Economic Development
The Ma-Mu Canopy Walk Innisfail
The Ma-Mu Canopy Walk Innisfail concept was originally developed from a series of workshops held by the Johnstone Shire Council and the local community in February 1999.
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Artist's Impression
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From these workshops a community and inter-agency Steering Group was formed and over the next three years achieved the following:
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Selection of the location for the Walkway in the Wooroonooran National Park.
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Purchase of the adjoining freehold property to contain the support facilities,
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Preparation of a Pre-feasibility Study,
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Preparation of Preliminary Site Studies (cultural heritage, geo-technical, survey and environmental),
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Completion of a Design Competition providing a workable concept design,
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Selection of a Principal Consultant for the Project,
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Signing of a formal Heads of Agreement with the Traditional Owners,
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Approvals process initiated.
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The feasibility of the project was determined with Queensland Government funding of $500,000 from the Queensland Heritage Trails Network. The project will consist of:
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A site capable of catering for 250,000 visitors per year
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A canopy walkway circuit within the Wooroonooran National Park approximately 1400metres long with 600 metres being elevated to a maximum height of 20 to 25 metres,
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Support facilities within the freehold land consisting of;
- Car parking for 300 cars and 10 buses
- An Interpretive Centre of approximately 300m2
- Food and Beverage Outlet
- Administration/Management facilities
- Toilet facilities
- Covered outdoor dining/picnic facilities
- Multi-function conference/training Centre (100 seats)
The pre-feasibility study concluded that the walkway would be able to easily achieve visitations levels of around 150,000 to 200,000 – this is conservative as the Valley of the Giants Walkway in Western Australia is averaging around 250,000 visit per year in a much smaller tourism market and the recently opened Airwalk in Tasmania is on target for 150,000 in its first year (visitor numbers to the site were around 10,000 per year prior to its opening).
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Crawfords Lookout
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A study carried out by the Wet Tropics Management Authority (WS Cummings 1996) examined the direct and indirect economic benefits that would be created by achieving visitations levels of 200,000 persons per annum in a regional area. These included:
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An increase in direct benefits of around $20 million (1996 values) and approaching $40 million when multipliers effects are applied.
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A tax yield increase of around $47.45 million (1996 values) over a four-year period.
Strengths
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Regionally this project will encourage economic diversification, stimulate economic development, increase employment and provide traditional owners and locals with employment opportunities both before and after it’s construction. Tourism in conjunction with the banana, aquaculture and fisheries, sugar and tropical fruit industries plays a major role in the health of the regional economy. Maintaining the sustainability and viability of the tourism industry is vital for the economic diversification of this region.
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Employment and culturally development opportunities for the Ma-Mu People.
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To date much of the land-based tourism product has been Cairns/Port Douglas centric with most tours heading north to the Daintree region. Studies have indicated that the Daintree region is currently operating above sustainable capacity and continued growth may diminish the quality of experience provided.
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The ecotourism nature of the project will draw both domestic and international visitors to regional Queensland and bolster the Queensland Government’s vision of being the world’s leading ecotourism destination. The Ma-Mu Canopy Walk will be a world-class tourism product that will significantly change visitation patterns in the area by encouraging visitors to travel south of Cairns. The superior standard of the proposed walk will also reinforce the Australian Government’s commitment to the ‘Platinum Plus Brand Strategy’ for the tourism industry. The inbound and wholesale sector of the tourism industry is constantly warning that unless the region provides new and more varied product it may not be able to achieve projected increases in market share.
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One major advantage of this project is that (while the actual walkway will be constructed on a National Park), all associated infrastructure (car parks, visitor centres, food/beverage/retail facilities) will be constructed on an adjacent cleared farm (30 acres freehold). This land has been purchased and is currently held in trust by the Johnstone Shire Council. This land has room for other facilities that would complement the canopy walk – creating a tourism node similar to that of the Skyrail/Tjapukai node at Smithfield. This option provides significant opportunities for further revenue raising.
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The ability to provide an experience that allows direct interaction with the environment not experienced in other rainforest attractions such as Sky Rail and the Daintree Rivercruise. It is a unique product in the region.
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Wheel chair access.
Current Progress
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Prior to the last election Premier Beattie announced the Queensland Government’s commitment of $4 million towards the construction of the walk subject to private enterprise meeting the remaining funding requirements.
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A working group has been formed consisting of representatives from the Department of State Development and Innovation, Environmental Protection Agency, Johnstone Shire Council, Ma-Mu, Tourism Queensland, Tropical Tourism North Queensland, Wet Tropics Management Authority and the Innisfail Chamber of Commerce to flesh out the details of an expression of interest. Expressions of interest will be called within the next few months.
