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Phone numbers & addresses of Premier & other MPs
Read our COMMENT on proposed accommodation developments
Write letters to the editor of your local paper and the West Australian. Email addresses here Report on Public Meeting
Period (31/1/07)
MORE you can do to help (22/1/07)
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Report on Public Meeting
Period (31/1/07)
MORE you can do to help (22/1/07)
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Report on Public Meeting
Period (31/1/07)
MORE you can do to help (22/1/07)
Button
Report on Public Meeting
Period (31/1/07)
MORE you can do to help (22/1/07)
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ISSUES AND QUESTIONS...
The Rottnest Society, together with many other people, remains seriously concerned about the process to date, the relationship of the Taskforce Recommendations to the Act and the RIMP, the lack of serious public consultation for the proposed development, and about the value of the limited and poorly advertised form of public comment presently on offer. We are also seriously concerned about the type of development chosen as the most appropriate for Rottnest and why that was chosen over other possible models. There are serious questions related to the glossing over of the impact of perhaps an extra 90,000 visitors a year on the the natural and social environment - and questions about the impact on the 'Rottnest experience' of the type of visitor expected to use this facility. A number of issues and related questions are outlined below under the various headings. We urge you to take any one of the issues below and raise the questions in whatever manner you can to bring more pressure on the Minister and the RIA to answer those questions (See What you can do). Many of you also have excellent questions of your own which you should give voice to. Or you could take any of the following topics and questions and frame your own questions - but remember to ask for evidence: |
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Links on this page: VIABILITY/WINTER VISITOR NUMBERS SUSTAINABILITY AND THE IMPACT OF EXTRA VISITORS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY AND HIGH ENERGY USE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND'S UTILITIES IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ON PEACE AT GEORDIE/LONGREACH EXTRA TRAFFIC THOMSON'S BAY - GEORDIE BAY ROAD BACKGROUND MT HERSCHEL (printable document)
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SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE RIA by Wednesday 21st February 2007- but first, we ask you to read here.. VIABILITY/WINTER VISITOR NUMBERS The Minister and the Rottnest Island Authority (RIA) continue to tell us that this new 41/2 star development will boost winter numbers with its conference facilities and its appeal to overseas and interstate visitors, and that this will help to keep other accommodation affordable for the rest of us. They say it will also contribute to the financial viability of other island businesses (by bringing more winter visitors) and that it won't change the 'Rottnest ethos'. However there is no evidence to demonstrate that the natural barrier of winter gales and high seas will not deter conference and function organisers from using this facility in sufficient numbers to make this a reality. It does not seem realistic that large numbers of international or interstate visitors would choose to visit Rottnest in the middle of winter and Perth people are probably more likely to be seeking warmer climates in our winter.
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE IMPACT OF EXTRA VISITORS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT In its document Mt Herschel Development the RIA tells us that the development is not expected to increase overall numbers on the Island by any significant amount. 500,000 visitors already come to the Rottnest each year. 360 extra beds per night at 70% occupancy for 365 days is 91,980 extra visitors or an increase of 18%. The conservation of the natural environment on Rottnest is very poorly funded and the island has many badly degraded areas. The RIA has not carried out research to demonstrate that 90,000 plus extra visitors can be accommodated without further damaging the already degraded natural environment.
SUSTAINABILITY AND HIGH ENERGY USE DEVELOPMENT RIMP(2003-08) Recommendation 1: Develop Rottnest as a model of sustainability The Minister and the Rottnest Island Authority continue to talk about developing Rottnest as a 'model of sustainability'. Further, Rottnest is an island short of power and water in a state where power and water supply are an issue, and we are in an era where climate change is now being accepted as at least partly man-made and it is up to everyone to do what they can to reduce our impact. The Norman Disney Young Report estimated the power requirement for the development at 800kVA if fully airconditioned and 500kVA for a 'more ecological type facility.' The RIA's own Guidelines for Sustainable Development at Rottnest Island say "Future development on Rottnest Island must be low impact in nature and adopt the ethos of ecotourism."
