Consultation on controversial NT parks fee plan will happen, government says, as industry displeasure grows

CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce entry fees to the Territory’s parks are in the early stages, the NT government has said as it tries to quell industry displeasure.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce entry fees to the Territory’s parks are in the early stages, the NT government has said as it tries to quell industry displeasure.

The NT government says it will consult traditional owners, the tourism industry and others in “coming weeks” about its plan to introduce a new online booking system and fee arrangements to the Territory’s parks.

Since confirming rumours about the revenue-raising measures on Friday, the government has rushed to clarify it is not planning entry fees for Territorians to parks like Nitmiluk and Litchfield.

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Rather, it plans to introduce fees for multi-day walking trails, while increasing camping fees, from July this year.

A new online booking system will be built.

It has confirmed it is looking into “future arrangements” for interstate visitors but no changes are planned for this year.

The government also ­insists it is still in the early stages of “reviewing current fee arrangements” and that consultation would begin soon.

This has done little to quell the concerns of the tourism industry, with Tourism Top End boss Glen Hingley saying operators still had “no understanding” of the situation and there was “no line of sight” on how any fees raised would go towards ­improving NT parks.

Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley. Picture: Che Chorley

He said Tourism Top End had requested a meeting with the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security, though it was yet to hear back.

“There’s a whole lot of things that we are eager to understand,” Mr Hingley said.

Opposition Parks and Rangers spokesman Bill Yan said the government needed to clearly communicate the park fee plan, saying the “intention appears to be changing daily, while they play catch-up with consultation”.

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“The Territory tourism ­industry was blindsided by this revelation, local businesses were blindsided, and Territorians — who should be able to enjoy our Parks without being slugged a fee – were blindsided,” Mr Yan said.

“The opposition wants to see what consultation, if any, has taken place, and what revenue has been projected.”