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The Tropical Froggery
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Litoria xanthomera
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The Tropical Froggeryconcept was originally developed from a series of workshops held by the Johnstone Shire Council and the local community in February 1999. The proposed venture involves developing a Tropical Froggery to serve as an environmental, research, educational and tourism facility. The facility will consist of a suite of geodesic domes sited within the confines of Innisfail’s Warrina Lakes Complex. The facility will comprise of a network of ponds, waterways and waterfalls, creating an ideal frog habitat and monitoring environment. The facility will incorporate a series of walkways and paths providing optimum viewing points for visitors to the centre.
The project has enjoyed a close working relationship with the Cairn's Frog Hospital. The Cairns Frog Hospital is the rescue and disease surveillance activity of the non-profit organisation Frog Decline Reversal Project, Inc. and has provided useful advice and recommendations to this project during its formulation stages.
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The Johnstone Shire is located within the Wet Tropics Bioregion and forms part of the Innisfail Province. Many of the regional ecosystems in the province are considered endangered or of concern. These ecosystems are home to an array of fauna including mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and fish.
The feasibility of the project was determined with $12,500 in funding from the Regional Solutions Programme, a four-year funding programme designed to help rural and regional communities form local solutions to their individual economic challenges. A business plan was also developed with the funding.
| The Tropical Froggery will compliment Tropical North Queensland’s strong profile as an ecotourism destination. The Tropical Froggery is easily accessible for self-drive tourists and local people and the facility will provide an obvious linkage to the Ma-Mu Canopy Walk Innisfail and other existing attractions in the Johnstone Shire. It is feasible that tour operators already incorporating major Tablelands and Johnstone Shire attractions in their programs will also include the Tropical Froggery. It can be said that the more attractions that are developed in the area, such as the Tropical Froggery and Ma-Mu Canopy Walk Innisfail the more viable and attractive the region becomes for tour operators in planning and extending their programs. (MACRO Agribusiness Consultants Pty Ltd – Business Plan Tropical Froggery 2004) |
Frog with cancer
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It estimated that an attainable target for tourists visiting the Tropical Froggery would be 20 percent of the walk estimate, that is 30,000 adults and 30,000 children in year one, with approximately two thirds of visits being in the dry season and one third in the wet season. Visitor numbers to the Tropical Froggery have been projected to increase 10% per year based on benefits accruing from marketing expenditure and visitor word of mouth. (MACRO Agribusiness Consultants Pty Ltd – Business Plan Tropical Froggery 2004)
The business objectives of the Tropical Froggery Committee include:
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Establishing a commercially viable tourism business within the Johnstone Shire
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Establishing a high quality, state-of-the-art, well managed Tropical Froggery
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Establishing a facility that will become a focal point for frog research
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Developing linkages with Australian and international research agencies and others with a like-minded interest in frogs
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Provision of an educational facility and learning center for students and school children, from within the region and beyond
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Creation of sustainable employment within the region
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Stimulating revenue flows within the Shire by attracting visitors to the town and complex, therefore establishing flow-on benefits for the community and business community as a whole
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Developing partnerships with other interested parties, such as training institutions, environmental groups and local indigenous communities. (MACRO Agribusiness Consultants Pty Ltd – Business Plan Tropical Froggery 2004)
Strengths
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The Tropical Froggery will be a unique scientific resource and tourist attraction. There is no known comparable facility. This means that the Tropical Froggery can act as a catalyst for local people, visitors, students and researchers alike interested in learning about and monitoring frogs in a replicated natural environment.
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The Tropical Froggery has received indications of community support from a broad cross-section of people, including the Johnstone Shire Council, Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE, Ma-Mu Aboriginal Corporation and Innisfail Chamber of Commerce.
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The Tropical Froggery can potentially develop linkages with other current and future eco and environmental tourism operators.
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The Tropical Froggery marketing strategy is aimed at attracting revenue from five distinct sub-markets, including international tourists, domestic tourists, students/school children, merchandising and research agencies. This marketing diversity helps limit any risks to the venture resulting from a lack of performance in any individual market sector.
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North Queensland has a strong eco and environmental industry already, therefore the region attracts large numbers of visitors interested in native fauna, many of whom are unable to or unwilling to view frogs in their natural environment.
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Innisfail is located on the main highway, increasing the likelihood of ‘casual’ visitors travelling intra or interstate by car. Its location will encourage tourists to come into the heart of Innisfail.
