Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Problem and Opportunity Statement

Opportunities in nature-based tourism in Western Australia’s (WA) national, marine and conservation parks

Problem
The tourism sector is amongst those most impacted by COVID-19. Recovery of this sector will in the first instance depend on domestic tourism.

Opportunity
There is an opportunity to develop new tourism experiences, attractions and/or accommodation in WA’s parks that deliver high quality tourism product and that contribute to the recovery of the nature-based tourism industry. This opportunity is for proposals in WA’s national, marine and conservation parks managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Innovative submissions are invited from industry, which may include, but are not limited to, new adventure activities, tourism experiences, infrastructure, tour products, eco accommodation and/ or Aboriginal cultural tourism opportunities.

All offers and supporting commercial terms will be considered in the context of the Problem and Opportunity Statement (POS) objectives, POS Assessment Criteria, and Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) and regulations that apply.

What are Problem and Opportunity Statements?

• POS are a flexible mechanism released by the Minister for Finance in March 2020 within the revised Market-led Proposals (MLP) Policy.
• POS allow government to provide focussed opportunities, inviting industry to respond with innovative solutions.
• POS effectively replace Stage 1 of the MLP process and will be assessed against the criteria of the MLP Policy.
• POS retain the rigour and independence of an evaluation process supported by the probity principles of the MLP Policy.

POS Assessment Criteria

POS are addressed against five criteria of the MLP Policy:

• Strategic alignment – proposals align with government policy objectives and priorities.
• Public interest – proposals have significant social, environmental, economic or financial benefits for Western Australians.
• Value for money – proposals represent value for money for Western Australians and are affordable in the context of budget priorities.
• Feasibility and capability of being delivered – proposals are feasible and the proponent has the financial and technical capacity, capability and experience to deliver the outcomes successfully.
• Risk - any financial, reputational, political, and/or security risks to government from the proposal are acceptable and there is an appropriate allocation of risk between the proponent and government. 

Additional evaluation criteria and eligibility for this POS
Should suitable applicant/s be found through this process, assessment and approvals under the CALM Act and regulations will apply. Any authority to operate approved venture/s will be by way of a commercial operations licence or lease pursuant to the CALM Act.

To be eligible, proposals must be consistent with the purpose of the park or reserve, and consistent with the relevant management plan, as required by the CALM Act.

Proposals that compete directly with existing licences or leases in a particular park or reserve will not be considered through this process. The following activities/ businesses will not be eligible to progress under this POS:

• any proposal for an activity that is currently subject to an existing restricted licence, such as whale shark or humpback whale interaction tours; fly/drive licences for Purnululu National Park;
• any proposal that is similar to or competes directly with an existing lease in a particular park or reserve; and
• any proposal that is inconsistent with the purpose of the park or reserve or the relevant management plan.

Contact Details

For enquiries relating to this nature-based tourism POS, please contact the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions:

Matthew King, Commercial Business Coordinator, tel: 9219 8499 or email: matthew.king@dbca.wa.gov.au

For questions in relation to the POS process, please contact the Market-led Proposals Secretariat:

Justin van Didden, Principal Project Coordinator, Market-led Proposals, email: justin.vandidden@finance.wa.gov.au

For additional information on the process, please read the MLP Policy and Supplementary Guidelines found on the MLP webpage at www.wa.gov.au.

Submission Instructions

  POS submissions to be lodged via Tenders WA Closing date: 11 SEPTEMBER 2020, 2.30PM