We must care for our way of life
Resources and a plan will help keep the best of Bruny,
BRUNY Island is more than just a tourism destination. It is home to a community of 814 residents. Its marine and terrestrial environments, its tranquillity, simplicity of lifestyle and the resilience of its community are what has made Bruny special for generations of residents, “shackies” and visitors.
Different points of view abound, but the common ground that unites Bruny islanders is their affection for Bruny and their determination to protect what makes Bruny a special place for them and for their families.
Despite new toilet blocks at The Neck and Alonnah, the explosion in mass market tourism has left Bruny staggering under the weight of over 200,000 visitors a year.
Government and some tourism operators have benefited hugely from the influx of international and interstate visitors. Plans for expansion of Bruny’s tourism industry are well advanced, including direct flights from Asia to Hobart, more cruise ships, and a second doubledecker ferry. There is no longer a tourist season. Yearlong pressure on the local community and the island’s attractions is unrelenting. Tourism has become an allconsuming industry.
The state government does not have a vision for sustainable, nature-based tourism that protects the natural values that make Tasmania and Bruny special. Yet, the beauty of the natural environment is used to market Bruny to the world.
State and local government approaches to Bruny have been ad hoc. There is scant regard for the triple bottom line (accounting that takes into account social and environmental as well as financial factors) and there is no strategy for remediating the degradation that is occurring. Recently, council and government contracted the Bruny Liveability Study and a consultant is surveying community views on tourism impacts, public health and safety, emergency management and development control, to develop strategies for the future.
Contrary to popular belief, tourism does not benefit everybody on Bruny. The majority of lucrative government grants go to selected private operators and the profits remain largely in the hands of a few. Some businesses have expanded exponentially and aspects of their operations are not compliant with public health and safety regulations, in particular, their overuse of the limited water supply and the incapacity of their toilets to cope with the flood of visitors.
Another aspect of this economic bonanza is its social impacts. Tourism employment is mostly casual and short term. There is no long-term security for most employees. Local families could once get a job with local government or primary industry. Or they could get by with a couple of part-time jobs, and still afford to rent or buy a house and send their kids to the local primary school. Opportunities to lead a comfortable life at relatively low cost on Bruny are now few and far between. Cashed-up interstate and international buyers are forcing land and house prices beyond the reach of most. Shacks, once available for long-term rental, are being bought and turned into Airbnbs, so there is a deficit of affordable housing. This is not confined to Bruny, but on an island with few employment opportunities, it makes it hard to attract and retain young families.
Social impacts of mass tourism on Bruny are being felt in public health and road safety, emergency services and inadequate health care services for visitors and residents. The Channel acts as a moat. For 12 hours each day, islanders and visitors in need of urgent care can only leave Bruny by helicopter or police launch brought from Hobart.
The most fundamental element of the triple bottom line, care for the environment, is almost totally missing from the Government’s approach to Bruny. It is Bruny’s natural values — its marine biodiversity, coastlines and beaches, its wetlands and forests, and its reputation as an International Bird Area and birding hotspot — that bring international visitors. They are lured by iconic photos of the Bruny Lighthouse, seals lounging on rocks and quality food products. The onceclassic view from Truganini’s Lookout at The Neck is now dominated by a carpark.
The success of Bruny’s wine and whisky, cheese, chocolate and seafood businesses depends on the protection of the clean and green Bruny brand. Roadside and carpark rubbish and overflowing toilets at tourism sites risk jeopardising Bruny’s reputation for safe, quality food products. Sadly, Bruny is on the cusp of becoming another mass tourism destination comparable with the Gold Coast in the 1970s. Alternative visions must be implemented to future-proof the island. Future proofing could include: government recognition of the unique, natural values of Bruny Island as an international Biosphere Reserve and the management of visitor numbers commensurate with its limited carrying capacity; more rangers and resources for the Parks and Wildlife Service; and sustainable fish farming in the waters around Bruny Island, including Storm Bay, in conjunction with enhanced biosecurity, independent scientific data collection and monitoring, and a transparent management regime. Enforcement of public health and safety regulations including waste management and road safety; adequately resourced ambulance and SES
The wine, whisky, cheese, chocolate and seafood businesses depend on the clean and green Bruny brand
services; and community health and aged care services delivery appropriate to the needs of Bruny as a remote, rural community are essential.
Bruny islanders are proud of their independence. They do not want handouts and they want to determine their own future. Government and industry must listen and work directly with the Bruny community to honour all the components of the triple bottom line — care of the environment, respect for our community and its needs, and a more appropriate and diversified economy.
Dr Rosemary Sandford has had many years in community service and public policy and is active in several Bruny community organisations. She received an Australian-American Fulbright Award to Harvard Law School and has a PhD from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.