 Otway
Forest-Based Tourism
Conservationists welcome $7 million Funding for
Otway
forest-based tourism Projects
On the 2nd of January 2005, the State Government
announced it would provide $7 million in funding for
19 nature based tourism projects in the Otways (See
media).
The State governemt forest-based tourism strategy
for the Otways can be downloaded from the Department
of Sustainability and Environments website. Click here for link.
Little Aire Falls walking track
One of the projects to be funded is the construction
of a walking track to Little Aire Falls, a project
first propose by Otway Ranges Environment Networ k(OREN)
in 2001. (Little Aire Falls is near Triplet Falls).
Since 2000, OREN members have participated in government
processes to review and develop forest-based tourism
projects in the Otways as an alternative to clearfell
logging the forests.
For years conservationists have
been actively arguing that the full economic potential
of Otway forest-based tourism has not been recognised.
The Little Aire Falls initiative puts an end to
the idea that Otway conservationists are just about
saving trees and are against development.
Link
The huge growth in employment opportunities in the
region has clearly been in tourism along the coast.
Sustainable forest based tourism is one of the big
employment opportunities for the future of the Otways.
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. See more about plantations.
To find out more about the walk proposed to Little
Aire Falls, download "Final Triplet Falls Visitor
Management Plan" from the Department of Sustainability
and Environments website. Click
here for link.
Media from the 2nd January 2005
OREN
Press Release
Victoria
State Government Press Release
Age
Editorial 4th January 2005
Age
3rd January 2005
Herald
Sun 3rd January 2005
Background to Otway Forest Based Tourism
Statistics
on the Great Ocean Road Toursim Industry.
Statistics on the numbers of tourists in the region
and tourism economy.
Scenic
and aesthetic qualities of the Otways.
The value of attractive landscapes to the tourism
industry is not been fully recognised or protected
by the State government.
Geelong
Otway Tourism supports clearfell logging
In the past Geelong Otway Tourism accused conserationists
of being anti-development while at the same time supported
woodchip driven logging in the Otway State forest
even though it undermines the local tourism industry.
Otway
Forest Management Plan breached
Prescriptions within the Otway Forest Management Plan
to protect Otway tourism values have been breached.
In the past only selected tourism
sites within the Otways State forest were promoted
by Forestry Victoria as tourism destinations. Some
of these included:
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