IMPACT OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND'S UTILITIES The RIA says in its document Mt Herschel Development (available on the RIA website as background to new hotel) "An impact study has been conducted by Norman Disney & Young which concluded that with the exception of a slight increase in power generation (5%), existing water and sewage treatment capability is sufficient to cater for the new development". However appears t be a very misleading and glib statement, given that on p.14 of this report we find very different conclusions. This Report concludes that "The Mt Herschel development will have an impact on the island utilities and the following items will need to be considered." It goes on to list eight items which in fact are significant and costly (see NDY Conclusions). It is reasonable to expect that those conclusions have been investigated and costed. The public needs to know who will pay for these things. Each of these conclusions needs to be put to the RIA in the form of questions eg:
IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ON PEACE AT GEORDIE/LONGREACH The concept plans indicate a pool deck with bar and restaurant behind it. There is a focus on functions and conferences. There is likely to be loud music. This is located high above Longreach and noise will travel out across the bay. Longreach and Geordie Bay accommodation is highly valued for its peace and quiet.
EXTRA TRAFFIC THOMSON'S BAY - GEORDIE BAY ROAD The RIA infers on its website article Mt Herschel Development that there will be no additional bus services required to cater for approximately 120 extra visitors (360 beds with say each staying an average of 2 nights) to the Longreach/Geordie area each day. However, the Norman Disney Young Report says that "It is anticipated that develop (sic) would be responsible for the movement of luggage to and from the facility and would likely be incorporated into the collection of guests from the ferry and or airport for both arrivals and departures".
SOCIAL RESEARCH - TNS REPORT This is a very important topic. Apart from the question of whether it is appropriate to build another accommodation development on Rottnest the other big question is, if the answer is yes, 'what kind of development should be built?' The government and the RIA did survey a number of people and they have ignored the results of their own survey. Why? They have also ignored the opinion expressed in 2003 when the public was invited to comment on the proposed redevelopment of the Quokka Arms. Social research carried out for the RIA by TNS found that an 80-bed ‘boutique hotel’ similar to the proposed development with luxury accommodation (current Mt Herschel plan has 360 beds) was considered by respondents to be significantly less appropriate, and believed to have a significantly higher negative impact on the island than any other of four options. (See TNS Report). It appears that the Minister for Tourism, Tourism WA and Landbank are driving this development and they have decided, contrary not only to the results of their own survey, but also to decades of opinion voiced by way of public comment processes, that Rottnest must have a 'boutique hotel'. And they are prepared to ignore the intent of the Rottnest Island Authority Act and the Rottnest Island Management Plan to have it.
As previously discussed, the Act and the RIMP have largely been ignored. Since Bob Kucera set up the Rottnest Island Task Force and accepted 101 of the 103 recommendations there have been two more Ministers for Tourism - Mark McGowan and Sheila McHale. It seems to be a failure on the part of all three that no consideration has been given to how to implement the Task Force recommendations in accordance with the requirements of the Rottnest Island Act 1987 and the Rottnest Island Management Plan 2003-2008 (RIMP) previously covered/link
This development is a Landbank initiative, strongly supported by Tourism WA. This heavy focus on the needs of the tourism industry for Rottnest is at odds with decades of public opinion gathered through various public comment processes related to the island, as well as their own social research, and indeed is in conflict with the express purpose for which Rottnest is managed in the Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987 and the current Rottnest Island Management Plan 2003-08 (RIMP).
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Back to Links on this page:
VIABILITY/WINTER VISITOR NUMBERS SUSTAINABILITY AND THE IMPACT OF EXTRA VISITORS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY AND HIGH ENERGY USE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND'S UTILITIES IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ON PEACE AT GEORDIE/LONGREACH EXTRA TRAFFIC THOMSON'S BAY - GEORDIE BAY ROAD BACKGROUND MT HERSCHEL (printable document)
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