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Minnamurra Rainforest Centre ~ Budderoo National Park: a case study of the link between National Parks and Tourism

Mr Peter Kennedy

Manager, Minnamurra Rainforest Centre

This paper was presented to teachers at the Tourism Geography Conference, hosted by UWS Hawkesbury, October,2000.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Tourism is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries. Together with economic importance it also has massive impacts – both positive and negative – for social and environmental well-being. In recent years the global industry recognised this fact and have begun to address the notion of sustainable tourism. Part of this was the formulation of

‘Agenda 21 for the Tourism Industry’. One of the principles is that tourism should contribute to the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of ecosystems.

Nature-based tourism and recreation is directly dependent on natural resources in a relatively undeveloped state. For nature-based tourism to be successful it depends of high levels of environmental quality and suitable levels of consumer service. It often focuses on protected areas, and brings increasing numbers of visitors to these biologically valuable sites. Visitor impact management in protected areas poses a major challenge in the realisation of sustainable nature-based tourism.

ISSUES FOR PROTECTED AREAS AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM

Protected areas need increased support. Key to this is identifying and communicating the many values and benefits that protected areas offer society. The relationship between tourism and protected areas can be useful in this process. Through visiting national parks, more people value the beauty of these places. Through environmental education and interpretation visitors can begin to be more aware of the need for protection and to support the efforts of conservation agencies. Visitors also bring revenue to assist the work of these agencies. Increasingly parks are being identified as major attractions for visitors, both domestic and overseas. Although tourism benefits associated with protected areas can be significant, it is also important that tourism/visitor use is planned carefully and does not destroy the natural resource on which it is based. A key challenge is how to more effectively manage visitor use of protected areas in a way which allows appropriate use and enjoyment, while not destroying natural values.

Following is a case study of the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre.

FEATURES OF THE SITE

The Minnamurra Rainforest, within Budderoo National Park, is a 401-hectare remnant of the once extensive rainforests of the Illawarra Region on the South Coast of NSW. The area comprises four types of rainforest and is the southern most limit for many sub-tropical rainforest species. More than 120 different plant species have been identified within close proximity to walkways in the park. This important ecological remnant houses the majority of fern species found in NSW, and is home to more than 70 bird, 11 reptile, 20 mammal species and numerous aquatic species found in the Minnamurra River.

The rainforest area is situated in a northeasterly facing natural horseshoe shaped depression in the escarpment of the Jamberoo Valley. It receives an annual rainfall of 1600-1800 mm per annum, with an average winter temperature of 13.60°C and summer average of 23.30°C. The surrounding escarpment cliffs are composed of Triassic Hawkesbury sandstone, shales, and volcanic sequences (latites). The older Permian rocks are found in the area of the walking track system. The soils are variable in depth and fertility, but tend to be shallow on the steep valley sides. It is an active erosion area and has been prone to cliff collapse and slumping over geological time.

The site is a significant regional and state tourism facility and has received numerous state and national awards of excellence. Minnamurra is one of three rainforest education centres managed by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife (NPWS).

HISTORY OF THE SITE

1. Indigenous History

The significance to the aboriginal community of this particular portion of rainforests prior to European occupation is not known. However, there is considerable evidence within the immediate surrounds to suggest the rainforests generally were a major resource for Aboriginal people.

The local Aboriginal community were predominantly coastal dwellers located around the mouth of the Minnamurra River and coastal regions generally. The local clan were Dharawal speakers and they had trade arrangements with the Gundungurra people. Information from recorded sites indicate the marine environment was a staple food source for the community with supplementation of plant foods and animals from the rainforests.

The significance of the site to these people is unknown to NPWS at this time. There are no identified sites of significance within the boundaries of the present day Minnamurra Rainforest area. Past records indicate the presence of carved trees throughout the Jamberoo Valley, but unfortunately these trees were destroyed during the clearing of the forests for the expansion to agriculture lands. These carved trees are related to significant issues such as ceremonies, important burials and alike. The presence of these carved trees would indicate the Jamberoo Valley was an important area socially for the coastal community. Descendants of the original people are still living in the region and still have knowledge relating to the area.

