Letter to DERM from Biosphere re Quad Bikes in Woondum - Ltr_Powell_quad bikes in WoondumNP_July2012 · MCU12/0012

26 July 2012

The Hon Andrew Powell
Minister for Environment & Heritage Protection
GPO BOX 2454
BRISBANE Q 4001

Dear Mr Powell

RE: NOOSA QUAD BIKE TOURS IN WOONDUM NATIONAL PARK

I am writing to express the concerns of Noosa Biosphere Community Environment Board
about the proposal for Noosa Quad Bike Tours to operate through Woondum National Park.
We understand that the applicant Charles Marais wishes to run guided tours through
Woondum National Park to rock pools at Hill Road near Mothar Mountain and has already
received a commercial activity permit from the Queensland Government to use the tracks.

We would like to point out that Woondum National Park is part of the Noosa Biosphere
Reserve recognised by UNESCO in 2007 because of its special natural values - the first
Biosphere Reserve in Queensland. The local community is passionate about finding ways
to live sustainably and protect our environment and we consider the introduction of the
commercial operation of quad bike tours in the National Park to be inappropriate.

The Noosa Trail Network traverses Woondum National Park and is popular with walkers,
horseriders and mountain bikers. This usage predates the gazettal of the National Park.
We foresee potentially dangerous conflicts of use if quad bikes were to become additional
users of the Noosa Trail. The Board considers that Woondum National Park already has
adequate access opportunities for visitors to enjoy the natural surroundings without
introducing this intrusive new activity.

While we understand the Government’s objective to encourage new ecotourism
developments in national parks to assist the struggling tourism sector, the Board disagrees
with the use of national parks for commercial operations. In this particular case, the
intrusion of a procession of up to ten quad bikes with two guides would create an
unacceptable level of noise and physical disturbance to the environment.

It would be greatly appreciated if your Department could consider whether the granting of
this permit was in fact appropriate in these circumstances.

Yours sincerely




Mary-Jane Weld
CHAIR - Noosa Biosphere Community Environment Board
               Mary-Jane Weld – Chair - Noosa Biosphere Community Environment Board
                               9 Pelican Street, Tewantin QLD 4565.
                Mob: 0402 008 330 – Email: [email protected]
                           Noosa Biosphere Ltd       ABN 99 134 010 174