DESCRIPTION
5. LANDSCAPE / HERITAGE INTEGRITY
This landscape derives its heritage integrity from the powerful juxtaposition of its component parts. This juxtaposition occurs across both the natural and cultural environment and their various interactions of dramatic, and often unexpected, contrasts. The experience of this landscape is imbued with a sense of untouched and tantalisingly untouchable
wonderment. Is the intrusion of a high volume and luxury oriented tourism industry able to allow for this sense of wonderment to be maintained? Paradoxically the maintenance of wonderment (landscape heritage integrity) is critical for the viability of the tourist industry.
• To plan for difficulty (or exclusion) of unrestricted public access to designated wilderness areas within the landscape.
• To continue with a low level of infrastructure provision at key National Park access points and to consolidate locations for high volume tourist access.
• To maintain the diversity of seasonal and colour imagery afforded by continuing agricultural land-uses.
Table 3.8
MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS FOR WET TROPICS Cultural Landscapes DESIRED KEY
HERITAGE OUTCOMES
Overarching conventions, strategies, policies and instruments currently in
place
ACTIONS to facilitate Desired Key
Heritage Outcomes Responsibility for
the management of heritage landscapes as environmental land systems
Global
• The Convention Concerning the
Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) 1972.
National
• 1992 Rio Earth Summit with further signing by Australia of a Statement of Commitment 1997 with particular reference to Agenda 21.
State
• The Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993.
• The Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.
• Expedite the completion and adoption of a Wet Tropics Management Plan in accordance with the requirements of The Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993. (Queensland)
• Seek accreditation of the Wet Tropics Management Plan by COAG.
Commitment to the concept of living and working heritage
Global
• 1992 Rio Earth Summit with further signing by Australia of a Statement of Commitment 1997 with particular reference to Agenda 21.
State
• Q'ld Integrated Planning Act 1997, (IPA)
"Explanation of terms used in ecological sustainability , Clause 1.3.6 for section 1.3.3-", subsection (c.).
• Include pro-active heritage conservation measures in Local Authority Planning Schemes.
• Increase government support for "The Daintree Rescue Package" begun in 1994.
Recognition of multiple, coexisting and occasionally contested heritage values
Global
• The Convention Concerning the
Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) 1972.
State
• Q'ld Integrated Planning Act (1997)
"State, regional and local dimensions of planning scheme matters, Clause 2.1.4 (1), Core matters for planning schemes, Section 4.(1) (.c), subsection (3) In subsection (1) (.c) - "valuable features"
Local
• Local Government Planning Schemes, Statutory and Regulatory provisions.
• Develop a clear and consistent descriptive language to describe the
"valuable features" of a heritage landscape in ways which will assist their management through Local Government statutory planning mechanisms and public policies as provided for in the Queensland Integrated Planning Act (1997)
Respect for specific community values
Global
• IUCN Zaire Resolution on the Protection of Traditional Ways of Life 1975.
• Devise means to enable indigenous people's lands can be brought into conservation areas without the loss of use and tenure rights ;
• Recognize the rights of people to live on traditional lands;
• Establish protected areas in consultation with traditional owners, and no
indigenous people should be displaced by the creation of a protected area.
• Pursue claims under the Native Title (Queensland) Act 1993.
• Investigate interpreting and protecting heritage
landscapes using the provisions of The Cultural Records (Landscapes Queensland and
Queensland Estates ) Act 1987.
Deference to the heritage integrity, both cultural and physical, innate in the land systems of Queensland
Global
• Nomination of key Q'ld cultural landscapes for World Heritage Area status
National
• The development of a number of National Strategies to implement the objectives of the international treaties referred to above.
State
• The adoption of the Q'ld Integrated Planning Act (1997)
Local
• The requirement that LGA's amend their planning schemes in line with the Queensland Integrated Planning Act (1997).
• Diligently apply the provisions of the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.
• Support the urgent completion of the National Heritage Places Strategy as a support instrument for COAG certification.
A Summary of Findings
The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area Case Study provided an example of outstanding world heritage natural landscapes to augment the range of selected case studies areas. As indicated on the map in Figure 3.1 The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area exists as a fragmented series of land areas managed under a number of differing jurisdictions and tenures. In particular this study sort to explore the relationships between the many fragments of The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and the cultural landscapes of its immediate environs. These relationships were revealed as being overwhelmingly symbiotic in nature thus reinforcing the thesis that management of all landscapes, both natural and cultural, must be treated as a holistic task rather than as separated and exclusive fields.
