CSR or Government Intervention CSR or Government Intervention? A case study of sustainable tourism development at Ningaloo Dr David S Wood & Professor Jack Carlsen Curtin University of Technology
Ningaloo environments An accessible fringing reef 260 km long A fragile Karst limestone system Permeable to water & waste The home of subterranean fauna A source of fresh water to the reef Limited natural resources and land Extreme events Susceptible to bleaching?
Using Ningaloo Stations, defences & whaling Oil exploration Fishing Listening to the world Finding new directions to address rural decline (gas & oil, mining, fishing, tourism) Slow tourism growth Economic outputs Environmental concerns Gas & oil
Tourism at Ningaloo Arresting decline Local impact 2003 $127m attributed to tourism direct spend Carnarvon to Exmouth (Carlsen & Wood 2004) $85m attributed to direct tourism spend in Exmouth Nature of spend (accommodation, food, activities) Rapid and sustained growth Nature of activities
Issues History of informal development Coral bay Stations and economic contribution Using the public domain for little public benefit Limited resources and carrying capacity New developments in townsites & along coast Mauds Landing Boat Harbour Coastal sites Providing infrastructure
Loss of fragile and remote places
Ningaloo Sustainable Development Committee Charter The Ningaloo Sustainable Development Committee (NSDC) is a new body established by the State Government to oversee the implementation of the Ningaloo Coast Regional Strategy Carnarvon to Exmouth that was released in August 2004 (http://www.wapc.wa.gov.au/Hot+topics/105.aspx.)
Ningaloo Sustainable Development Committee Composition Local representation (includes 2 Yamatji reps, local government, community, tourism operators) The state (Chair & 1 DPI)
Ningaloo Sustainable Development Committee Powers Statement of Planning Policy Interim Development Order (legally binding) Resources (Ningaloo Sustainable Development Office - 4 staff & a large budget)
What next? Research Assessment of sites Monitoring of developments Modelling Ningaloo Sustainable Development Authority?
Research Groups in Ningaloo STCRC / Curtin AIMS, universities, Fisheries, CALM, GDC CSIRO Flagship 4 Universities CSIRO STCRC Ningaloo Research group CALM Universities WAMSI