2. Early European History

There is no documentary evidence that establishes exactly when the first European explorer entered the Minnamurra Rainforest area. However, there is considerable documentation that identifies the early 1800s as the period when the first timber getters commenced harvesting timbers, and ultimately caused the destruction of this extensive rainforest environment known as the ‘Illawarra Brush’.

The southern reaches of the Illawarra Brush were considered to be one of the richest stands of rainforest in the region. In particular the area from Kiama to the present day village of Jamberoo, which housed the greatest density of the tree, known as ‘red gold’, Red Cedar (Toona ciliata). The geography of this region with its north facing slopes of rich basalt soils was a storehouse of prized cabinet timbers destined for the export timber merchants in Sydney.

The abundance of these prized timbers close to the shipping port of Kiama may be a reason the timber getters did not deplete the rainforests on the upper slopes and gorges of the Jamberoo Valley. The Minnamurra Rainforest is in one such area, a narrow gorge in the most western reaches of the valley foothills some 15 kilometres west of the Kiama seaport.

With the discovery of vast rainforests in Northern NSW and the riches they contained, timber harvesting in the Illawarra gradually come to an end. The remaining scrub and forests robbed of their valuable timbers were cleared for farming and the dairy industry began and with it an increase in permanent settlers to the region.

3. Settlement of the Region

With its rich soils, the abundance of water and an established seaport at Kiama the agricultural industry in the region began to contribute significantly to the economic prosperity of the State of NSW. Dairying became the primary industry, with Australian’s first butter factory being built in the Jamberoo Valley. Shipping from Kiama harbour was the essential transportation link to the Sydney and overseas markets.

The population grew and with it the community need for recreation and social activity. The Minnamurra rainforest area became popular with the local community as a place to escape the summer heat and marvel at the natural beauty of the Minnamurra Falls.

An area, originally some 20 hectares in size, was gazetted a crown reserve in 1896. For the next 100 years the Minnamurra Falls Reserve as it was then named became a popular destination for travellers and the local Illawarra community.

4. Minnamurra Rainforest in the 1900s

Due to an increasing population, changes in work practices and increased leisure time, the Reserve experienced increasing visitation over time.

In the 1930’s the management of this Crown Reserve was granted to the Kiama Municipal Council. It was identified that the volume of visitors to the site required daily supervision and the need to improve visitor facilities. In 1936 the Council appointed Mr Howard Judd as the on-site ranger/caretaker to manage the day-to-day activities and collect entry fees.

For the next thirty years Howard Judd developed an unprecedented love for, and understanding of this rainforest remnant. Howard, a self-taught botanist, conducted extensive research of the rainforest flora and fauna. This research identified the biological diversity and significance of the Minnamurra rainforests.

There are several important biological indicators that demonstrate the importance of the rainforest ecosystem at Minnamurra. These are:

Over time Judd became increasingly aware of the delicate nature of this fragile ecosystem and the need to protect it from the increasing pressures of visitor usage. With funding from Council and the establishment of volunteer labour force from the Kiama Rotary Club, Judd constructed new pathways and footbridges to direct and control visitor access.

These control measures were minimal, and uncontrolled access continued throughout the rainforest and to the riverbanks, causing major impact on the environment. Soil compaction, tree-root damage, trampling of understorey seedlings, sediment wash from tracks into the river system are just some of the effects brought about by human interaction with the ecosystem.

In the early 1980’s, Kiama Council, local conservation groups and residents, and the NPWS concluded that the current level of visitation estimated to be in the vicinity of 80,000 visitors per year was adversely impacting on the rainforest environment. It was agree the impact together with an increasing invasion of exotic weeds would render this significant rainforest remnant a wasteland if the usage patterns continued.

It was agreed the management of the Minnamurra Falls Reserve be transferred to the NPWS, and a program of environmental restoration and rehabilitation be undertaken.

THE BALANCE BETWEEN CONSERVATION AND TOURISM

The NPWS is legislatively charged with the conservation of the natural & cultural resources of the State of NSW, and in doing so must also facilitate recreational and educational opportunities for visitors to National Parks & Reserves.