REFERENCES
Sources from within Contested Terrains Project Armstrong, Helen (editor) (2001), Interpreting
Cultural Landscapes: Theoretical Framework, Report 1, Investigating the Cultural Landscapes of Queensland:
CONTESTED TERRAINS Series, Brisbane: Cultural Landscape Research Unit, QUT.
Armstrong, Helen (editor) (2001), Contests and Management Issues, Report 3,
Investigating the Cultural Landscapes of Queensland: CONTESTED TERRAINS Series, Brisbane: Cultural Landscape Research Unit, QUT.
Sim, Jeannie (editor) (2001), Thematic Study of the Cultural Landscape of Queensland, Report 2, Investigating the Cultural Landscapes of Queensland:
CONTESTED TERRAINS Series, Brisbane: Cultural Landscape Research Unit, QUT.
Astley, Thea (1979), Hunting the Wild Pineapple and Other Stories, West Melbourne, Vic.:
Thomas Nelson (Australia).
Stephens, S. E. (President , Historical Society, Cairns)(1977?), The Douglas Shire in Retrospect, Cairns: hand-typed manuscript.
Franklin, F. (1964) Douglas Shire Council. Copy of address to the Cairns Historical Society, Cairns: hand-typed manuscript.
Reef and Rainforest Coast, Natures annual rebirth
http://www.internetnorth.com.au/gazette/
page21.html 1996-1998
Tropical Rainforests of North Qld Their Conservation Significance
A Report to the Australian Heritage Commission by the Rainforest Conservation Society of Australia
Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1986
Descriptions of World Heritage Places Natural World Heritage Property
http://www.wcmc.org.uk.80/protected_are as/data/wh/wettropi.html
4 Glass House Mountains Region
by Jan Seto
The structure of the following Glass House Mountains Region case study report is the same as the other case studies and comprises five major sections:
(1) DEFINING THE CASE STUDY AREA
(2) UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE (including a chronology, a description of the current cultural landscapes and applying the Broad Cultural Landscape Categories)
(3) DETERMINING VALUABLE CULTURAL HERITAGE LANDSCAPES
(including multiple readings, Thematic Histories, Australian Heritage Commission, World Views, Queensland Heritage Act, Landscape Assessment, and a STATEMENT OF CULTURAL VALUES).
(4) UNDERSTANDING THE MANAGEMENT CONTEXT
(including the Issues of Concern, Searching for Management Pathways, Key Management Values, Management Considerations and Objectives, and finally, MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS).
(5) A SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
DEFINING THE CASE STUDY AREA
The Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) was chosen as the basis of this case study and comprises the South-East Queensland biogeographic region with the addition of the Blackdown Tablelands. This biogeographic region covers approximately 6.1 million hectares stretching from the Queensland, New South Wales border north to Gladstone (almost on the Tropic of Capricorn) and west to the uplands of the Eastern Darling Downs. The SEQ region is characterised by a diverse range of soils, landforms, natural vegetation and climatic conditions.
Two World Heritage sites – the Scenic Rim (part of the 'Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves') and Fraser Island – are located within its boundaries. The area encompasses the jurisdictions of forty-four local governments. Land use in the region is particularly diverse. It ranges from densely settled urban areas within Brisbane and the adjacent coastal strips, to rural towns and villages, agricultural and pastoral areas, forests and National Parks. Tourism is also a particularly important industry.
Due to the size of the region a representative area was selected as the focus for this case study.
The area selected corresponds with the map base Joint Operations Graphic, Gympie, Australia, drawn at scale 1:250 000. Effectively this area incorporates the Sunshine Coast and its Hinterlands, of which the Glass House Mountains are a distinctive part. This area was chosen for a number of reasons which include:
a) Diversity of forestry types and therefore issues b) Diversity of geo-physical landscape types c) Diversity of ecosystems
d) Diverse history of settlement for forestry, agriculture, grazing and tourism.
e) High significance for Indigenous peoples.
Figure 4.1
MAP OF GLASS HOUSE MOUNTAINS REGION CASE STUDY AREA