Tougher times for Christmas Island?

A decision from an Australian court would protect the Indian Ocean island's wildlife, but could ruin its economy.

from the August 1, 2007 edition

Page 3 of 3

Page 1 | Page 2 | 3

Christmas Island's 'death knell'?

In its complaint to a Canberra court two weeks ago, Phosphate Resources said that none of its proposed mining expansion would impede on protected lands.

"He obviously did not have complete information provided to him and did not consider all the relevant facts, scientific and socioeconomic evidence that was made available to the Commonwealth by the company," said Phosphate Resources Chairman Clive Brown of Mr. Turnbull, Australia's environment minister.

The decision, said Mr. Brown, could "spell the death knell" of the island's economy and varied cultural community.

Brown said that if the Australian government were to allow the expansion, it would extend the life of the island's mines and export operations to 10 to 12 years from five to seven years.

Tapping into tourism

The antimining lobby would like to see the tiny territory develop as an eco-tourist destination.

They hope the end of mining will enhance Christmas Island's boast as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.

Its unique wildlife, including red-footed booby birds, golden bosun birds, and robber crabs – the world's largest invertebrate – have almost no fear of humans and can be easily approached.

So far, tourism is in its infancy. Flights are expensive from Australia – a return flight from Perth can cost as much as A$1,800 (US$1,550), and from Sydney up to A$2,800 (US$2,400).

The island currently attracts around 1,500 tourists a year – many of them bird watchers and divers hoping to swim with whale sharks, the ocean's biggest fish.

"We are never going to be a mass tourism destination," concedes Linda Cash, marketing manager for the island's tourism association. "We have to concentrate on niche markets. Singapore is closer than Australia, so we want to concentrate on attracting more Asian tourists."

Neil Lucas, the current administrator appointed by Queen Elizabeth II, believes the future of Christmas Island lies in a new age of ecotourism, rather than the heavy extractive industry of the past.

"We have reasonably priced flights from Singapore, and there are a lot more people living to our north than to our east [in Australia]," he said from his office overlooking Flying Fish Cove and the dusty phosphate-loading docks.

"We have a natural wonderland in marine and terrestrial life, which really makes us the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. The challenge is to get that message over to people."

 

1 | 2 | Page 3