Rottnest Island- Natural Environment and Cultural Heritage Funding

Rottnest Island — natural environment and cultural heritage funding

701. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Tourism:

The Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987 requires Rottnest Island Authority —

 to maintain and protect the natural environment and the man-made resources of the Island and, to the extent that the Authority’s resources allow, repair its natural environment.

(2) Why has the minister chosen to proceed on a new management plan for Rottnest Island before the sustainable tourism research study commissioned by Rottnest Island Authority has been completed?

(3) Will the minister explain how the island’s terrestrial environment and built heritage can be adequately managed without state funding and without compromising environmental and heritage values?

(4) Is any other class A reserve in Western Australia currently required to be self-funding?

(5) What is the rationale for requiring Rottnest Island to be self-funding?

Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied:

(1) The expenditure on Rottnest Island for maintaining and protecting the natural environment and cultural heritage, which includes corporate overheads allocated to these functions, is as follows: 2007-08, $2 930 000; 2006-07, $2 509 000; 2005-06, $2 044 000; 2004-05, $1 478 000; and 2003-04, $2 677 000, giving a total of $11 638 000.

(2) The Rottnest Island management plan 2009-14 has identified visitor capacity research as one of its strategic initiatives. It is intended that the results from the current research regarding several various locations outside the settlement area will provide the basis for determining the desirable level of facilities and services; for example, toilets, shading and bus access. The results of the survey are likely to be obtained before any facility planning is conducted; therefore, there is no need to delay the RIMP 2009-14.

Furthermore, this type of research is not the only basis for determining such facilities and services; for example, high levels of visitor demand or health and safety directions may prompt a change to the level of facilities and services.

Rottnest Island Authority uses the precautionary principle when managing the natural environment whereby a lack of scientific evidence is not used as an excuse for a lack of action in conservation. An example of this is the implementation of new and increased sanctuary zones in the marine environment which were introduced in July 2007.

(3) The Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987 implies that Rottnest Island Authority should be self-sustaining financially. Furthermore, this requirement was clearly articulated by the Labor government when proposing the relevant bill to Parliament in November 1987, and this view was never changed by successive governments. Maintaining and protecting the natural and cultural heritage environments form part of the functions of the authority, as specified in the act.

(4) The answer to this question lies outside the boundaries of the tourism portfolio.

(5) Rottnest Island is managed in accordance with the Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987.