SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private huts

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SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private huts

Postby beardless » Fri 08 Feb, 2019 10:22 pm

There appears to be growing local opposition from parks volunteers to contoversial proposed private luxury huts in the Flinders Chase NP on Kangaroo Island. Huts have not been built but the areas marked out reveal a significant footprint over pristine native vegetation and sandstone cliffs including near Sandy Beach, and the creation of 3km service road.

The volunteers are striking and say it is contrary to the Management Plan for Flinders Chase NP.

Here are some links for more information:

'Park volunteers strike over Flinders Chase wilderness development', The Islander, Stan Gorton, 11 January 2019 (https://www.theislanderonline.com.au/st ... uU#slide=1)

"Friends of Parks volunteers are on strike in protest over the decision to build luxury, private accommodation villages in wild, unspoiled parts of Flinders Chase National Park, one of South Australia’s most famous and well-loved parks.

They have also withdrawn from their major involvement in organizing this year’s 100th anniversary of the Chase.

The accommodation villages each comprising nine or 10 buildings plus infrastructure are planned for two untouched coastal locations, Sandy Beach and Sanderson Bay.

Friends of Parks representatives recently visited the sites were the Australian Walking Company is proposing to build the accommodation.

These sites had already been marked out with wooden pegs.

The Sandy Beach development will extend across nearly 200 m of headland in full view of the beach, a Friends spokesperson said.

Sandy Beach was one of only two beaches in the park easily accessible to the public via a short walking track, but it retained a wild, remote aspect with no sign of any human disturbance, the Friends say.

An additional 3 km of road would need to be bulldozed and 7km of walking track built through sensitive, pristine areas to gain access to and service the sites, according to the group.

The Friends allege the Department of Environment and Water (DEW) has endorsed the proposal by the Australian Walking Company to develop these building complexes, even though their locations are not listed as development zones within the Flinders Chase National Park Management Plan Amendment of 2017.

The company is already advertising for bookings before any approvals have been given.

The decision to withdraw their labour was a difficult one for the committed volunteers of Friends of Parks KI Western Districts (FoPKIWD), who have worked closely with Department of Environment staff for more than 20 years in caring for the park.

The volunteers control weeds, revegetate degraded areas, build and maintain walking trails, assist with research into threatened plants and animals, produce educational materials and much more.

FoPKIWD president Rick Andrews explained the reasons for the group going on strike.

“We volunteer our time and resources willingly to help care for and preserve the natural and historic values of Kangaroo Island’s National Parks for everyone,” Mr Andrews said.

“By allowing this private development the department has abandoned its own responsibility to do the same. It’s our belief in the importance of national parks and conserving wild places for future generations that has led us to take this stand.

“It’s the thin edge of the wedge. We’ve seen what’s happened in Tasmania, NSW and Queensland and now it’s happening here.

“The group is very concerned that this private development in Flinders Chase National Park will establish a precedent and the public will have no say in future developments in other parks.”

An information session for Kangaroo Island residents was held only after the development proposal had been submitted to the State Commission Assessment Panel. There was no process for the community to express its views, he said.

“FoPKIWD calls on the members of the state’s other 121 Friends of Parks groups and the wider community to send the State Government a clear message that National Parks must not be sold out to private developers,” Mr Andrews said.

“It’s Flinders Chase this time. Which park will it be next?”

The Islander plans to get an update on what mechanism the State Government is using to approve the AWC proposal.

It also plans to gauge reaction to the decision approve the development and the Friends’ strike from AWC, State and Federal members, local Government and the founder of the SA Friends of Parks."


'Friends of Parks founder supports fight against development', The Islander, Stan Gorton, 22 January 2019 (https://www.theislanderonline.com.au/st ... yhfQh6xCDQ)

'Sorry minister, Mother Nature doesn’t do compromise', InDaily, Craig Wilkins, 5 February 2019 (https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2019/02/ ... ompromise/)

For photos of the areas affected and updates see and follow the Friends of Parks Kangaroo Island Western Districts Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/FPKIWD/
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private

Postby north-north-west » Sat 09 Feb, 2019 11:22 am

Develop, develop, develop, exploit, exploit, exploit. Whatever happened to prioritising protection of the environment?
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private

Postby whitefang » Sat 09 Feb, 2019 11:54 am

north-north-west wrote:Develop, develop, develop, exploit, exploit, exploit. Whatever happened to prioritising protection of the environment?


As of July 1st DEW will be undergoing a departmental restructure to become an “economic development agency”. I’m not sure the current government cares whatsoever about the environment unless it makes them money.
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private

Postby north-north-west » Sat 09 Feb, 2019 12:48 pm

whitefang wrote:
north-north-west wrote:Develop, develop, develop, exploit, exploit, exploit. Whatever happened to prioritising protection of the environment?

As of July 1st DEW will be undergoing a departmental restructure to become an “economic development agency”.


*headdesk*
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private

Postby beardless » Sat 16 Feb, 2019 7:06 am

north-north-west wrote:Develop, develop, develop, exploit, exploit, exploit. Whatever happened to prioritising protection of the environment?


It is happening across this country
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - private huts

Postby beardless » Mon 18 Feb, 2019 7:53 am

Here is a link to a group, which is against the proposal, called Public Parks NOT Private Playgrounds:

https://m.facebook.com/pg/publicparksNO ... l&mt_nav=0

The page has links to new newspaper and TV stories about the proposal.

The group is described as follows:

"Mission
Friends of Parks members on KI have ceased volunteering on parks and reserves in protest over the decision to build two luxury private accommodation villages on prominent fragile coastal sites in wild and unspoilt parts of Flinders Chase National Park. The sites are outside the development zones listed in the Park Management Plan (Amendment 2017). There was no community consultation.
Members of other Friends of Parks groups and other community organisations have joined the protest against the development. What is happening in Flinders Chase can happen elsewhere.