In 1986 the NPWS assumed the management of the Minnamurra Falls Reserve. The dilemma facing the management of the day was how would a balance between conservation and tourism be applied at Minnamurra. The provision of access to this fragile ecosystem was a major contributor to its degradation, yet its historical usage together with economic and social benefits to the local community necessitated a continuation of access to the site.

To address this dilemma the NPWS assembled a team of natural resource managers, members of the state and local government, community members, interested stakeholders and qualified building/construction managers.

They developed a vision to:

"Let the visitors in to experience the rainforest first hand via a network of elevated boardwalks and paved tracks and inturn allow the forest to breath and grow again".

This approach would set Minnamurra’s direction for the coming decade.

Equally important to the future direction for the re-development of the site was the establishment of the ‘National Rainforest Conservation Program’. This program was a Federal Government initiative, which saw the recognition and subsequent World Heritage listing, and funding for the establishment of the Daintree Rainforest (Wet Tropics) of North Queensland and the Rainforest National Parks of Northern NSW.

Under this Program the NPWS successfully applied for funding to assist with the re-development program for Minnamurra. Together with funding from the NSW State Government and corporate support via the Foundation for National Parks a total of $3.5 million was invested over an eight-year period. These funds transformed a highly degraded environment into a site that many industry leaders proclaim as a benchmark in ecotourism development.

The Planning Objectives

Five key objectives were established to guide the investment of funds at Minnamurra consistent with achieving the planning vision for the site. They were to:

  1. rehabilitate the damaged environments and to manage towards ecologically sustainable use;

  2. achieve a first class visitor destination as part of a regional tourism resource where customers can receive a quality ecotourism experience;

  3. achieve quality environmental education for the visitor with a focus on the heritage values of rainforests as part of a state-wide and national program of rainforest conservation;

  4. achieve financial self-sufficiency for the operation of the site and to positively contribute to the economy of the region; and
  5. manage the site in its context as a part of the local community.

The Re-Development Project

The planning objectives 1-3 have resulted in major onsite improvements both from an ecological and visitor facility perspective.

The establishment of an on-site nursery saw the collection of seeds of endemic species, their propagation and eventual planting of more than 8,000 various rainforest species in areas which had been heavily degraded by introduced weeds.

In 1991 the major improvements to visitor facilities was completed. The site now boasted a Visitor Information Centre and an impressive 1.6 kilometre elevated timber boardwalk, which meandered through the rainforest. The first 900 metres of the boardwalk is constructed to assisted wheelchair standards, which provides equitable access for visitors of all ages and abilities. The Visitor Centre acts as a focal point and provides education facilities and information services to the general visiting public, tour groups and school excursion groups. The site also operates a Café for light meals & refreshments and provides BBQ/picnic facilities, and greatly improved access and parking for visitors.

The completion of the final stage of the re-development program saw the opening of the Upper Falls Walk in May 1994. This new walk, 2.6 kilometres return, consists of an elevated boardwalk and paved walking tracks that lead visitors along the gorge cliffs overlooking the rainforest canopy and onto viewing platforms at the lower and upper Minnamurra Falls.

Visitation Patterns

As stated previously, prior to 1986 visitation to the site was estimated to be around 80,000 visitors annually. During the early stages of the re-development project the site was closed during weekdays and re-open to the public on weekends. During this period visitation dropped to around 71,000 per annum and continued to fluctuate during the coming years.

In 1993, the NPWS entered the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre into the NSW Tourism Awards for Excellence under the category of ‘Environmental Tourism’. The site won this award and in doing so received considerable media coverage which inturn increased the public awareness of the improvements made to the site and visitation increased substantially (Visitation Statistics ~1992/93 = 79,551).

With the completion of the new Falls Walk in May,1994 Minnamurra Rainforest re-entered the Award scheme and again won the Environmental Tourism category. Similar media coverage saw site visitation continue to grow. (Visitation Statistics ~1993/94 =101,287). In 1995 Minnamurra was again successful, making it the first tourism facility in NSW to win three consecutive awards.

