Montague Island sees big visitor increase

National Parks says the increase was even bigger, 320 per cent, compared to March 2011.

Discovery Coordinator for the Montague Island tours Cassandra Bendixsen said there were 381 people on the island for day tours in March 2013.

And there were 113 people out at the island over the Easter weekend from Friday to Monday.

“It’s a really great news story for the town, when you think each person on the island represents a ticket valued in the region of $100 to $120 per person,” she said.

Last year, National Parks changed arrangements for island visitation opening up access to all interested charter boats and placing tour guides on the island to greet the boats and visitors as they arrive.

Previously, island visitation was undertaken by a single charter operator out of Narooma who took the National Parks tour guides out with them.

In 2011, in response to a changing economic climate and changing customer expectations, NPWS management issued contracts to six local commercial vessel operators, authorising them to land day and overnight passengers on Montague Island Nature Reserve (the only way in which the public can access the island).

At that time, NPWS also changed the structure of staffing on the island to improve customer outcomes and efficiency of delivery of service.  The island is staffed by field officers who live and work out on the island for the duration of their shift, conducting all field work and maintaining grounds, infrastructure and historical buildings.

Field officers also have a role in customer service by providing information on the day tours and assisting overnight visitors with gaining an appreciation of the unique natural and cultural values of Montague Nature Reserve.

The intervening months have seen a steady rise in the number of passengers visiting the island. But March 2013 saw a significant annual increase of 259 per cent, with 381 visitors to the Island.

At a minimum gross ticket price of approximately $110 per person, the island’s additional visitors injected about nearly $42,000 into the local economy.

“With our overnight visits to the island also on the increase, we are very mindful of the positive impact Montague Island Nature Reserve has on our regional economy,” NPWS discovery coordinator Cassandra Bendixsen said.

“It is important that we continue to a good job, constantly improving the service we provide to our local, Australian and International visitors.

“We also know that Montague Island holds an important place in the hearts and minds of many locals, and we are always mindful that National Parks and Wildlife staff honour the history of such a significant place.

“We keep very busy also with our continuing environmental and conservation projects on the Island.  With assistance from volunteers from both the local community and Conservation Volunteers Australia, the hard work fighting the war against the weeds continues.

“The validating discovery of the first Gould’s petrel on the Island late last year just encourages us all to work harder as we can see in person just what all the hard work is for. It was incredibly moving to see grown men with a tear in their eye that day.

“They never thought they’d live to see such a thing on the Island.  It was the most touching and encouraging sight. It just makes everybody’s hard work worthwhile,” Ms Benddixsen said.

Ongoing programs would ensure the longevity and health of Montague Island Nature Reserve as both a sanctuary for wildlife and as a regional tourist destination, making a significant contribution to the local economy, she added.