Written by Lawrence Mason, manager of Mason’s Tours at Cape Tribulation. Based on ‘Deliberation in the Wilderness – Transforming Policy Preferences through Discourse’ by Simon John Niemeyer April 2002

CITIZENS' JURY PROCESS

In 2001, Simon Niemeyer set up a deliberative process called the Far North Queensland Citizen’s Jury, to consider what recommendations should be made regarding the future management of the Bloomfield Track, as part of his research for his PhD thesis. Jurors were selected at random from response to 200 recruitment letters sent out to addresses in the region Cairns to the North.

Under a facilitator’s guidance, the jurors spent one day on preparation and a site inspection, two days hearing witness presentations, and one day of deliberation and report writing. Witnesses covered technical aspects, like engineering, maintenance, and construction costs, as well as planning, environmental, and regional impacts. There were also Community Representatives from the Cook and Douglas Shires, and a local researcher who gave an outline of indigenous issues.

A number of key points emerged in the deliberation process:

The group encountered a 4WD stuck in Emmagen Creek. The local guide - Lawrence Mason from Mason’s Tours, waded into the creek and engaged 4WD correctly for the inexperienced driver, who then drove out.

“For a number of the deliberators, the event highlighted features of the status quo of the Bloomfield Track that proved influential to their findings on the final day. For one, tourists predominantly use the Bloomfield Track. This includes those travelling individually in private vehicles, known as ‘self-drive’. These self-drive tourists are in large part unfamiliar with the condition of the road, therefore contribute to enhanced risks to themselves and others, and further damage to the condition of the Bloomfield Track.” Simon Neimeyer

When the bus they were on stopped at the top of the Cowie Range, with the engine off, the members of the jury noted that it was possible to really experience the forest.

Jurors were also skeptical about the information provided about some of the pro-road witnesses. In contrast to this, they found other witnesses from both the technical and community side very well informed.

The end of the project saw the 12 jurors divided between two options:

7 out 12 – the staged closure of the Bloomfield Track over 10-15years.

5 out of 12 – keeping the Bloomfield Road open with no further upgrade and regulation of vehicle access.

This remarkable result indicates what a special area this road passes through, and means our local Council will need to very carefully consider any upgrade of this road.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Citizens Jury Project – Describes the details of how the case study was conducted, and gives some background on the Bloomfield Track.

Masons Tours offers small groups the opportunity to see this road first hand in air-conditioned 4WD Toyota Landcruisers.

Four-wheel driving on the Bloomfield Track provides hints on what to expect and where to purchase a detailed map of the road.

The Daintree Blockade - describes the major environmental battle in 1983 at Cape Tribulation which brought the Daintree to world attention.

Mason's Tours Forest Stories and Wildlife Sightings - Find out the latest road conditions on the Bloomfield Track. Mason's Tours are Cape Tribulation's original Land Tour Operators and offer Full Day 'Home Rule' or Cooktown 4WD Safaris.