A proposal by James Cook University to build its own accommodation at a research facility in the Daintree has been labelled as “short-sighted” by Federal MP Warren Entsch.

The Queensland Government wrote to Mr Entsch this week to outline a Proposed Ministerial Designation of Land for Community Infrastructure at JCU’s Daintree Rainforest Observatory.

“While I totally support the proposal to develop the research facility, I do have a major issue with one element of it,” Mr Entsch said.

“That is the paragraph where the Community Infrastructure is described as including ‘student/researcher residential accommodation and foot trails’.

“It’s a fact that businesses in the Daintree community are heavily reliant on visitors and have for a long time struggled to maintain viability because of this.

“It beggars belief that JCU would want government funding to establish foot trails and accommodation when within five minutes of the Observatory there are a number of accommodation businesses that are struggling to remain open due to lack of patronage. 

"There are also a number of interpretative walking trails that have been established and paid for by the private sector and - I have no doubt - could be adapted for use by the university.”

Mr Entsch raised as an example the boardwalks, which were constructed at public expense through Daintree Rescue Program funding saying this was in direct competition with local private sector businesses.

“There needs to be a common-sense approach here.  The university can continue to provide world-class tropical research and education while at the same time being a good social citizen and a much-appreciated patron of existing services. 

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“At the end of the day, it could mean the difference between survival or failure for some of these businesses, who because of their location in the heart of World Heritage rainforest are restricted in the options available to them.”

Dr Stephen Weller, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and head of JCU’s Cairns campus thanked Mr Entsch for his support of the research facility that will help with work of "international significance.”

“We’re very pleased to hear Mr Entsch say he is in support of the proposal,” Dr Weller said, adding he believed local businesses would not suffer as a result of the expansion of facilities at the 
Daintree Rainforest Observatory, where JCU operates a research canopy crane.

“We expect local businesses will benefit. We’re certainly not in competition with them,” he said.

“The accommodation involved in our proposal involves expanding our existing facilities, to provide very basic rooms for researchers and students who need to be on site. 

“Our staff and students often work long and inhospitable hours during fieldwork,” Dr Weller said. “They need to be close to the laboratory and computer facilities, and sometimes need to access research sites late at night. It’s not practicable to house them in local resorts.

“JCU takes seriously our role as a supporter of local businesses and we will continue to do that, where local services are appropriate to our needs. But we also need to operate our own facilities 
in a responsible, business-like manner. It is not realistic to suggest that we should be booking resort rooms for students on fieldwork.”

Dr Weller said the proposed walkways were low-impact gravel paths connecting the accommodation and laboratory facilities, as well as several locations with plants or insect life relevant to research. 

“They certainly pose no competition to local businesses. This is a research facility, we’re not in the business of building interpretive boardwalks.”

Dr Weller said the expanded Daintree Rainforest Observatory would attract international attention to the region.

“This is part of a world-wide network of canopy cranes, conducting research of international importance. It will attract researchers, students, and media from around the world. We expect it will contribute significantly to the ongoing growth of nature-based tourism in the Daintree.”