NSW Parks approve glamping cabins in Gardens of Stone
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- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service announced a plan to build a multi‑day walk and 18 luxury glamping cabins (less than 1 ha) in the Gardens of Stone, a state conservation area declared in 2022.
- Keith Muir called the proposed cabins a “resort” and warned that allowing a private resort in the Gardens of Stone sets a precedent for development anywhere in Australia’s protected lands.
- NPWS spokesperson countered that the cabins will be low‑impact, blend into the surroundings, and will not set a precedent for future private resorts.
- Intrepid Travel, acquiring Wild Bush Luxury, argued that tourism can help protect under‑funded parks and cited low‑impact models like the Larapinta Trail.
- Ralf Buckley said Australia is leading a trend of private tourism inside national parks, citing examples such as Tasmania’s Tasman National Park ($4,000+ guided walks) and the Scenic Rim Trail partnership with Spicers Retreats.
- Queensland environment department claimed ecotourism projects like the Scenic Rim Trail generate jobs, support local businesses, and improve park protection through revenue and conservation work.
- Bob Brown warned that “green shoe brigade developers” are threatening wilderness by building private lodges, insisting that public land should never be handed over for private development.
Why it matters: Conservationists lose potential wilderness as private cabins could become a model for further commercial use of public parks, while tourism firms and state agencies gain revenue and jobs from low‑impact, high‑price experiences. The controversy pits public‑access values against private profit.
