funding that is in dire need now. This has been evident in the number of attractions closed because Parks Australia says it does not have the operational funds to maintain them.

“We’re concerned that without the necessary operating funds for Kakadu, a masterplan like this quickly soaks up a budget of $216 million.”