Kokoda Track Foundation: 2003-2006

Posted by adventure kokoda | Jun 30, 2006 | KOKODA TRACK FOUNDATION | 0

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KTF Strategy for the development of a Strategic Plan for the Kokoda Trail: 2003-2006

The concept of a ‘Kokoda Track Foundation’ to develop a Strategic Plan for the Kokoda Trail was developed by former army major and NSW MP, Charlie Lynn, who pioneered pilgrimage tourism across the Kokoda Trail since the 50th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign in 1992.

His objective was to establish a management structure to provide shared benefits for subsistence village communities in return for their custodianship of land sacred to our shared military heritage.

Lynn successfully lobbied the PNG Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Sir Peter Barter, to establish a Kokoda Track (Special Purpose) Authority (KTA) as a management body and Adventure Kokoda donated $15,000 for establishment fees and operational support.

The concept for the development of a strategic plan from the ground up was deemed necessary due to the lack of interest by both the Australian and PNG governments in the management of the emerging Kokoda tourism industry and the frustrations of villagers in not receiving any benefits from trekkers crossing their traditional lands.

We then invited some of our past trekkers to join his Board and led a fundraising campaign which raised approximately $200,000 to support his initiative.

Charlie then enlisted the support of Kelvin Templeton who has a keen interest in indigenous affairs. Kelvin was CEO of the Sydney Swans who had invested in treks across the Trail for their key players – Kelvin was also a director of Templeton-Galt.

Kelvin then engaged two of his associates, Dr Stephen Wearing of the University of Technology Sydney – a specialist in eco-tourism in Third-World countries and Paul Chatterton, WWF PNG – an experience facilitator familiar with PNG culture and fluent in ‘Tok-Pisin’.

Ms Natalie Shymko, a Kokoda trekker and political advisor in the NSW Parliament volunteered to record all proceedings related to the process for the development of a Strategic Plan.

Over the following three years the following workshops were conducted under their practical guidance:

UTS Sydney. A one-day workshop for trekkers to find out how they would like to see the Kokoda Track developed as a pilgrimage tourism destination.
Efogi Village. A two-day workshop for clan leaders and landowners from along the track to see how they would like to see the track developed and what benefits Kokoda tourism would bring to their respective villages.
Port Moresby. A one-day workshop with all stakeholders involved in the development of the track as a pilgrimage tourism destination – the RSL, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, the PNG National Cultural Commission, National, Provincial and Local level government representatives and tour operators were among those who attended.
Kokoda. A two-day workshop to review the 12 month action plan for each village which was agreed to at the Efogi Village workshop in 2004.
Port Moresby. A two-day workshop to review the draft plan prior to its presentation to government for consideration and implementation.

Following is a pictorial display of the two-day workshop conducted in Efogi Village on 28-29 April 2004 as part of the process of developing our Strategic Plan which we presented to PNG Prime Minister and Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare MP, at a function on 24 June 2009:

Following this is a link to a detailed record of all stakeholder meetings, forums and workshops conducted between 2003-2006 and the completed Strategic Plan.