A reading of the full draft RIMP reveals that proposed management directions, if approved, will diverge significantly from that specified in the Act – particularly in relation to the purpose for which it is managed (for environmental protection and provision of local holiday and recreational facilities).  Proposed management directions will see the island developed as an eco-tourism destination.  This presupposes a particular outcome from the proposed review of the Act - that is that is that tourism is a major purpose for which the island is managed by the RIA

They are different things and we believe it to be of vital importance for Western Australians that this issue is resolved.  Such changes should take place only if the Act is amended by the Parliament.  The draft RIMP assumes that certain outcomes (that the Parliament and the people would agree that the island should be developed as an eco-tourism destination) would be the result of a review of the Act – and thus pre-empts the review process. 

Read our letter to the Minister here and our Press Release on this matter...

The normal process for the draft RIMP at the close of public submissions is:

1. The RIA considers all comments before the Management Plan is finalised.
2. Final plan is submitted to Minister for Tourism for endorsement and release in June 2009.
3.  The RIA anticipates that the RIMP will be gazetted on 30 June 2009.

The current RIMP remains current until replaced by a new gazetted RIMP

REVIEW THE ACT FIRST:

1. Suspend further development of the draft Rottnest Island Management Plan 2009-2014 (RIMP) pending a review of the Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987;

2. Place a  moratorium on all additional accommodation and marine developments  and other new initiatives pending a review of the Act;

3. Review the Act, with particular attention to the purposes for use of the Island, and with wide public consultation;

4. Complete the Sustainable Tourism Research (visitor impact) project commissioned by the RIA and due in 2010 (provided that this really is a study of visitor impacts on the physical and social environments;

5. Develop strategies and plans, including updating building and sustainability guidelines and development approval guidelines, that are consonant with the Act as amended by the review process, and with recommendations from the Sustainable Tourism Research project;

6. Amend the draft RIMP accordingly.

7. Consider proposed developments (including Mt Herschel hotel) in the light of the results of this process

OR – REALIGN THE DRAFT RIMP WITH THE ACT... 

It is understood that a review of the Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987 is likely to take a considerable time to accomplish – possibly years.  Many factors are outside the control of the RIA and of the Minister of the day.  Therefore we propose an alternative process:

1. Place a moratorium on additional accommodation and marine developments and new management initiatives proposed in the draft RIMP;

2. Complete the Sustainable Tourism Research (visitor impact) project commissioned by the RIA and due in 2010 (provided that this really is a study of visitor impacts on the physical and social environments;

3. Revise the draft RIMP so that management directions and initiatives are fully realigned with the Act, with particular attention to the prescribed purposes for use of the Island and take into account the findings of the Sustainable Tourism Research project;

4. Treat all additional built developments (terrestrial and marine and including the Mt Herschel hotel) as proposed in the draft RIMP as ‘significant developments’ – and subject them to a proper public consultation process; 

5. Review the Act with wide consultation in the timeframe proposed in the draft RIMP with full public consultation.

What you can do...