Looking After Our National Parks for Generations to Come – Glen Kelly MP

Glen Kelly MP and Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell during his visit to Eungella earlier this year.  Photo supplied

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For too long, national park management has been caught up in the idea that the best way to protect these places is to lock them up and leave them alone. I don’t agree.

Protecting our national parks means actively looking after them, and that is the practical approach the Crisafulli Government is bringing back to Queensland.

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Here in the Mirani electorate, Eungella National Park is a perfect example of why this matters. Eungella is one of the jewels of our region. Its rainforest, wildlife, walking tracks, creeks and spectacular views make it a major drawcard for locals and visitors alike.

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But if we want people to experience and appreciate places like Eungella, we have to look after the basics. That means maintaining road networks and fire trails, grading access where required, keeping walking tracks in good condition and making sensible, strategic improvements to visitor facilities.

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The Mackay Highlands Great Walk has certainly seen better days. That isn’t a criticism of the hardworking people on the ground; it is an acknowledgement that we need to give them the resources and support to do better. We should be looking at how we can improve these assets and encourage more people to experience Eungella and the Mackay Highlands without detracting from the very environment they are coming to see.

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Active management also means getting back to practical land and fire management. Planned burning, well-maintained fire trails and sensible fuel-load management are important tools for protecting our natural environment, neighbouring properties and local communities.

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That approach is important not only for Eungella, but across Homevale National Park, the Mackay Highlands and our national parks on the other side of the range.

Our national parks should be good neighbours. That means working alongside landholders, Rural Fire Brigades and local communities. It means managing weeds and pests, maintaining access and recognising that responsible conservation requires boots on the ground. There is still plenty of work to do, but I believe we are heading in the right direction.

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We don’t have to choose between conservation and access. With practical, responsible management, we can protect these incredible places, make them safer, improve the visitor experience and ensure more Queenslanders can enjoy them for generations to come. That is what properly looking after our national parks should be about.

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