The resulting media coverage was exceptional. Together with continued improvements to visitor facilities, services and site management, visitation again climbed by 42.5% over the previous year to an all time high of 144,350 (Visitation Statistics ~1994/95)

vistorstatistics.png

Chart 1: Visitor Statistics for Minnamurra Rainforest Centre (1989/90 to 1998/99)

From a business perspective the increased patronage brought with it perceived financial benefits. However, the success of a tourism facility located within a natural environment cannot be gauged solely on its financial viability. The carrying capacity of the site is equally important. Two overriding elements needed to be identified and considered:

a) the presence of environment impacts due to increased visitor numbers

b) evidence indicating any changes to the visitor experience (social impacts).

Environment Impacts

The unprecedented growth in visitation was about to test if the years of planning and construction would in fact protect this fragile ecosystem. Would the doubling in visitor numbers since 1991/92 enable the site to be truly classified as an ecologically sustainable tourism development or would this growth impact on the environment despite the facilities provided and the control over visitor access.

Management concluded the facilities have significantly reduced the environmental impacts of past, and during the past 5 years in particular there has been minimal impacts despite a doubling in visitor numbers each year.

There is however a continued battle with environmental weeds impacting on the environmental integrity of the site. This impact however, cannot be attributed to visitors to the site; it is related to agricultural practice and urban development higher in the water catchment.

Visitor Experience

Management became concerned that the increased volume of visitors predominantly concentrated on weekend days would result in a diminished experience for visitors (ie. exceed the Social Carrying Capacity of the site). An acceptable social carrying capacity needed to be established and govern the on-site visitor numbers on any one day.

Visitor surveys were undertaken during peak visitation periods. The results identified that when visitation exceeded approximately 1,200 visitors in a day (equating to around 300-320 vehicles) the visitor experience was beginning to suffer due to the feeling of overcrowding and with short-term delays to incoming vehicles.

The unprecedented growth in visitation was also considered too rapid to be sustained in the longer term. Given the need to protect the site and the visitor experience car-parking facilities have remained at the current size, as a simple but effective visitor impact management technique.

In the mid 1990’s management embarked on a program of visitor surveying to establish amongst other things, a demographic profile of its guests, and the level of visitor satisfaction for the Minnamurra Rainforest product. The overwhelming majority of visitors (96%) rated their experience was either ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’, with a similar rating being given for the elevated boardwalks (99%).

The pattern of visitation continues to be heaviest on weekends and school holidays especially in warmer months. The majority of visitors are from the Sydney & Illawarra regions. International visitation accounts for approximately 4%-6% of total visitation depending upon the season. The visitor profile is predominantly married or single parent families visiting on weekend days, with the site hosting mid-week school and tour groups, and a mix of domestic and international free independent travellers (FITs).

Economic Contribution

It was previously stated that the dilemma facing the NPWS was how to strike a balance between conservation and tourism at Minnamurra. Visitor access was identified as a major contributor to the forest degradation, yet visitation was perceived to generate economic and social benefits to the local community.

In the planning stage of the project, Objective No: 4 committed the NPWS to strive for financial self-sufficiency for the operation of the site and to positively contribute to the economy of the region. The NPWS was confident that visitation would generate some economic benefits to the community. The site employed local staff and purchased the majority of goods and services locally, but what economic benefits, if any, flowed on to the local economy? This uncertainty needed to be quantified in order to establish if this objective was being achieved.

In 1996, the NPWS undertook a major economic study of the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre. The report "Economic Value and Regional Economic Impact: Minnamurra Rainforest, Budderoo National Park." Protected areas can have significant economic values and contribute considerably to regional economic activity. It is important that these economic consequences are recognised and quantified, where possible, so that the community, interest groups and decision makers understand that the creation and management of national parks, and other protected areas, can provide net welfare benefits to society and have positive regional development benefits.

Using the travel cost method to develop a demand curve for the recreation use, it was found that the economic benefit or consumers’ surplus to recreational users of Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, Budderoo National Park, was approximately $28 to $44 per person, or $3.9 to $6.2M per year. On the conservative assumptions that the annual level of recreation use benefits remains constant over time, the present value of this benefit is in the order of $56M to $89M.

