Keep It Wild is a new website set up to track the development of luxury walks and other commercial ventures in Australia’s national parks.

 

The shift from government-funded infrastructure to commercially-run, privately-owned developments in Australia’s national parks has dramatically increased in recent years. 

From the Great Cooloola Walk in QLD, to Kangaroo Island in SA, the South Coast Track in Tassie, and King’s Canyon in NT, the use of public land for private profit is of increasing concern to many in the outdoor community. There are fears these proposals will lead to national parks being managed for profits, not protection.

Read more: Are We Privatising Our National Parks?

Until now, community and conservation groups have been opposing the construction of these commercial developments on a localised, case-by-case basis, with little public consultation and scrutiny of the plans.

Keep It Wild aims to take a nationwide oppositional approach and be a central location where local groups can inform the public and media on the progress of these developments, and enable people to take action to oppose them. 

 

 

‘The website was started by a small group from the Beowa Light to Light Action Group, a community group opposing the large-scale development proposal for Beowa National Park down near Eden,’ says Megan Holbeck who’s been involved in setting up the website.

 

‘But this is only the beginning; we’re teaming up with other community groups, not-for-profits, and stakeholder groups around the country for an Australia-wide approach,’ she says.

 

The website has been officially launched Saturday 19th November at a Bushwalking NSW conference on the issue of Tourism Development in Protected Areas in Sydney. We’ll be keeping a close eye on how the website and nationwide campaign develops. 

 

Feature photo of Three Capes lodges in construction by Rob Blakers