Cooloola glamping project reveals new key points for Kabi Kabi people

New updates on land for traditional owners only have been revealed as plans for a ‘glamping’ project which could already lock the public out of parts of a national park near Noosa forge ahead.

Plans to establish a restricted area for Kabi Kabi people as part of the Cooloola Great Walk “glamping” proposal have once more raised concerns from opponents that the project will only lock people out.

Kabi Kabi Native Title applicant Brian Warner and the CEO of building company CABN, Michael Lamprell, delivered key points on the project in a public presentation at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Summit at Sunshine Coast Conference Centre earlier this month.

The Great Walk proposal would establish five “glamping” experiences along a 102km stretch between Noosa North Shore and Rainbow Beach.

CABN is working with the State Government to finalise the designs of the “glamping” sites.

The Kabi Kabi traditional owners have been involved in the negotiations since the plan was unveiled.

Mr Warner’s presentation included detail around the creation of a Restricted Area Access around the Lake Poona perimeter.

Part of it would be classified as a Kabi Kabi women’s sacred site.

“Double Island Point will have a restricted access area so our people can stay there and go camping,” Mr Warner said.

Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said in a statement on her webpage she was confident the final plan would not prevent the wider public from enjoying the lake.

“Whilst Lake Poona is situated in the Gympie electorate, we trust that our Kabi Kabi and state government can jointly agree to keep Lake Poona accessible to all walkers, Ms Bolton said.

“This was outlined at the beginning of the project, to ensure existing walkers would not be disadvantaged through any commercialisation.”

Mr Warner also announced his intention to reduce petrol motors in the Upper Noosa River and 4WD traffic on Teewah Beach which he said were damaging the culturally significant sands and shells.

Proposed eco-tourism camping sites along Cooloola Great Walk, near Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point

Keep Cooloola Cool advocate Matthew Noffke, whose group has raised concerns the Walk would only benefit commercial enterprises, has continued to voice concerns about the development.

“I believe that changes to the park that will affect our community should only be implemented after a thorough consultation process with the community and the people that use the Park,” Mr Noffke said on Wednesday.

“The general public’s access is slowly but surely being taken away.

“National Parks are the last place we can truly detach from the built environment.”

Mr Noffke said, if approved, the cabins were expected to be priced at $600 per night.

This, he said, was out of reach for most and would lock locals out of what should be a publicly accessible national park.

Mr Noffke said the proposal would also open the gate to private development in Queensland national parks becoming legally acceptable.

“It is a plan by and for industry, not community,” Mr Noffke said

Proposed eco-tourism camping sites along Cooloola Great Walk, near Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point

According to Mr Noffke, there were also many environmental impacts to the area, with Poona Lake losing a vital group of black butt trees.

Water quality, fire risks and destruction of habitat were also concerns.

Mr Noffke and his group have spent a great deal of time collecting information to approach the State Government and are now receiving increased public support through several petitions.

“The public outreach is now starting to gather a great deal of momentum as more and more people become aware of the project,“ he said

Minister for the Environment and Great Barrier Reef Meaghan Scanlon, in a response statement to the petition, said action would be taken to protect the natural, cultural and public elements of the park during development.

The development will provide “a more diverse offering of nature-based tourism products, attractions and services in regional Queensland.”

“The only way to achieve productive and beneficial outcomes for the environment and the community is through genuine and meaningful community consultation,“ Mr Noffke said

“The consultation process is where the State Government got it wrong, they have treated and continue to treat the community like they do not matter.”

Originally published as Cooloola glamping project reveals new key points for Kabi Kabi people