Media associated with the $7 million funding for Otway Forest-Based Tourism Projects

OREN PRESS RELEASE

Conservationists Welcome $7 million Funding for Otway Forest-Based Tourism Projects

Walking track to Little Aire Falls initially an OREN idea.

Sunday 2nd January 2005

Today Otway conservationists have welcomed the State Government's decision to fund Otway forest-based tourism infrastructure on public land to the tune of $7 million.

Since 2000, members from the Otway Ranges Environment Network (OREN) have participated in government processes to review and develop forest-based tourism projects in the Otways, as one alternative to clearfell logging of the forests. OREN was first to propose the walking track to Little Aire Falls in 2001. This is one of the projects that will now be funded.

Note: Little Aire Falls is a large and spectacular water fall.

"Sustainable forest based tourism is one of the big employment opportunities for the future of the Otways," said Otway Ranges Environment Network spokesperson, Simon Birrell.

"For years conservationists have been actively arguing that the full economic potential of Otway forest-based tourism has not been recognised. It is great to see the State Government investing in this potential.

"The huge growth in employment opportunities in the region has clearly been in tourism along the coast. This further funding decision will enhance Otway job opportunities and offset the small number of people currently employed to clearfell log and woodchip Otway biodiverse native forest.

"It is also important to remember that logging in the extensive Otways plantations will continue to provide employment for people who want to stay in the regional timber industry."

Today Apollo Bay local resident and OREN spokesperson Roger Hardley said "OREN is very happy that its proposal to develop a walking track to Little Aire Falls will be funded. The Little Aire Falls initiative puts an end to the idea that conservationists are just about saving trees and are against development."

"OREN has always worked within the reality that to get good conservation outcomes, the long term sustainable economic well being of the whole community must be considered."

STATE GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

DATE: Sunday, January 2, 2005

NEW NATURE BASED TOURISM INITIATIVE FOR OTWAYS

Acting Premier, John Thwaites, today announced $7 million in funding to help create a new nature based tourism future for the Otways.

"This package of projects represents one of Victoria's largest ever investments in public land tourism," Mr Thwaites said

Mr Thwaites also welcomed a land donation from the Trust for Nature, that will result in an important addition to the Melba Gully State Park near Lavers Hill, off the Great Ocean Road.

And he officially declared open Stage One of the Great Ocean Walk – the section that stretches 32 km from Apollo Bay to Cape Otway.

"Tourists and locals can now walk through magnificent forests, heathlands and spectacular coastal landscapes along the Otway and Shipwreck coasts," Mr Thwaites said.

"I encourage all Victorians to explore this area and the State's entire network of parks – that protect the environment, provide recreational opportunities and boost local economies through tourism."

Speaking at Melba Gully State Park, Mr Thwaites said that under the New Future for the Otways Tourism Initiative 19 projects would be jointly managed or implemented by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and Parks Victoria over the next three years.

"It means that by 2008 when logging is phased out of the Otways, 19 projects will be completed to strengthen tourism in the region and to provide economic growth and jobs for local townships.

"The Bracks Government is helping balance the social, economic and environmental future of this region as it moves away from an economic reliance on the timber industry," he said.

"The Government believes tourism will be an increasingly important economic driver for the Otway hinterland, providing growth and jobs for towns and rural communities."

Today's announcement follows the completion of the Victorian Environment Assessment Council's (VEAC) recent investigation that recommended a major expansion of the Otways National Park.

Projects that will be implemented in the coming three years include:
· A major redevelopment at Triplet Falls with the creation of a new track with sections of elevated walkway to the waterfall

· Upgrade of short walk opportunities at Erskine Falls, Beauchamp Falls, Hopetoun Falls and Stevenson's Falls

· Construction of a track for walkers and bikes to link the township of Forrest to the beautiful Lake Elizabeth

· Development of mountain bike trails in the forests of the Otways

· Construction of a new walking track to Little Aire Falls

· A feasibility study into economic opportunities for the township of Forrest

· Completion of the final two stages of the Great Ocean Walk.

"These developments are all part of a New Future for the Otways – the Bracks Government's commitment to ceasing logging in the Otways, creating a new National Park and investing in eco-tourism," Mr Thwaites said.

"Our aim is to ensure the Otway hinterland can establish itself as a thriving long term tourist destination, making the most of its amazing natural features."

