ABSTRACT

Unpaved roads are often of poor quality in parks globally, particularly where funding and resources are limited. We review the history of road infrastructure development and provide contemporary evidence of road degradation on World Heritage listed K’gari-Fraser Island to demonstrate a need for a more sustainable transport system. Historical industry from mining and timber exploitation has established but also deeply impacted many sections of the island’s roads. Contemporary observations reveal high volumes of vehicular traffic contributing to erosion and deep-cuttings on many sections of this international tourist destination that attracts approximately 450,000 visitors per annum. Current observations of road degradation show that a more sustainable transport system should be implemented to mitigate further erosion from vehicular and weather impacts. The article provides justification for the need for sustainable transport solutions and strategies based on a history of inland sand road degradation and erosion leading to environmental impacts on K’gari-Fraser Island. Photographic evidence of varying degrees of degradation and erosion currently occurring and from past industry on K’gari’s roads is provided in this article to strengthen the argument for a more sustainable transport network.

摘要

全球公园中未铺砌的道路质量通常很差，尤其是在资金和资源有限的地方。我们回顾了道路基础设施发展的历史，并提供了列入世界遗产名录的 K'gari-Fraser 岛上道路退化的当代证据，以证明需要一个更可持续的交通系统。采矿和木材开采的历史工业已经建立，但也深深影响了岛上许多道路。当代观察显示，这个国际旅游目的地每年吸引约 450,000 名游客的大量车辆导致侵蚀和深挖。目前对道路退化的观察表明，应实施更可持续的交通系统，以减轻车辆和天气影响造成的进一步侵蚀。本文根据内陆沙路退化和侵蚀导致 K'gari-Fraser 岛环境影响的历史，为可持续交通解决方案和战略的必要性提供了理由。本文提供了 K'gari 道路上当前发生的不同程度退化和侵蚀以及过去工业的照片证据，以加强对更可持续的交通网络的论证。