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There is potential for flow-on community benefits (e.g. employment stimulation and environmental linkages). The froggery will be a social, economic and educational drawcard, based on frogs that could provide huge benefits for the entire region. (MACRO Agribusiness Consultants Pty Ltd – Business Plan Tropical Froggery 2004)
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Endangered
Nyctimystes dayi
(Australian lace lid)
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Current Progress
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The Johnstone Shire Economic Development Plan
This economic development plan was commissioned by the Johnstone Shire Council to identify directions and opportunities for the Shire over the next 3 to 5 years and to identify long term strategic directions – next 10 to 15 years.
The economic development plan covers:
- The vision for the Shire’s future economy and values that will guide economic development in the future.
- An analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the Johnstone Shire covering economic, technology, environment and social issues.
- Economic development goals and specific objectives to implement those goals.
- An economic development framework and key economic development initiatives.
Volume 2 of this report contains industry demographic profiles and an analysis of development trends for the Shire.
This plan is based on consultation meetings with the community and businesses, interviews and discussions with business sectors and an economic analysis.
Johnstone Shire Economic Development Plan Volume One
Johnstone Shire Economic Development Plan Volume One - Appendices
Johnstone Shire Draft Economic Development Plan Volume Two
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In late 1999 the Johnstone Shire Council began a process that culminated in the hosting of a number of public and semi-public forums to investigate the potential of an Ethanol Industry in Far North Queensland. It quickly became apparent that the depth of knowledge and experience in the manufacture of Ethanol was well documented and needed no further investigation. However, it was clear that little research had been carried out into the feasibility of establishing such an industry in the wet tropics of Far North Queensland.
A Far North Queensland Ethanol Taskforce was established to become the facilitator of efforts to establish the Industry. A smaller Working Group was put in place to seek out funding sources to enable a Scoping Study to be carried out as the first Stage of the Project.
The Johnstone Shire Council and the Ethanol Taskforce wish to acknowledge both the Sustainable Industries Division of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of State Development for their foresight in supplying funding to enable the Scoping Study to be carried out. They are also grateful to Mr Colin Stucley and his team at Enecon Pty Ltd for their efforts in compiling the Report.
Ethanol Scoping Study
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Innisfail Business Retention & Expansion Visitation Program
The Innisfail Business Retention & Expansion (BR & E) Visitation Program is an initiative of the Queensland Government through the Department of State Development Trade and Innovation, conducted in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Regional Development - Central Queensland University, the Johnstone Shire Council and the Innisfail Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Inc.
BR & E is an internationally recognised community economic development technique with a long record of success. It is a community focused approach that incorporates local sponsorship, the formation of an area Taskforce and the use of a structured interview process conducted by local volunteers to ascertain the issues, needs and perceptions of existing local businesses. The information obtained provides the basis for actions to address immediate business issues and enables the development and implementation of community economic development action plans.
Research findings indicate that existing businesses in a community generate between 60 and 80% of all new, making them the most valuable economic driver. BR & E is designed to enable communities to be pro-active in taking charge of their future by bringing new insights to old issues and by exerting influence in areas where they do have some control.
Job creation and business growth are prime elements in developing communities that can thrive into the future. BR & E is a relationship building approach that strengthens the links between the private sector and the public sector, within a community. BR & E activities can provide the corner stone for sound local economic development.
Thirty-four community members were trained as volunteer interviewers to gather the issues, concerns, needs and opportunities identified by 113 businesses that chose to be involved in the survey.
This report summarises the major findings of the Innisfail BR & E survey, and highlights the opportunities identified by the taskforce from the information gleaned from the surveys. Action groups will be formed to develop strategies and plans for realising the opportunities.
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Johnstone Shire Statistics
Decipher
Free Tourism Statistics
Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport & Recreational Planing
Population & Housing Fact Sheet
Advance Cairns
Regional Profile & Statistics
Cummings Economics
Johnstone Shire Base Value of 'Base' Industries
Far North Queensland Situation Report
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Johnstone Shire - 2001 Census Snap Shot
Johnstone Shire - Base Community Profile
Queensland Local Government Association
Local Area Profile
The Great Green Way Regional Tourism Strategy
The Great Green Way Regional Tourism Strategy and Action Plan provides a clear strategic direction for the development, co-ordination and promotion of tourism in the region to achieve a positive economic outcome, while sustaining the natural resources that are the foundation of the region's attraction as a tourism destination.
Developed by HASSELL and Missing Link Tourism Consultants in partnership with the Shires of Johnstone, Cardwell and Hinchinbrook and with the support of the Commonwealth Government, through the Far North Queensland Area Consultative Committee, and the Queensland Government, through Tourism Queensland and the State Development Department, the Strategy provides a framework for taking those priority actions required to achieve the following Vision, Mission and Goals for the Great Green Way.
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