What are we protesting about?
The 5-day Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail already has four campsites adjacent to existing road access and discreetly located in secluded sites away from sensitive coastal habitats. However, the Department of Environment and Water has endorsed a proposal by the Australian Walking Company to develop two private luxury accommodation villages away from the Trail:
• each village has 10 substantial buildings, plus water tanks, lookouts and connecting paths
• they are located up to 3 km from the Wilderness Trail
• they are conspicuously placed on pristine coastal sites overlooking wild and remote beaches
• an additional 3 km of road will be bulldozed through native vegetation to service them
• they require an additional 7 km of cleared walking track to connect them with the Trail.

What do we want?
The Minister and his Department to return this development to the one specified in the Management Plan and in the investment documents: that is for small scale luxury accommodation along the trail, close to existing road access and away from the sensitive coastal zone.

Join us in fighting against cuts to our parks and reserves:
• Contact Minister Speirs, Premier Steven Marshall and your local State MP and tell them you want our National Parks protected from inappropriate development
• Write letters to media outlets (newspapers, radio, TV)
• Follow us here on Facebook
• Talk about it through your networks.

Get Back on the Track!"
Last edited by beardless on Wed 20 Feb, 2019 8:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private

Postby beardless » Wed 20 Feb, 2019 8:04 am

A rally has been organised for Wednesday 27 February 2018 at 12:30pm on the steps of Parliament House, North Terrace Adelaide.

The rally is to stop large scale private developments on two coastal headlands in Flinders Chase National Park.

Speakers include:
*Greens MLC Mark Parnell
*Peter Owen, SA Campaign Director of the Wilderness Society
*Bev Maxwell, Friends of Parks Kangaroo Island Western Districts

More details:
https://facebook.com/events/74266522278 ... %2As%2As-R
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private

Postby beardless » Wed 20 Feb, 2019 5:34 pm

Here is a link to the motion Mark Parnell proposed in the Legislative Council on February 13, 2019:

"MOTION
That this Council—
Expresses its deep concern at proposals to develop private luxury accommodation in Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island."

http://www.markparnell.org.au/motion_20190213_02

The discussion in support of the motion discusses the secrecy of the process and cost of the project.
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private

Postby beardless » Tue 26 Feb, 2019 5:27 pm

beardless wrote:A rally has been organised for Wednesday 27 February 2018 at 12:30pm on the steps of Parliament House, North Terrace Adelaide.

The rally is to stop large scale private developments on two coastal headlands in Flinders Chase National Park.

Speakers include:
*Greens MLC Mark Parnell
*Peter Owen, SA Campaign Director of the Wilderness Society
*Bev Maxwell, Friends of Parks Kangaroo Island Western Districts

More details:
https://facebook.com/events/74266522278 ... %2As%2As-R


It is rally eve: https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fb ... %2As%2As-R
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private

Postby tastrax » Tue 26 Feb, 2019 5:31 pm

it can be done.... take heart from the current situation in Tasmania - keep the pressure on!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-26/ ... n/10849912
Cheers - Phil

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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - proposed private

Postby beardless » Wed 27 Feb, 2019 5:59 pm

Here is a link to an article in the Advertiser about the rally with pictures of the proposed huts and this headline:

Hundreds turn out at Parliament House to protest against development in Kangaroo Island national park (Matt Smith, National Affairs Editor, The Advertiser, February 27, 2019 4:24pm)

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sou ... 24a513b1ba
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Re: SA - Kangaroo Is - Flinders Chase NP - private huts

Postby beardless » Fri 14 Jun, 2019 10:37 pm

It has been approved. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 8130956401

Mark Parnell MLC says:

"STATE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVES TRASHING OF KANGAROO ISLAND WILDERNESS
June 14, 2019
In a decision that will offend and appal conservationists across South Australia, the State Government’s State Planning Commission has approved luxury private accommodation in the heart of Kangaroo Island’s iconic Flinders Chase National Park.

The decision was made last night behind closed doors without any member of the public being allowed to make a submission or to comment. The Commission’s Assessment Panel (SCAP) only heard from the developer and refused to consider any objections.

“When it comes to protecting the environment, the planning system is stacked against the community and in favour of private developers”, said Greens MLC and environmental lawyer, Mark Parnell.

“Hacking kilometres of new roads and tracks into the wilderness to build luxury private accommodation in the heart of a National Park is completely unacceptable when so many alternative options are available. Conservationists have consistently called for these developments to be located away from the wilderness coast and closer to existing camping areas and existing access tracks. Preferably, they would be outside the Park or on cleared or degraded sites.

“Even those areas that are most special and most deserving of protection (such as National Parks) are fair game under this Government. The Government pays lip service to the environment but its real agenda is privatisation and development at any cost. To rub salt into the wound, the developer has been handed over $900,000 of taxpayers’ money to facilitate their environmental vandalism.

“With the capitulation of the State Planning Commission, conservationists now have no choice but to take the matter to Court. As well as being bad for the environment, the project is very likely illegal on several levels, not least of which is the failure of the Minister for Environment to follow his own Management Plan for the National Park. In anticipation of the decision, the community has been raising funds for a legal challenge. I expect even more will be raised following this awful decision”, said Mark Parnell.

Construction is unlikely to start any time soon because the developer still needs to get approval from the Native Vegetation Council and also the Federal Environment Department given there are 47 nationally-listed threatened species known to exist in the area."

https://www.markparnell.org.au/scap_app ... lAVA62A1eY
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