1. Geotourism - A Transformational
Approach to Conserving Heritage
and Generating Post-Mining
Economies for Communities
Angus M Robinson FAusIMM (CP)
Coordinator, National Geotourism Strategy
Australian Geoscience Council

2. Today’s
Agenda
 Why the AGC interest?
 Ecotourism and geotourism
 Socio-economic benefits of
geotourism
 The National Geotourism Strategy
 Goal 5 focusing on mining
communities
 Opportunities for the mining
industry, e.g., in the Hunter Valley
 Overseas examples
 Take-Aways

3. AGC
Interest in
Geotourism
 Geotourism offers the
potential for new industries
and employment opportunities
for geoscientists through the
development of major
projects within Australia.
 Geotourism offers one of the
best ways to communicate the
value of geoscience to the
broader Australian
community.

4. Ecotourism
&
Geotourism
Concepts
 Ecotourism is practised
predominantly in protected areas
such as national parks whereas
geotourism is undertaken also in
all areas where primary industry
activities are being carried out.
 Geotourism is increasingly seen
globally as an instrument of
regional economic development.

5. Geotourism
 comprises the following features of both natural
and cultural heritage:
 Abiotic – non-living aspects such as the sky,
climate & geology, landscape and landforms:
celebrating GEODIVERSITY.
 Biotic – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and
flora (plants): celebrating BIODIVERSITY.
 Cultural – past & present, Aboriginal and post
European settlement (incl. mining), non-living
and built: celebrating HUMAN DIVERSITY.
 Holistic in scope, geotourism is booming
globally and a key driver for tourism,
particularly in Europe and Asia.

6. Societal
Benefits of
Geotourism
Defining a
GeoRegion
 By celebrating the geological
heritage of an identified
GeoRegion, and in connection with
all other aspects of the area’s
natural and cultural heritage (and
most significantly, Aboriginal
heritage), geotourism enhances
awareness and understanding of
key issues facing society.
 Geotourism gives local people a
sense of pride and strengthens
their identification with a
GeoRegion.

7. Societal
Benefits of
Geotourism
Mining
Communities
 A mechanism for celebrating and raising
awareness of mining heritage, past and
present.
 An opportunity to enhance community
engagement and build value into ‘Social
Licence’ considerations.
 By celebrating geological heritage, and in
connection with all other aspects of the
area’s natural and cultural heritage (and
most significantly, Aboriginal heritage),
geotourism enhances awareness and
understanding of key issues facing society,
such as using our earth’s resources
sustainably.

8. AGC National Geotourism Strategy Principles
 United national voice for geotourism development.
 Working with a large specialist reference group.
 Working closely with government agencies at all
levels to gain their support and endorsement.
 Reaching out to other natural and cultural heritage
specialists.
 Engaging with local communities.

9. National
Geotourism
Strategic
Goals
1. Consideration of new digital technologies e.g. 3D
visualisation, AR & VR etc.
2. To define an approval pathway for major
geotourism projects.
3. To establish a framework for creating high
quality, sustainable geotrails.
4. To establish a national listing for geoheritage
sites suitable for geotourism.
5. To develop geotourism in regional mining
communities with potential geoheritage and
cultural heritage sites.
6. To strengthen Australia's international geoscience
standing through geotourism excellence.
7. To develop and enhance geoscience
interpretation and communication skills for natural
and cultural heritage professionals engaged in
geotourism.

10. Dr Melinda McHenry
Chair, Goal 5
Working Group
 Goal 5 identifies opportunities for geotourism
in rural and regional Australian post (or active)
mining communities, where surfaces are exposed
by mining, and their recreational, educational,
and cultural values can be realised.
 Goal 5 aims to draw attention to these places, and
to the range of activities that could be conducted
in these places.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/-KiF28J2n-k

11. Diversity of
Geotourism
& Mining
Heritage
 Existing and abandoned mining sites.
 Old mining towns e.g., Broken Hill.
 Historic mining regions e.g., West
Coast Tasmania, Herberton and
Etheridge, Far NQ; Blinman, SA.
 Economic Geology geosites e.g.,
gossans, alteration zones e.g.,
Broken Hill and Arkaroola.
 Old mine site complexes combining
mining, museums, ecological
interpretation, history and culture
e.g., Hill End, NSW, Illawara and
Lithgow Coalfields, NSW.
 All underpinned by RICH STORIES.

