Australia-Pacific

Northern Territory government opens four national parks to private development

The Northern Territory government says opening four national parks to private investors will unlock their tourism potential. An expert has warned the move could reduce access for locals and budget-conscious visitors.

Tropical national park landscape
Tropical national park landscapePhoto: Molly Champion / Pexels
ABC News Australia1 h ago

The Northern Territory government has announced it will open four national parks to private investors. Officials argue the move will unlock the parks' tourism potential and attract new development.

However, one expert has warned that privatization could reduce access for locals and budget-conscious visitors. Critics argue that commercializing natural areas risks limiting public access over the long term.

The government expects strong investor interest, particularly in popular areas such as Litchfield. The decision is likely to continue drawing pushback from environmental groups and local communities in the coming months.

RegulationAustralia-PacificABC News Australia
This article is an AI-curated summary of the original story published by ABC News Australia. The illustration is a stock photo by Molly Champion from Pexels and is not from the original story.

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