New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife push on tourism by Casey Macpherson

During our short interview with Steve Woodhall of the Western River Region National Parks and Wildlife the topic of the recent push on tourism within New South Wales National Parks arose, giving a bit of an insight into Steve’s opinion on the possible increase in tourism and its effects on the National Parks.
After being asked of the opinion of him and other rangers he responded that it is a mixed bag for them. Touching on both the detrimental effects of increased traffic throughout the parks and the positive effects of people getting out and getting an understanding for nature conservation. Although much more time was spent discussing the effects of having all of the extra traffic, and within that mentioning that the rangers had no say in the push on increased tourism. The way I read this statement and from bits and pieces I have seen on the internet, I gather this push is a not so well researched government idea, with Steve saying if extra funding was allowed then adequate prep for popular tourist area’s could be done prior, saving extensive damage to areas and making the job of conservation much easier and in the long run possibly cheaper.
In his argument of for tourism Steve mentioned things like its great if people are going to go get a feel for the nature and wildlife and if their doing some walking getting some exercise that’s also great, however I feel these things don’t relate to what the National Parks are about. Sure it’s great if people go and get a feel for the wildlife and nature, however the advertising for activities and holidays within national parks don’t appeal to those interests. Where will it lead once an income comes from new found tourism? Will our national parks still stay about preservation of nature, or like most things will profiteering take control.