New plans to manage K’gari visitors as numbers reach record high

Timed access to the world heritage island’s famous landmarks, permanent open campfire bans and tougher driving laws are among the options being considered as the state government grapples with record tourist numbers there.

Permanent open campfire bans, tougher driving laws and restricted access to popular spots are among the options under the microscope as the state government grapples with record tourist numbers at the iconic heritage island.

A cap on visitor numbers and permit fee hikes are off the table for K’gari, but timed access to popular spots and tougher driving laws could be considered as the government grapples with record tourist numbers on the heritage listed island.

The question of how to keep tourism sustainable on K’gari has been moved front and centre following the Environment Department’s release this week of a 2022 sustainability report and 2024 government response that say visitor numbers on the island have reached record levels in the wake of Covid.

Sales of vehicle access permits increased 17 per cent between the 2016 and 2021 and the island accounts for 40 per cent of the Fraser Coast region’s total holiday trips, the 2022 report says.

This surge has forced the government to re-evaluate exactly how to balance one of the state’s key visitor draws with the need to protect its environment and tourists.

A 2022 sustainability report says key tourist spots at K’gari like Lake McKenzie are already overcrowded a during peak periods.

Timed access to popular places like Lake McKenzie, and the possibility of allowing access to them by walking, hiking or commercial operators are under consideration, the 2024 government response says.

The 2022 report says some of the key sites at the island are “overcrowded at peak times already”.

Additional camping and day-use areas may be considered to help manage the growing number of tourists visiting the island, although the 2022 report says the consensus view from stakeholders, including the Butchulla people, says this was “not feasible or desirable”.

New permits are under consideration to help manage visitor numbers, and guest totals on the 20 busiest days of the year may be regulated in the future.

A ban on open campfires at K’gari is expected to become permanent to help reduce the risk of “unplanned” bushfires in the wake of a shocking blaze which torched more than 87,000ha of the island in 2020. Photo Supplied QFES

Mandates requiring portaloos for campers in areas without nearby toilets are under consideration, too.

Plans to introduce fishing licences or a levy on visitors to commercial and private premises at the island, or caps on visitor numbers, have been scrapped in the face of growing cost-of-living pressures.

Hikes on the cost to visit the island through fees and charges went the same way.

Some new changes in the name of safety are under exploration though.

The government’s response says it is exploring expanding penalties for bad drivers on the island to include demerit points, on top of the existing fines.

The door is open for speed limit cuts, imposing restrictions “relative to driver experience”, bans on repeat offenders, and allowing the seizure and impounding of vehicles.

Ongoing bans on open campfires are expected to become permanent to reduce the risk to the island of “unplanned” fires.

A large portion of the island was heavily damaged in a 2020 bush fire which ripped across more than 87,000ha of land.

Originally published as New plans to manage K’gari visitors as numbers reach record high