A vision statement for the Kokoda Trail should be outlined in the preamble to the Licensing Agreement. We support the objectives as detailed and would add one which reflects the military significance of the trail. Following are our initial comments on each objective as listed:

1. An enhanced experience for trekkers
The Kokoda Trail is a living memorial to our veterans who fought along it during the Kokoda campaign – and to the ‘fuzzy-wuzzy’ angels who supported them. There needs to be a plan for the development and maintenance of interpretative memorials along the trail to allow trekkers to fully appreciate the significance of each site. Local landowners should be duly compensated for the ongoing maintenance of each site through the distribution of a portion of trek fees.

2. Increased certainty for tour operators
Local landowner disputes are an ongoing issue for trek operators. The KTA needs to develop a dispute resolution system to increase certainty for trek operators in the planning of their trek itineraries.

3. Compliance with PNG laws and regulations
The KTA should take the lead on this objective by complying with the official name i.e. ‘The Kokoda Trail’ as gazetted in PNG Government Gazette No. 88 of 12 October 1972, page 1362, column 2. Notice 1972/28 of the PNG Place Names Committee.

The first step in this process would be to change their name to ‘The Kokoda Trail Authority’. If any Australian ‘commentator’ has an issue with this they should be advised of the proper process to effect a change of name as per current PNG government regulations. Before they do this they should note the name listed on the official battle honours of the 39th Militia Battalion i.e. ‘Kokoda Trail’.

Other applicable PNG Government regulations should be advised to trek operators to allow them to comply accordingly.

4. Respect for local culture and land owners
It is difficult for trek operators to understand the complexities of relationships within and between landowners, clans, missionaries, lululais’, sorcerers, etc. It is therefore important for the KTA to conduct workshops in villages along the trail to establish protocols for trek operators to abide by. These workshops should be facilitated by professionals with extensive knowledge of Melanesian culture and language.

5. Environmental sustainability
This is important and should include a commitment to carry all rubbish off the trail; the establishment of environmental toilets along the way; and the accreditation of campsites with proper ablution facilities.

6. A safer environment
The most effective way of getting trekkers safely across the trail is to have them accompanied by trek leaders who are trained in remote area first aid and are equipped with VHF radios and satellite phones. A few sections of the trail could be made safer with the installation of safety railings (constructed by locals with local bush material).

If any bridges are to be built they should – as a recommendaton – be at least 250 metres upstream or downstream from any battlesite.

7. Fairness to workers
This is important and should include a minimum wage, a maximum weight, and a list of minimum essential items for each PNG guide and carrier. This should include a trek uniform for easy identification; a sleeping bag, a foam sleeping mat; a return charter airfare; and a commitment for payment in full at end of each trek.

The KTA should establish a ‘medical insurance’ fund to pay for the evacuation and treatment of any guide or carrier who is ill or injured on the trail during a trek. This should be funded from the 33 per cent increase in trek fees to be applied in 2010.

8. Protection of military heritage

The protection of the military heritage of the Kokoda Trail should be included as an objective. This includes respect for the integrity of battlesites along the trail and the disturbance/removal of military weapons, munitions and hardware.

Medical Clearance Certification

The KTA and trek operators have a duty of care to ensure people are properly prepared for the physical challenge of trekking across the Owen Stanley Range via the Kokoda Trail. Our experience has revealed that ‘family doctors’ need more objective criteria than a ‘set of guidelines and a simple checklist.’

The preamble to the Medical Clearance Certificate required by Adventure Kokoda states:

‘Dear Doctor,

‘We require each of our clients to be in adequate physical and medical shape and free of any medical conditions that may prevent them from completing such an arduous personal challenge. We also need to ensure our trek leader is fully alerted to any potential health problems.’

The medical doctor must then list the applicants height, weight and any previous and current medical conditions together with any current medications and dosages.

They are also required to list any cardiac risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, smoking history, high cholesterol, family history of heart disease and body mass index. If applicants are under 40 years of age and do not have any cardiac risk factors they are required to have a 12 lead ECG interpretation. If they are over 30 and have at least one cardiac risk factor they are required to have either an exercise stress test, a myocardial perfusion scan or a stress echo.

This is a difficult process to manage but it has a couple of advantages:

1. It provides a scientific rather than a subjective assessment of an applicants physical preparedness for an expedition across the Kokoda Trail; and

2. It provides the trek leader with essential information in the event of a medical emergency during the trek.

If the KTA is going to grant trek permits to individual trekkers then it must accept the responsibility to ensure they are physically capable of completing the trek and require them to submit a Medical Clearance Form with their Application for a Trek Permit.

Trek operators should be required to submit a declaration that they have a Medical Clearance Certificate for each of the trekkers in their group when they apply for their Trek Permit. They should be advised of the legal implications for providing any false information in this regard.

The KTA has a responsibility to protect the integrity of the ‘Kokoda’ brand. Everytime there is an evacuation from along the trail, or a death, the brand is diminished. Given the physical nature of the challenge it is imperative that the risk of evacuation and/or death is minimised to the maximum extent. This can only be achieved by ensuring trekkers are medically cleared for the challenge and that they have physically prepared themselves for it.

We congratulate the KTA for this initiative and look forward to the issues paper to allow us to comment in more detail.