When the Gardens of Stone in the Blue Mountains was declared a state conservation area in 2022, it should have been cause of great celebration for Keith Muir. Instead, the plans put forward by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for the nature reserve make him weep.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe geology is spectacular,\u201d he says of the nature reserve. \u201cThe pagoda landforms are sculptured natural artworks, that is the only way to describe them. They are symphonies in stone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Muir\u2019s tears are not of joy but grief and rage \u2013 not just for this place he loves, close to his home in Katoomba, but for all wild places of Australia.<\/p>\n
NPWS, as land owner, is proposing the construction of a multi-day walk passing through the Gardens of Stone, along with luxury glamping-style accommodation. It will be built in the heart of this protected area, which sits alongside a world heritage area, and leased to a private operator. Amid the wildflowers of the Gardens of Stone, between old growth banksia and unique sandstone formations \u2013 that resemble the temples of Angkor Wat \u2013 on uncleared bush, will sit 18 twin cabins.<\/p>\n
But Muir argues that the proposed cabins are not, as they were labelled in public consultation which closed last Thursday, \u201cbush camps\u201d. Instead, he describes the development as a resort. And if you can develop a resort in the Gardens of Stone, he argues, you can develop a resort anywhere.<\/p>\n
An NPWS spokesperson says the camps are not resorts, nor do they set a precedent, and that they will be \u201clow impact and designed to blend into the natural surroundings\u201d and occupy \u201ca total area of less than 1 hectare\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wild Bush Luxury, which was to develop and manage the Gardens of Stone accommodation under a lease arrangement with NPWS, did not respond to questions or an interview request.<\/p>\n
The pagoda-like landforms in the Gardens of Stone are \u2018symphonies in stone\u2019, Muir says. Photograph: Ian Brown<\/p>\n
Tourism giant Intrepid Travel is in the process of acquiring Wild Bush Luxury. Its Australia New Zealand managing director, Brett Mitchell, rejects the characterisation of the Gardens of Stone cabins as amounting to a resort.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think, absolutely, tourism should play a really important role in being able to protect the environment,\u201d he says. \u201cParticularly here in Australia, where I think our parks are severely underfunded.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mitchell said several of the \u201cgreat walks\u201d of Australia were shining examples of low-impact tourism ventures that restrict visitor numbers, can protect the environment and support communities and celebrate traditional owners \u2013 specifically citing the Larapinta trail in central Australia<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019ll find there is going to be a lot more going forward,\u201d Mitchell says. \u201cI know that is something that, as a business, we are certainly striving to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia leading the way<\/p>\n Griffith University emeritus professor in sustainable tourism and environmental management, Ralf Buckley, says Australia is at the forefront of private tourism development inside national parks and reserves \u2013 a trend he says is changing the nature of the country\u2019s protected natural places.<\/p>\n Historically, Buckley says, national parks and reserves in Australia were run almost exclusively for conservation purposes and independent visitors.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an Australian lifestyle thing, that you would take your kids and your family and you would drive to a national park and you would camp there, for free,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Park services maintained tracks, lookouts, toilets and car parks \u2013 as a public good.<\/p>\n Today a four-day twin-share guided walk through Tasmania\u2019s Tasman national park staying in private lodges can cost more than $4,000 a person and a self-guided walk costs $625. Catered hikes through the Whitsunday Island national park\u2019s Ngaro Track<\/a>, staying two nights in architecturally designed \u201ccomfort camps\u201d, can cost more than $2,200 a person; a self-guided walk costs $150.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat has happened, just in the last few years, is that particular individuals have been granted rights by the state national parks agencies to build lodges inside national parks,\u201d he says. \u201cPrivate buildings, with private access roads, subsidised by the taxpayer, where the general public cannot go and no other tour operator can go \u2013 essentially they get a chunk of prime real estate inside a public national park, free.\u201d<\/p>\n Ormiston gorge lies at the halfway point of the Larapinta trail. Intrepid Travel managing director, Brett Mitchell, says several of Australia\u2019s \u2018great walks\u2019 are good examples of low-impact tourism ventures. Photograph: Artie Photography (Artie Ng)\/Getty Images<\/p>\n He cites the Scenic Rim trail that runs through the Main Range west of Brisbane as an example. It was developed through a partnership between Spicers Retreats and the Queensland<\/a> government and involved the construction of two luxury cabin sites within the national park \u2013 where a three-night catered hike can cost more than $3,000. Walking the trail independently and pitching camp costs $22.50.<\/p>\n Spicers Retreats did not respond to questions.<\/p>\n A Queensland environment department spokesperson says ecotourism ventures \u201clike the Scenic Rim Trail deliver jobs, support local businesses and regional tourism while expanding public access and strengthening national park protection through revenue, conservation work and improved facilities\u201d.<\/p>\n Intrepid Travel says those improved facilities can also \u201cincrease the accessibility to some of our amazing natural assets\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cQuite frankly, a lot of people don\u2019t have the privilege of being able to carry a 25-30kg backpack and walk into a number of these reserves and parks,\u201d Mitchell says.<\/p>\n \u2018Green shoe brigade developers\u2019<\/p>\n The notion of privilege and great walks, however, may perhaps be something of a sore point when it comes to one of the founding fathers of Australia\u2019s modern conservation movement.<\/p>\n