I think western man has a tendency to only value that which he pays for.

Therefore, is he has access to a "theme" park, he is more than happy to pass his money over the counter. He is so used to having his leisure catered for. It is neatly sealed off from the natural world and sold back to him at a price.

It is for this same reason that doting parents transport their children to so called "fun parks", then deposit them in a large vat full of coloured balls.

TheMissus,
I can understand your incredulity that many tourists don't seem to be capable of experiencing the natural beauty of the world beyond the cloisters of their pre-packaged resorts.

I empathise, Individual.

North Queensland has a fantastic natural environment. As well as the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, we’ve got the Wet Tropics WHA right next to it. There's Hinchinbrook I, Mt Bartle Frere, Atherton Tablelands, Cape Tribulation, all manner of national parks, wonderful rainforest, ancient Gondwanan plants, cassowaries, mahogany gliders, musky rat kangaroos and lemuroid possums, lava tubes and volcanic craters, limestone caves, sandstone gorges, etc, etc.

Over the last 26 years I reckon I have been into this natural wonderland to as great an extent as anyone could have been.

As a long-time PS (21 years), I can say that I’m pretty damn disgusted with most of my colleagues. I wouldn’t call them seagulls that go around crapping on people, but I would say that there is a blasé attitude towards the natural environment, and a real lack of concern about achieving a balance between people and natural values.

I have found it very hard indeed at times, to try and be proactive in striving for a better overall management regime, a genuine people / environment balance and a better level of environmental protection, amongst people who I would have thought would be sympathetic to and accommodating of such efforts.

Alas, it just hasn’t been the case…at all.

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<< I live in Far North Queensland and the nature here is unbelievable. >>

It sure is, TheMissus.

individual
I am not against criticising the PS or public servants if legitimate. Your opening post left me wondering what is the point of your message. I agree that many public servants are armchair observers of the issues they have direct influence on in terms of policy. This does not necessarily mean the policy will be bad but it could be for other factors as well.

It is also true that at times public servants go around tweaking policy and programs with good intentions (or money saving intentions) and are blissfully unaware of the effect on those peoples whose lives are affected. It is usually a case of a monumental stuff up or failure to assess the risks properly.

I am going off on a tangent. However I would not let the attitudes of a few seagulls ruin your own enjoyment of the reef. Perhaps I misinterpreted your message.

Ludwig

"genuine people / environment balance"

Summed up there. There can be un-necessary protection at times yet gross invasion of the environment at other times. Without being mentally immersed in the natural world people cannot see the wood from the trees. People should be part of it however at times total off limits is wise. The Indigenous had this practise. They had instinct built from many years of first hand knowledge.

btw. You are the plant man. Is it true they allowed private development and the logging trails at Cape Trib Daintree section because they thought the vegetation was exotic? This was not that long ago. Scary how ignorant we can be if that was the case.

Poïrot
"Therefore, is he has access to a "theme" park, he is more than happy to pass his money over the counter. He is so used to having his leisure catered for. It is neatly sealed off from the natural world and sold back to him at a price."

Yes true. There are times when money can be well spent. There are some access costs up here for some remote areas and of course if you choose a scenic flight it is high dollar. However there does seem to be a sense that if you pay for something then it has to be better than free stuff. Not always true for nature.

ok Pelican, cheers for that,
It's just that it really gets to me when on one hand a whole election appears to be won because of people being concerned about the environment. On the other hand , for want of a better description, has to witness this utter blase' mentality of people who get to see these places for free & don't give a hoot about it whilst others appreciative of nature's best can't afford to see it. I have seen Qld Health housing being exploited for free holiday accommodation by people who are only interested in taking as much fish as they can.
I clearly remember a nurse once after I had described a place of incredible serenity & her reply was "wow, what a place for a rage". That is the mentality I'm on about.

It's like that old Leunig cartoon of the man showing his kid an image of a sunrise on TV while the real sun is rising just outside the window. We are so used to having things framed for us, put in front of us, sanitised and glorified for us, that we tend to lose the ability to make our own decisions.

I took the QANTAS paddock hopper down to Rocky last year, stopping in at Mackay. Cruising at 14,000 feet or so, we had the most amazing view of the southern end of the reef, of the Whitsundays and of the beautiful landscape just outside. I have flown a great many miles in my short life, but that flight always sticks with me. It was one of the few flights that had me plastered to the window.

As for the unseen wonders of NQ - I've seen quite a few of them, and hope to see a lot more. It's a kind of selfish desire, though - I want to experience all of this but at the same time I want to keep it secret. I've spent so much time in tourist hotspots that I loathe the idea of people 'appreciating' the world around us. Abbeys housing silent orders of monks in hidden Provencale valleys have been spoilt by loud American tourists, gushing streams have been sullied by tourist litter . . . there should be a course for 'respectful tourists' to keep the world's treasures intact.

In my opinion, it's the places where you can feel like a pioneer of sorts that seem truly special. A stroll through a little-known gorge, a swim in a remote creek (after checking for crocs and other nasties), a drive down a long road with no other cars from one horizon to the next and only the occasional emu to keep you company . . . these are the tourist moments I treasure. And most of them can be experienced within a few hours of home. How lucky I am!