Kangaroo Island eco-lodge village plan places pressure on pristine island once dubbed 'Noah's Ark'

A State Government-backed proposal to develop privately-owned eco-lodge villages on the popular Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail is a threat to an island once considered Australia's 'Noah's Ark', local parks volunteers say. Key points: Kangaroo Island's population of 4,500 welcomes 140,000 visitors per year, one third of whom are international tourists Plans for eco-lodge accommodation more than 2km off a popular trail in a national park is drawing local criticism On Wednesday, the Marshall Government announced $11.8 million to be spent on improving nature-based tourism in 2019-20 In the 1920s, the mainland's threatened species were placed on the isolated island — Australia's third largest — to ensure their survival. Friends of the Parks, a group of around 60 volunteers on the island, said proposed eco-lodge villages at two locations more than two kilometres off the trail at Flinders Chase National Park would destroy vegetation and views of untouched habitats. The South Australia Government's Environment and Water spokesperson Matt Johnson said the project proposed by the Australian Walking Company was being developed with minimal impact on the environment.