Geotourism

GEOREGIONS ON THE MOVE!

In accordance with the National Geotourism Strategy, the Australian Geoscience Council has recommended (and the State/Territory Geological Surveys has recently confirmed) that groups wishing to establish a potential geopark, using the mechanism of ‘GeoRegions’, should explore various alternative options for geotourism development. The concept of GeoRegions underpinning an initial exploratory step is also now accepted by the Australian government geoscience agencies to establish the merits of potential geopark development, to gain a high level of community awareness, and to gain support from government agencies.

An approved GeoRegion is defined as an area that is recognised as an area of special natural and cultural heritage highlighting outstanding geoheritage features within which proposed geotrail and potential geopark projects can be developed in support of geotourism.  https://youtu.be/FqnsbEcp62E

As a first step, a full audit of natural and cultural heritage attributes in the proposed GeoRegion as well as early discussions with state/territory based Geological Surveys, Planning and Environment agencies, and any other state/territory government agencies responsible for land and resource management is strongly recommended.

The GeoRegion mechanism therefore provides a framework to undertake comprehensive consultation with a full range of interested or impacted community groups (including Aboriginal communities) and to resolve any identified land tenure conflict issues that may arise.

The commencement of the GeoRegion assessment process is defined by a proponent (which might include for example Local Government (LGA), or a Regional Development Authority (RDA) having completed preferably an approved tourism Destination Management Plan, or alternatively a community or special interest group interested in geotourism development.

In developing global geopark proposals, UNESCO appreciates that each Nation State can implement its own procedures for assessment. In the case of Australia, the concept of establishing a GeoRegion as a strategy is an important first step for geopark proponents to use, and is of local relevance only and would fall away if a GeoRegion project supported by the relevant State/Territory Government is morphed into a Geopark nomination. UNESCO is comfortable with what is being developed in Australia in this respect as it is clearly understood that this concept is only a ‘domestic construct.’

Early consultation with relevant state/territory agencies that have land and resource management responsibilities and/or planning and environment responsibilities within the proposed GeoRegion, and this should include the relevant Geological Survey as well as those LGAs with jurisdictional responsibilities.

To date, Australia has three approved GeoRegions – Murchison (WA) and Ku-ring-gai and Glen Innes (NSW).