An input-output analysis conducted by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in 1996 shows that the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre contributes significantly to the economic activity of the Kiama local area. In general terms, input-output analysis is a systematic method that both describes the financial linkages and the network of input supplies and production which connect industries in a regional economy. It is used in this particular study to highlight the impacts of the operation of the Centre on the Kiama economy.

The study showed that the expenditure of visitors to the Centre in the Kiama economy, and the expenditure by the NPWS to manage the Centre contributed between $2.2M to $4.2M in output or business turnover in the local economy. This represents between 1 and 2% of gross regional business turnover.

Expenditure by NPWS and visitors to the rainforest centre contributed $1.2M to $2.1M in value added or 1.2 to 2.2% of gross regional product. This includes the contribution of the Centre’s operations of between $0.8M to $1.4M on incomes to households in the local economy. This is equivalent to between 1.3 and 2.4% of regional household income. This household income is associated with between 70 and 120 local jobs that are generated through the impacts of the Centre’s operations. This is equal to 1.9 to 3.2% of regional employment.

From a regional development perspective, towns and regions can maximise the economic activity they capture from being in a position to supply the inputs required for the management of protected areas. More importantly is the supply of services and facilities that are demanded by visitors and make up a large part of their expenditure.

Co-operative Partnerships

As stated previously, the second planning objective for the re-development project was to ….

achieve a first class visitor destination as part of a regional tourism resource where customers can receive a quality ecotourism experience

The Minnamurra Rainforest Centre is a major component of the regional tourism product. Many marketing and promotional initiatives have been developed in partnership with other tour operators and accommodation providers.

An example of such a cooperative approach is the formation of ‘Illawarra EduTourism Project’. This project assembled the regions major field based education providers, and accommodation sites who cater for school group. The projects aim is to promote the Illawarra region as an all inclusive excursion destination where many primary and secondary curriculum fieldwork activities can be undertaken.

Minnamurra is also widely used as an ‘icon’ tourism destination in individual and joint promotional campaigns by all four local government tourism associations (i.e. Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama & Southern Highlands). In addition, many local tourism accommodation providers in the region include the Minnamurra Rainforest as a highlight to complement their individual product and marketing activities.

Education Program Development

Established as a rainforest education centre, and funded under the ‘National Rainforest Conservation Program’, Minnamurra Rainforest will always hold the delivery of environmental education programs as its core function. This function may be delivered by guided tours or indirectly by interpretative signage and displays.

During the past five (5) years the site has been host to a yearly average of 15,000 primary and secondary school students on excursion. Minnamurra Rainforest is the largest field education provider for school groups in the Illawarra region, and one of the largest providers of environmental education programs in the NPWS.

As part of ongoing program quality control measures, management has sought guidance and assistance from curriculum support staff of the NSW Department of Education. This process has ensured that individual curriculum outcomes and desired indicators are satisfactorily addressed by guide staff. With recently introduced feedback mechanisms with visiting educators it is expected the quality and delivery of programs will further improve and meet the needs of teaching staff and students.

Research partnership with universities, TAFE and the CSIRO has seen an extensive gathering of scientific and tourism data about Minnamurra. Such information has and will continue to facilitate long term planning, and assist the day-to-day management of this fragile ecosystem. Such information also helps develop management and marketing strategies to improve the financial viability of the site, and thereby continue to generate economic gains for the local community.

Conclusion

The Minnamurra rainforest area contains significant natural environment. Important not only for its scientific and ecological values, but also as a major visitor destination, which had previously been heavily degraded, restored and managed under the principles of ecological sustainability. This new phase in the management of the site will enable a continuation of environmental education and enjoyment for its visitors, and thereby inject substantial economic and conservation benefits into the local community.

Bibliography

Gillepsie, R (1997) Economic Value and Regional Economic Impact: Minnamurra Rainforest, Buderro National Park, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service

Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, Visitation Statistics 1992/93; 1993/94; 1994/95. NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service

Worboys,G., Hall,P., Kennedy,P., Hahn,P., Collins,D. & Mills,K. (1995), Managing Ecotourism - Minnmurra Rainforest Centre (Buderoo National Park) Sydney, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service

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