““

““Australian Geotourism – Pathways for Australian Geotourism – Pathways for Future Development Revealed” Future Development Revealed” at GGN at GGN

20162016

Angus M RobinsonAngus M RobinsonChair, Geotourism Standing CommitteeChair, Geotourism Standing Committee

Geological Society of AustraliaGeological Society of Australia

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda Historic Challenges Facing Geopark Development in Historic Challenges Facing Geopark Development in

Australia – including the Kanawinka ExperienceAustralia – including the Kanawinka Experience Progress of Geotourism Development, 2012 to 2016Progress of Geotourism Development, 2012 to 2016 Australia- China CollaborationAustralia- China Collaboration Australian National LandscapesAustralian National Landscapes Australian Geotrail DevelopmentAustralian Geotrail Development Aspiring Geopark Development in AustraliaAspiring Geopark Development in Australia Take AwaysTake Aways

The Geopark ‘Problem’ in Australia – 2008The Geopark ‘Problem’ in Australia – 20081.1. ConceptConcept not supported bynot supported by government planning and government planning and

tourism agencies; the concept tourism agencies; the concept did not fit well into the did not fit well into the prevailing public land management arrangements, prevailing public land management arrangements, underpinned by a two tier federation. underpinned by a two tier federation.

2.2. Concept Concept not embraced or understood by the geological not embraced or understood by the geological profession profession – no constituency support.– no constituency support.

3.3. Government Geological Surveys were not supportive of Government Geological Surveys were not supportive of geopark development geopark development and geotourism generally, with and geotourism generally, with concern about concern about impact on access to lands for exploration impact on access to lands for exploration and miningand mining..

Melbourne

Adelaide

Kanawinka Global Geopark (27,000 sq km) established in 2008, designation withdrawn in 2012

Sydney

The Kanawinka Geopark - Rejected by Australian Government The Kanawinka Geopark - Rejected by Australian Government Agencies as formal approvals not obtained prior to the Agencies as formal approvals not obtained prior to the nomination process.nomination process.

KANAWINKA ‘GEOPARK’

Tertiary Volcanics LandscapesTertiary Volcanics Landscapes

Addressing The Geopark ‘Impasse’ in Australia Addressing The Geopark ‘Impasse’ in Australia 2011 to Present 2011 to Present

1.1. Establishment by the GSA of the Establishment by the GSA of the Geotourism Geotourism Standing CommitteeStanding Committee, , defining geotourism.defining geotourism.

2.2. We We gained the support of other key geoscience gained the support of other key geoscience professional associations professional associations and and consulted widely with consulted widely with state government geological surveysstate government geological surveys..

3. We commenced We commenced dialogue with various key dialogue with various key government agencies.government agencies.

4.4. We We organised geotourism workshops organised geotourism workshops at various at various regional development and ecotourism conferences.regional development and ecotourism conferences.

5.5. We We championed Australian National Landscapeschampioned Australian National Landscapes..

Geotourism Definition adopted byGeotourism Definition adopted by the Geological Society of Australia the Geological Society of Australia

Recognising that Recognising that interpretation outcomes in Australian interpretation outcomes in Australian national parks had largely ignored geoheritage elements national parks had largely ignored geoheritage elements of of national heritage, the GSA set about addressing this national heritage, the GSA set about addressing this deficiency with the following definition.deficiency with the following definition.

‘Geotourism is tourism which focuses on an area's Geotourism is tourism which focuses on an area's geology and landscapegeology and landscape as the basis for providing as the basis for providing visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment’.visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment’.

Australia-China Memorandum of CooperationAustralia-China Memorandum of CooperationThe GSA and the Geological Society of ChinaThe GSA and the Geological Society of China

Executed June 2016Executed June 2016

The Australia-China relationship is becoming The Australia-China relationship is becoming more important more important with the increasing level of with the increasing level of economic, social and cultural activities in the economic, social and cultural activities in the coming decades.coming decades.

The Memorandum of Cooperation will be focused on The Memorandum of Cooperation will be focused on growing and enhancing best practice nature-based growing and enhancing best practice nature-based tourism (i.e. geotourism) tourism (i.e. geotourism) in both countries.in both countries.

