USC281_0010

NATIONAL PARKS

For a long time now people have been agitating for a national park on Fraser Island.
The first recommendation for a National Park was made in 1959 for extensive park
on the northern end of Fraser Island.

So far there have been no National Parks gazetted on Fraser Island but there are a
number of Beauty Spots, totally 6,053 acres (out of a state total of 11,840 acres).

The forestry department regards beauty spots as having the same status as National
Parks but they have no statutory basis and therefore they are liable to the same
mining as any other parts of State forests. For example, forestry beauty sport totall-
ing 1835 acres, including Waddy Point, Indian Head (which were not excised from
the state forest in 1963) and Wabby Lakes, are subject to mining lease applications.

Many people believe that there should be an extensive National Park on the north-
ern end of Fraser Island for the following reasons:-
(1) EXTENT - Fraser Island can accommodate a 1,000,000 acre national park in the
Parishes of Caree, Bowarrady and Wathumba without intruding on any areas which
are being logged by the Forestry Department. Although most of the island, almost
400,000 acres, is a state forest only one sixth (or 65,000 acres) carries commercial
forest. With Queensland having less than 0.7% of its area preserved as National Parks,
extensive national parks of this size are needed urgently.

Waddy Point, one of several basalt outcrops on Fraser Island.

The Cathedral - spectacular coloured sand dunes on the ocean beach.

(2) DIVERSITY - The national park proposed includes samples of every ecological
types on Fraser Island, from rain forest, though various kinds of scrubs and a wide
range of plant communities to extensive heathlands, swamps, numerous lakes, sand
blows and some wetlands.
(3) NATURALNESS - Large areas at the northern end of Fraser Island have not
been exploited by white man. Once disturbed, the naturalness here is irreplaceable.
(4) RARITY - Nowhere else on the east Australian coast does an isthmus of sand
jut so far out from the mainland exposing the terrain to winds from three directions.
In this environment a number of unique geographical features have evolved which
occur nowhere else in Australia.
(5) FRAGILITY - The island sand is vulnerable to disturbance. The ecosystems
are not robust and if shattered, stability may be lost.
(6) REPRESENTATIVENESS - Plant communities vary in type and location. The
number of systems included in the proposed national park are represntative of the
remaining 75% of Fraser Island.
(7) POSITION IN AN ECOLOGICAL SERIES - Because of its relationship with
other areas in Australia as C.S.I.R.O scientists have indicated a national park could
be an important store of knowledge.
(8) GEOGRAPHICAL AND ECOLOGICAL UNITY - Framed as it is on three
sides by the sea, and on the other by State Forest the proposed national park has an
integrity rare in national parks.
(9) RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL VALUE - Dynamics of sand movements
are not yet well understood, but more knowledge is vital for the proper use and
management or our coastal resources. Fraser Island provides an opportunity for this
research.
(10) RECORDED HISTORY - White history of Fraser Island is brief and impressive
but already the treasures of stored history in the aboriginal middens have been the
subject of an imporant doctorate thesis.
(11) INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE - With a hotel of international standing
adjacent to the national park, the area has already aroused world wide interest.
Scientists and tourists alike could use these facilities.

No doubt a comprehensive survey of all the natural resources of Fraser Island
is need to determine the validity and relevance of these critera to the proposed
national park thus defining the best possible land use for the long term benefit of
man.