Scenic Rim Trail case study

Scenic Rim Trail, Main Range National Park

Tier classification	High Tier
Project Category	State led EOI
EPBC referral	Yes – Controlled Action

Classification reason

The Scenic Rim Trail is a high tier ecotourism project. The project required development on sections of previously disturbed areas of national park to facilitate the privately owned eco-camps and the supporting trails that linked the facilities to the existing national park walking trails. Impacts to the natural and cultural values of the park generated significant community interest in the project.

About the Scenic Rim Trail

The Scenic Rim Trail is the result of a state-wide Expression of Interest (EOI) process released by the Queensland Government encouraging the tourism industry to present their ecotourism ideas for assessment.

Opening in 2020, the concept of the Scenic Rim Trail was to link up existing walking tracks that meandered through the rugged and remote mountains of Main Range National Park to create a 55-kilometre multi-day hike. Located at the northern tip of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area and taking in part of the Thornton Nature Refuge, the new four-day, three-night hike was built for independent walkers and includes three public camping areas.

To facilitate the introduction of guided hikes, two privately operated eco-camps were built on the national park, with additional accommodation located off-park to provide extended hiking options. Approximately six kilometres of additional trail was built to link up existing national park walking tracks and to facilitate access from the Scenic Rim Trail to the two eco-camps located on the national park. In addition, approximately ten kilometres of new walking track was constructed on the privately owned Thornton Nature Refuge to facilitate access to the beginning of the Scenic Rim Trail to all walkers.

The Scenic Rim Trail and associated infrastructure was built by Spicers Retreats, Hotels and Lodges Pty Ltd following their response to a competitive Expression of Interest process, the assessment of their proposal and the department issuing an Ecotourism Lease.

The design and build have focused on preserving and enhancing the environmental and cultural values of the area to provide guests with high quality encounters with nature.

The following information outlines examples of how the case study meets a selection of the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) criteria:

NCA Criteria (i): The use will be in the public interest

The development of the Scenic Rim Trail included building approximately ten kilometres of new walking track on the privately owned Thornton Nature Refuge to facilitate access to the beginning of the Scenic Rim Trail to all walkers.

In addition to this, the management of the ecotourism facility includes servicing of the public camping areas, and ongoing maintenance of the access tracks.

NCA Criteria (ii): The use is ecologically sustainable

The ecotourism operation minimises its footprint on the site

The eco-camps are self-sufficient for water with all roof water collected and stored on site in 90,000L above ground tanks. Specific water saving methods include the use of low-volume flush toilets (0.5L), water efficient fixtures and timed showers.

The eco-camps are self-sufficient for power through silent solar and battery systems with low decibel backup and generators only for top up of battery systems with use limited to daylight hours during site occupation. Black and grey water is treated on site to a Class A standard through high tech systems.

Minimal external lighting is installed with wildlife friendly amber dot lighting used along walkways. Internal lighting is low level and inward facing to reduce light pollution and minimise impact on the area’s nocturnal wildlife.

NCA Criteria (iii): The use will provide, to the greatest possible extent, for the preservation of the land’s natural condition and the protection of the land’s cultural resources and values

The ecotourism operation is compatible with the natural and cultural values of the protected area

From its inception, the Scenic Rim Trail was established to be compatible with the natural and cultural values of the surrounding Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage Area.

As part of the Scenic Rim Trail application process, the application needed to demonstrate compliance with the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003, ensuring effective recognition, protection and conservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage. Other relevant legislation included:

• Cultural Heritage Acts (Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Act 2003)
• Cultural Heritage Duty of Care Guidelines
• Human Rights Act 2019.

Both eco-camps footprints were minimised to the greatest possible extent. Sections of previously disturbed areas of the park were chosen as locations for the two eco-camps; and where clearing was required, it was kept to a minimum. To reduce the need for further clearing, both camps use existing fire trails for service access.

Innovative no-dig building footings also minimised ground disturbance during construction. With the building services suspended under the elevated walkways and no digging for footings, the natural overland water flow paths of the sites have been maintained and erosion risk reduced. Shared bathrooms were included in the design to reduce the overall footprint required for the guest accommodation.

Buildings were pre-fabricated off site, minimising time, noise, chemicals, materials and tradespeople on-park. Building design enables major maintenance to be conducted off park, with panels removed and replaced as required.

The ecotourism operation design and layout fits within the character of the protected area

Cabins, elevated walkways and communal structures are designed to blend with the natural environment, including selection of locally sourced timbers and sustainable cladding materials from within 500km radius of the site.

The compact scale of the eco-camps ensures the surrounding landscape remains the dominant attraction of the site.

The eco-camps layout minimises vegetation disturbance and tree clearing requirements and elevated walkways connecting all buildings also ensures minimal ground and vegetation impacts during operation.