12. Key Issue
for the
Mining
Industry
National
Geotourism
Strategic
Goal # 5
 The acknowledgement of Aboriginal cultural
heritage beyond the benefits offered
through geotourism includes the need to
ensure it is appropriately protected.
 This will ensure the preservation of
Aboriginal cultural heritage is equally as
important as that of mining and other
aspects of cultural landscapes, thus leading
to improving the public perception of
mining professionals and the industries in
which they work.

13. Geotourism,
& Mining
Heritage
Opportunities
 Link through geotrail development,
mining heritage into established tourism
infrastructure and product offerings.
e.g., Murchison GeoRegion & Kalgoorlie
Boulder, WA.
 Develop and promote tourist mines e.g.,
Blinman Mine, Flinders Ranges, SA.
 Develop major national mining parks
e.g., Hunter Valley, NSW; Central
Highlands, Qld; and Latrobe Valley,
Victoria.

14. Proposed Hunter Valley National Mining Park
“A Vision Beyond Mine Site Rehabilitation -
the largest national mining park in the world to
be established to celebrate the significant role
that mining has played for Australia’s
development.”
http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/abstract_robinson-et-al_rev.docx
• Native flora and fauna habitat conservation – all connected through corridors;
• ‘Soft adventure’ recreation.
• Coal mining heritage sites, geosites and geotrails.
• Areas set aside for renewable energy generation (solar arrays, wind farms,
biomass production) embracing light industrial sites and ‘value adding’
manufacturing.
• Engagement with the six strategic hubs of the Strategic Aboriginal Culture and
Enterprise Scheme of the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

15. Bulga Coal
leading the
Way in the
Hunter
Valley
 Bulga Coal Management Pty Ltd (a
Glencore mine) has recently established
the Wollombi Brook Conservation
Agreement Area (WBCA) in collaboration
with the Wonnarua peoples.
 Facilities are being established for
Aboriginal cultural interpretation and
community recreation.
 The WBCA is just one of a number of
biodiversity and Aboriginal heritage,
offset properties that can be made
accessible to the community for
recreation, managed under biodiversity,
conservation and Aboriginal cultural
heritage management plans.

16. Melding
Geotourism
& Mining
Heritage –
Overseas
Examples
 China has some 70 national mining
parks, notably the Changyu Dongtian
National Mineral Mountain Park.
 A major tourism attraction in Taiwan –
Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park.
 Baia Mare Geological Mining Park,
Romania.
 Geological & Mining Park, Sardinia,
Italy.
 Various rehabilitated coal mining
areas in Germany.
 Black Country UNESCO Global
Geopark in the United Kingdom.

17. Black Country
UNESCO Global Geopark, UK
Mining Heritage

18. Take-Aways
 Goal 5 of the National Geotourism Strategy,
where it is applied for mining activity, can
be developed through collaboration amongst
member professional societies and
organisations researching mining industry
heritage.
 Aboriginal cultural elements and landscapes
cut across widely accepted, post-settlement
landforms and landmarks, and have values
specific to various groups and individuals.
 Geotourism can provide a framework for
celebrating mining heritage in the life of
mining operations and beyond, all for the
benefit of mining communities.

19. CONTACT DETAILS
Angus M Robinson FAusIMM (CP)
• E: angus@leisuresolutions.com.au
• Tel: 0418 488 340
• https://www.slideshare.net/leisuresolutions
• http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groups/
• http://www.agc.org.au/geoscience-in-australia/geotourism/