4WD wash-downs needed to protect K'gari, traditional owners say

The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) has won an award for its strategy to protect K gari, a World Heritage-listed island in Queensland, from invasive species. The strategy, called the K gari Biosecurity Strategy, was launched by the BAC earlier this year. K gari, also known as Fraser Island, is the largest sand island in the world and was recognized as a World Heritage site in 1992 by UNESCO.

The strategy calls for vehicle washing as a measure to prevent the introduction of more invasive species to the island. Queensland's Environment Minister has stated that there are no plans to introduce mandatory biosecurity checks. However, the BAC argues that washing cars as a condition of entry to K gari could help preserve its World Heritage status.

The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation's K gari Biosecurity Strategy, recognized by Landcare Australia, aims to stop the spread of invasive species through a 20-year plan. The strategy includes visitor education programs and vehicle inspections, with the goal of protecting around 70 threatened animal and plant species on the island. The plan seeks to install the BAC as a backbone organization overseeing state and local government bodies responsible for K gari's biosecurity.

K gari's significance extends beyond its World Heritage status, with the island being culturally and spiritually significant to the Butchulla Aboriginal people. The World Heritage advisory committee report suggests that K gari could receive up to 1 million visitors per year in the coming decade, including those attracted by the 2032 Olympics.

This increase in visitors could potentially jeopardize the island's World Heritage status. The BAC has called for urgent action to stop invasive species from reaching the island, including the implementation of vehicle wash-downs and stricter visitor education.