Mr Thwaites said the Trust For Nature's Melba Gully eight hectare land donation was significant for the protection of valuable plant and wildlife, including four threatened or rare species unique to the Otways region.

"The land being donated provides habitat for the Bristly Shield, which is a type of fern, the Satinwood tree, trachyloma – a rare moss, and the Otway Black Snail," he said.

"This land donation follows the release of the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council's (VEAC) recommendations that Melba Gully be included in a new Otways Ranges National Park.

"That means the land will be given the highest level of protection if recommendations are accepted."

Melba Gully was originally created following previous land donations totalling 57 hectares by Trust for Nature to the State Government.

The total park size now stands at 73 hectares.

The Director of the Trust for Nature, Dr Michael Looker, said he was delighted to be able to donate the additional land to the Victorian Government and help conserve Victoria's precious environmental heritage.

"Trust for Nature is committed to conserving all significant environmental areas in private ownership and in working with local communities to achieving sustainable solutions," he said.

Through land purchase and placing of conservation covenants on private land, the Trust for Nature has protected around 66,000 hectares of bushland in Victoria.

Mr Thwaites said the Government would respond to VEAC's recommendations over coming months.

Today's announcements are in addition to an initiative announced by the Premier Steve Bracks' last year of funding of $13.5 million for a land and transport plan for the Great Ocean Road.

A summary of the Otways Tourism Initiative is available from the Department of Sustainability and Environment Customer Service Centre on 136 186, or go to http://www.dse.vic.gov.au

AGE EDITORIAL

Otways parks and tourism grow together
January 4, 2005

The state is right to invest heavily in the region's transition from logging so it can tap into a booming industry.

Tourism, almost by definition, is something you do somewhere else, touring exotic places. Perhaps it is natural, then, that some Victorians think of their state as a poor cousin of tourism states to the north. Since 1996, however, Victoria has attracted almost half the extra tourists visiting Australia. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last year, Victoria's increase over seven years was bigger than for NSW and Queensland combined and pushed its share of foreign tourism from 1994's low of 12 per cent to 17 per cent last year.

Victoria is continuing to make gains in Australia's biggest export industry. This has been achieved in tough conditions - through the Asian economic crisis, September 11 and jitters over war, terrorism and SARS. Australian tourism rebounded at double-figure rates last year, but Victoria led the way in 2003 when it was the only state to increase numbers.

Victoria's $10 billion-a-year foreign and domestic tourism industry, which sustains 150,000 jobs, hopes to build on a $360 million Commonwealth tourism promotion launched in mid-2004. Rather than rely on familiar attractions, the aim is to promote broader, more diverse perceptions of the Australian tourism experience. This is the context in which the State Government has announced $7 million in funding for 19 projects to improve tourist access and appreciation of Victoria's hidden jewel, the Otway Ranges forests. This complements last year's $13.5 million package for the Great Ocean Road, the state's second-biggest tourism attraction. "So many millions of people go along the Great Ocean Road but they don't leave the road and enjoy the beauty of the Otways," acting Premier John Thwaites said on Sunday.

This is also the context, backed by forecast 5 per cent annual growth in Australia's tourism earnings over the next decade, in which the Government decided to phase out a viable logging industry in the Otways by 2008. The state's $1.8 billion logging industry cannot compete with tourism in terms of scale or growth.

In the Otways, logging was seen as incompatible with the goal of tapping the forest's full tourism potential. A sawlogging licence that accounted for 25 per cent of the logging has already been bought out. About 30 jobs were lost. No government can ignore the impact of its decisions on people's livelihoods. While plantations can sustain some of the local timber industry, there is an obligation to help ensure the promised substitution of logging jobs by tourism jobs takes place relatively painlessly.

The proposed expansion of the Otway National Park to nine times its existing size is in itself not enough to ensure tourists will come. The package of projects, described by Mr Thwaites as "one of Victoria's largest-ever investments in public land tourism", is essential to ensure the Otways community successfully completes its transition from logging to tourism. Next to the hoped-for returns, the state's funding is arguably modest. In time we expect all Victorians and people from all over the world will appreciate the economic and environmental benefits of a far-sighted investment.

