Hinterland eco race on

GOLD Coast’s Shadow Tourism Minister is urging the State Government to set deadlines for eco-tourism projects in the Hinterland or risk naysayers shouting them down.

Broadwater MP David Crisafulli, opposition spokesman for Tourism plus the Environment, says without “goalposts” eco-tourism’s good intentions “will be washed away by people who believe these areas should be locked away”.

State Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan are calling for eco-tourism offerings to create an “emerald jewel” in the Coast’s crown.

In response to Mr Crisafulli, she said she had a deadline in mind – this term of the Labor State Government.

“The time frame I have is to get that commitment in 2018. I want new product this term open to the public,” she said.

Mr Crisafulli said he would back any moves enabling ecotourism to thrive in Queensland national parks and the Coast’s Hinterland “without fear or favour because it’s the right thing”.

“The challenge now is can they set themselves key deadlines with outcomes they want to achieve rather than goodwill and talking about it?” he said.

“In order to achieve something you should set yourself a deadline. So how long will it be before someone’s head is on a pillow in a national park?”

Ms Jones recently appointed Brett Godfrey to head Tourism and Events Queensland due to his success developing eco-tourism in Tasmania.

He has lamented the inability for anyone to spend a night in a national park in Queensland.

The Bulletin understands Mr Godfrey, ahead of his appointment, wanted commitment from State Government to progress projects to rival NZ and Tasmania during the term.

Ms Jones said: “The big difference this time, because ecotourism has been talked about for years on both sides of politics, is Brett Godfrey has proven he can deliver.”