Tourism park managers could play a significant Tourism park managers could play a significant role in role in establishing ‘sister’ relationships between establishing ‘sister’ relationships between parks, as a key driver of future geotourism.parks, as a key driver of future geotourism.

Australia’s National Landscapes ProgrammeAustralia’s National Landscapes ProgrammePartnership between tourism and conservation that aims to:Partnership between tourism and conservation that aims to: Promote Promote world class, high quality world class, high quality visitor experiencesvisitor experiences Increase the Increase the value of tourism to regional economiesvalue of tourism to regional economies Enhance the Enhance the role of protected areas role of protected areas in those economiesin those economies Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assets Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assets Engage Engage local communitieslocal communities

A long term A long term strategicstrategic approach approach

‘‘To differentiate To differentiate Australia’s Australia’s iconic natural and cultural iconic natural and cultural destinationsdestinations from anything from anything else available in the worldelse available in the world’

Australia’s 16 National Australia’s 16 National LandscapesLandscapes

Environment, Natural & Cultural HeritageEnvironment, Natural & Cultural Heritagecomprises the following:comprises the following:1. 1. AAbioticbiotic – non-living aspects such as the climate & – non-living aspects such as the climate & geology e.g. landscape and landforms: geology e.g. landscape and landforms: GEODIVERSITYGEODIVERSITY

2. 2. BBioticiotic – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora (plants): (plants): BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY

3. 3. CCultural ultural – past & present, non-living & built– past & present, non-living & built

Parts Parts B+CB+C are well interpreted within tourism, especially are well interpreted within tourism, especially through ecotourism and cultural tourism, through ecotourism and cultural tourism, but but AA has has typically not been well addressed in Australia.typically not been well addressed in Australia.

Source: Dowling, 2013

Alice Springs

Uluru

Australia’s Red CentreAustralia’s Red CentreNational LandscapeNational LandscapeNorthern TerrorityNorthern Terrority

‘‘features an ancient landscape with features an ancient landscape with erosionalerosional remnants (geosites) linked to a common remnants (geosites) linked to a common geological heritage’geological heritage’

Island of Tasmania Australia’s Red Centre National Australia’s Red Centre National LandscapeLandscape

Iconic Geotourism Themes of Iconic Geotourism Themes of Australia’s Red Centre National LandscapeAustralia’s Red Centre National Landscape

AA: Landforms and common geological heritage: Landforms and common geological heritage

BB: Red Kangaroo species, and other type : Red Kangaroo species, and other type flora/faunaflora/fauna

CC: Indigenous (and European) culture: Indigenous (and European) culture

Why Geotrails?Why Geotrails?1.1. Relates directly to the tourism experience of a Relates directly to the tourism experience of a

journey linking destinationsjourney linking destinations..2.2. In Australia, unlike geoparks, In Australia, unlike geoparks, geotrails have geotrails have

widespread appealwidespread appeal, and do not compete with , and do not compete with or impact on land management/access issues.or impact on land management/access issues.

3.3. Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and represent a represent a very cost effective means of very cost effective means of enhancing regional developmentenhancing regional development..

Best Practice GeotrailsBest Practice Geotrails1.1. Should be constructed around Should be constructed around routes currently routes currently

used by touristsused by tourists; geotrails should form logical ; geotrails should form logical journeys linking accommodation destinations.journeys linking accommodation destinations.

2.2. Should Should meld the geological heritage features meld the geological heritage features of a region with a cohesive STORY.of a region with a cohesive STORY.

3.3. ShouldShould incorporate and package in the incorporate and package in the biodiversity and cultural components biodiversity and cultural components (including mining heritage) (including mining heritage) of the region of the region through which the geotrail traverses.through which the geotrail traverses.

Great Ocean Road National LandscapeGreat Ocean Road National LandscapeState of VictoriaState of Victoria

Great Ocean Road and Kanawinka Geotrail ?

Key Factors Key Factors Geopark Development In Australia - 2016Geopark Development In Australia - 2016

Geopark development needs to be Geopark development needs to be state/local state/local government agency government agency initiatedinitiated and supported and supported..

A A high level of community engagement high level of community engagement is essential to is essential to meet UNESCO requirements.meet UNESCO requirements.

The key driver of geopark development must be focused on regional developmentregional development – i.e. jobs and growth. – i.e. jobs and growth.