THE AGE - January 3, 2005
$7m hand-out to help Otways turn eco-friendly
By Kenneth Nguyen

Plans to transform Victoria's Otways rainforest region from logging territory into an eco-tourism hub yesterday received a $7 million boost from the State Government.

Nineteen tourism-related projects will be completed using the funding. They include:

· The completion, by the middle of this year, of the final two stages of the Great Ocean Walk, linking Cape Otway with the historic Glenample Homestead (near the Twelve Apostles).

· A redevelopment at Triplet Falls.

· Construction of a walking and cycling track between Forrest and Lake Elizabeth.

· Upgrades to short walking tracks at Erskine Falls, Beauchamp Falls and Hopetoun Falls.

· The building of mountain bike trails in the Otways.

Announcing the funding yesterday, acting Premier John Thwaites said job losses caused by the Government's plan to phase out logging in the Otways by 2008 would be offset by tourism growth.

"In the Grampians in the 1980s, when that was declared a park, people opposed it. Now the economy of that area has boomed ahead," he said.

"Our aim is to ensure the Otways hinterland can establish itself as a thriving long-term tourist destination, making the most of its amazing natural features . . .

"So many millions of people go along the Great Ocean Road but they don't leave the road and enjoy the beauty of the Otways," Mr Thwaites said.

The projects announced yesterday are expected to complement a greatly expanded Otways National Park.

The Government, in the first half of this year, will decide on a Victorian Environment Assessment Council's recommendation for a park of 102,000 hectares, nine times the size of the existing park.

Environmentalists yesterday praised the "New Future for the Otways" tourism initiative.

Otway Ranges Environment Network spokesman Simon Birrell said: "For years, conservationists have been arguing that the full economic potential of Otway forest-based tourism has not been recognised.

"It is great to see the State Government investing in this potential," he said.

"It is also important to remember that logging in the extensive Otways plantations will continue to provide employment for people who want to stay in the regional timber industry."

The $7 million funding boost followed a $13.5 million land and transport plan for the Great Ocean Road announced last year.

It also coincided with the addition of eight hectares to the Melba Gully State Park near Lavers Hill, following a land donation by the Trust for Nature.

Four endangered species inhabit the donated land: the bristly shield fern, the satinwood tree, trachyloma moss and the Otway black snail.

The Government has already bought back one sawlogging licence accounting for 25 per cent of logging in the area, resulting in about 30 job losses.

The rights of other licensees, all of whom have held out against buyback offers so far, are due to expire before January 1, 2008.

Herald Sun - 03jan05
Otways aim for tourist dollars
Mark Moor

NEW bike tracks, nature walks and lookouts are part of a $7 million plan announced yesterday to attract tourists to the Cape Otway region.

As logging of the area's forests is cut, State Environment Minister John Thwaites said the local economy needs to tap into the tourism industry.

"Our aim is to make sure the Otway hinterland can establish itself as a thriving long-term tourist destination, making the most of its amazing natural features," Mr Thwaites said.

The minister opened a key part of the project, the Great Ocean Walk.

Stage one of the tourist attraction stretches 32km from Apollo Bay to Cape Otway and winds through forest, heathland and along the Otway and Shipwreck coasts.

Land conservation group Trust for Nature donated 8ha to the Melba Gully State Park, which now totals 73ha.

The park is home to four rare species of plants and animals unique to the Otways. "The land being donated provides habitat for the bristly shield, which is a type of fern, the satinwood tree, trachyloma -- a rare moss -- and the Otway black snail," Mr Thwaites said.

Other parts of the upgrade include:

A MAJOR redevelopment at Triplet Falls, including a new track and an elevated walkway to the waterfall.

SHORT walking tracks at Erskine, Beauchamp, Hopetoun and Stevenson's waterfalls.

A WALKING and bike track leading from Forrest to Lake Elizabeth.

SEVERAL mountain biking trails in the Otways forests.

The project aims to be completed by 2008.

Opposition environment spokesman Phil Honeywood said the area's unemployment will rise because of a blanket ban on the traditional logging industry.

"Any genuine new funding commitment should be welcomed as many jobs will be lost in that area thanks to the logging ban," he said.

A Victorian Environment Assessment Council report released yesterday recommended some of the area's forests become a 102,470ha national park, to include the Melba Gully park.

"This means the land would be given the highest level of protection if recommendations are accepted," Mr Thwaites said.

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