Traditional owners have issued a strong call for visitor numbers to be capped at a popular swimming destination in Queensland. Lake McKenzie, located on the World Heritage-listed K'gari (formerly Fraser Island), is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and pristine white sand, making it a top natural attraction for tourists.
Protecting Sacred Land from Overcrowding
Representatives of K'gari's traditional owners, the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation (BAC), are advocating for a visitor limit to address issues of overcrowding and environmental mistreatment. BAC director and secretary Christine Royan emphasised that a cap is essential for land protection, stating, 'We need to limit the people that go in. We might need only 80 per cent capacity.'
Royan highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting, 'It's about caring for country… there's even road rage at Lake McKenzie.' She also pointed to environmental concerns, explaining, 'We want to save the lakes. They have a lot of people bring the type of sunscreens that destroy our lakes with the waters.'
Proposed Booking System and Government Resistance
The proposed caps could involve implementing a booking system to monitor visitor numbers entering and exiting the lake, as reported by the Courier Mail. This measure might result in some tourists being unable to visit Lake McKenzie due to overcrowding concerns. However, the Department of Tourism and Environment has repeatedly ruled out such visitor caps in the past.
Lake McKenzie, also known by its traditional name Lake Boorangoora, holds deep cultural significance and is considered sacred by the Butchulla people. This call for a cap is part of broader efforts by the BAC to engage the Queensland government in discussions on improved land and tourism management.
Broader Context: Dingo Management and Tragic Incident
The push for visitor limits coincides with the BAC's appeal to the Queensland government to 'come to the table' and address land management issues, including the controversial euthanising of eight dingoes following the death of Piper James. The 19-year-old Canadian backpacker was found dead on the island on January 19, surrounded by a pack of dingoes.
An autopsy revealed evidence of 'pre-mortem' dingo bites but concluded that drowning was the most likely cause of death. It has been suggested that the dingoes attacked her and corralled her into the water, leading to her drowning.
Collaborative Solutions for Wildlife and Tourism
Butchulla man Conway Burns stressed the need for collaborative protocols in dingo management, telling NITV, 'We want to work with the government to make sure there's protocols in place for wongari (dingo) management.' He proposed measures such as temporary closures to allow areas to relax, particularly during critical periods like breeding season over Easter, acknowledging the challenges involved.
Burns emphasised, 'We need to sit down and walk together and put these processes in place.' This holistic approach aims to balance tourism with the preservation of cultural heritage and environmental sustainability on K'gari.