The The approval of Government Geological Surveys approval of Government Geological Surveys for for individual projects is an absolute necessity.individual projects is an absolute necessity.

Australian Government approval for UNESCO nomination Australian Government approval for UNESCO nomination may well be achieved if may well be achieved if state/territory government state/territory government ‘ownership’endorsement and funding is clearly ‘ownership’endorsement and funding is clearly establishedestablished..

A partnership between the A partnership between the National and State GovernmentsNational and State Governments

Pre-AspiringPre-Aspiring Warrumbungles UNESCO Global Geopark Warrumbungles UNESCO Global Geopark New South Wales New South Wales

CurrentlyCurrently comprising the comprising the Shires of Warrambungle, Shires of Warrambungle, Gilgandra and Coonamble, Gilgandra and Coonamble, 27,000 sq km in area27,000 sq km in area

Pre -Aspiring Pre -Aspiring WarrumbunglesWarrumbunglesUNESCO Global GeoparkUNESCO Global GeoparkNew South WalesNew South Wales

Outstanding Miocene Outstanding Miocene Shield Volcano Shield Volcano remnant landforms remnant landforms close to a major coal close to a major coal development area development area located in the located in the Warrumbungles Warrumbungles National Park National Park (236 (236 square km area) at the square km area) at the intersection of the intersection of the three local government three local government areas.areas.

The Proposed Savannah Way Geotrail linked to the Pre-AspiringEtheridge UNESCO Global Geopark in the state of Queensland

Pre-AspiringPre-Aspiring Etheridge UNESCO Global Geopark, Etheridge UNESCO Global Geopark, QueenslandQueensland

Comprising the Comprising the entire Shire ofentire Shire ofEtheridgeEtheridge, and including areas of, and including areas ofoutstanding volcanic and miningoutstanding volcanic and miningHeritage - embracing someHeritage - embracing some40,000 sq km.40,000 sq km.

Other Australian Geotourism InitiativesOther Australian Geotourism Initiatives State of New South Wales: State of New South Wales: GeoTreat supported ‘GeoJourney’ in the GeoTreat supported ‘GeoJourney’ in the

Australian Coastal Wilderness National Landscape.Australian Coastal Wilderness National Landscape. State of Victoria: State of Victoria: Volcano Discovery Trail (Kanawinka related).Volcano Discovery Trail (Kanawinka related). State of Western Australia: State of Western Australia: Various geotrail project proposals (e.g. Various geotrail project proposals (e.g.

Murchison, Coolgardie) and potential ‘geopark concept’ opportunities.Murchison, Coolgardie) and potential ‘geopark concept’ opportunities. State of South Australia: State of South Australia: is not actively progressing any geopark potential is not actively progressing any geopark potential

projects, but is very keen to projects, but is very keen to support the development of geotrails and support the development of geotrails and geotourism geotourism through exceptional geological heritage, especially through through exceptional geological heritage, especially through Kangaroo Island and the Flinders Ranges National Landscapes.Kangaroo Island and the Flinders Ranges National Landscapes.

State of Tasmania: State of Tasmania: West Coast ‘Living Earth’ – CradleCoast GeoTrail.West Coast ‘Living Earth’ – CradleCoast GeoTrail. Northern Territory: Northern Territory: Potential Geotrails (Red Centre, Savannah Way).Potential Geotrails (Red Centre, Savannah Way).

Take-AwaysTake-Aways Regional development imperatives Regional development imperatives (growth and jobs) (growth and jobs)

are now driving geotourism initiatives in Australia.are now driving geotourism initiatives in Australia. Creating geotrails Creating geotrails is arguably the easiest way of is arguably the easiest way of

providing providing early pathways early pathways and support from and support from governments governments for geotourism activities for geotourism activities in Australia.in Australia.

Successful roll-out of Successful roll-out of geotrails will instill confidence in geotrails will instill confidence in geotourism,geotourism, providing a providing a future pathway future pathway toto geopark geopark establishment establishment and development in Australia.and development in Australia.

State/Local Government State/Local Government andand community backed community backed geopark/geotrail initiatives geopark/geotrail initiatives are now emerging.are now emerging.

Contact DetailsContact Details

angus@leisuresolutions.com.auTel: + 61 418 488 340Tel: + 61 418 488 340

http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groups/

http://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2016/04/australia-s-big-red-centre