Stanford Research Institute Essay Example

Stanford Research Institute Essay Example Stanford Research Institute Essay Stanford Research Institute Essay The purpose of this report is to assess a tourist resort proposal made by Coral Coast Marina Development Pty Ltd (CCMD) at Mauds Landing in terms of its sustainability. The assessment method used in this report is based on the Bellagio Principles which was found to be the most effective method of assessment for this type of proposal.  The report describes Mauds Landing in terms of its history and the importance of tourism in the region, then goes on to describe the proposal and its main features. The report concludes with the assessment of the proposal and offers recommendations on ways in which the proposal could be more sustainable. The findings of the report indicate that even though effective communication and public participation were evident in the proposal, the failure of informing the public on a wider level such as in the Perth CBD led to the refusal of the proposal.  1. Introduction  Sustainability assessments of proposals before they are implemented are necessary in determining the level of impact the development will have on the regions economy, character and environment. In 1995, Coral Coast Marina Development Pty Ltd (CCMD) began its long and highly publicised journey to develop a resort village in Coral Bay, more specifically in Mauds Landing. The first proposal put forward by CCMD was intended to increase tourist numbers and thus resulted in a media frenzy concerning Ningaloo Reef due to the negative impacts increased human activity will bring to the sensitive reef and surrounding habitats. Even though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found the proposal to be environmentally acceptable subject to nine recommendations and a set of recommended environmental conditions, the proposal was rejected by the Minister for Environment. The Minister ruled that the proposal would have negative effects on Ningaloo Marine Park and water resources of the region. CCMD then put forward a second proposal which was also viewed as acceptable by the EPA but then rejected by the Premier of Western Australia Geoff Gallop. Large public support against the proposal played an important part in the premiers decision. The Bellagio Principle will be used in this report to assess the sustainability of the proposed development by CCMD. 2. The Site ( Mauds Landing)  2.1 History  Mauds Landing, situated on the north-west cape of Western Australia marks the first recorded European activity in the Coral Bay region. Mauds Landing was discovered by the Captain of the boat Maud in 1884, but the region was believed to be used by Aboriginals previous to discovery due to materials found in rock shelters, shell maddens and caves on the Cape Range peninsula which indicate that Aboriginal people lived on the Ningaloo coast for over 30 000 years (____).  The town site reserve was gazetted in 1896 in order to protect the site of an existing jetty and government goods shed and the town was officially named Mauds Landing in 1915. Mauds Landing played an important role in the settlement and growth of the north west of Western Australia. (___) states that the local woolshed and jetty which included a tramway served the local pastoralists in the provision of supplies and in the outward shipment of wool and sheep from 1898 until 1947.  2.2 Background  In 1995 Coral Coast Marina Development Pty Ltd put forward a proposal to construct and operate a resort village and inland marina at the Mauds Landing town site near Coral Bay in the Shire of Carnarvon, WA. This site is located 250km north of Carnarvon and 150km south of Exmouth and is currently considered as vacant crown land and is adjacent to the sensitive Ningaloo Marine Park which is a highly popular tourist destination.  2.3 Importance of Tourism in the Region  Coral Bay is a tourist village with a permanent population of approximately 60 people and a visitor population that peaks at over 2,000 during holiday season. The Gascoyne Region contains several tourist attractions such as the Ningaloo Marine Park, the Cape Range National Park, warm climate along with the unspoiled beaches, unique wildlife and activities such as whale watching and coral spawning.  Tourists also participate in a range of recreational activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, swimming, boating, surfing and camping. Tourism is considered a significant industry in the Gascoyne Region and contributes over $60 million to the regional economy (CCMD 2000a). Accommodation facilities in the Region are mostly low-key and provide basic facilities only. At Carnarvon, Coral Bay and Exmouth accommodation is mainly made up of caravan parks, motels/ hotels and holiday units. Furthermore, along the coastline there are numerous supervised and unsupervised camping areas (Bowman Bishaw Gorham 1995).  A study in 1996 into the Gascoyne Coast Regional Strategy identified overcrowding as a common problem in Coral Bay, with the most severe cases occurring in the July school holiday period (CCMD Pty Ltd 2002) Ecotourism is a growing sector of the tourism industry. (CCMD 2000a) defines ecotourism as nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable.  In addition, the Stanford Research Institute predicts that ecotourism will become the fastest growing sector of the tourism market and will grow by approximately 30%, compared to 5% growth for international tourism (CCMD 2000a). There are several reasons contributing to this figure but the most valid explanation is that tourists are increasingly demanding unspoilt environments and experiences that will bring them closer to nature and it is thus important to sustain the values on which this demand is based (Crockett 2000). There is therefore a need to accommodate for this increase and thus CCMD proposed the Coral Coast Resort which would home several tourists a year and add to the regions economy.