Assessing the Social Impacts of the South East Queensland Horse Riding Trail Network: Methods Report.

SEBASTIAN ROSSI; CATHERINE PICKERING; JASON BYRNE

Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts

Lugar: Brisbane; Año: 2011 p. 43

9781922216427

The first part of the research required surveys of park users to be conducted to provide qualitative and quantitative information about issues that concern them. The surveys used were: 1) a core survey with minor modifications from the original survey pilot tested by Rossi and Pickering in 2010, 2) an extended survey including questions regarding change in status of the sites and, 3) an extended survey including questions regarding visitor values. The survey instruments were tested during a pilot survey, and minor refinements made before the main field work. The field work for the survey of park users commenced in April 2011 and was completed in October 2011 with a total of 724 people surveyed across seven sites (~Parks/reserves e.g. DAguilar NP - South section), Nerang NP, Springbrook NP, Tewantin NP, Mapleton FR, Glass House Mountains NP, DAguilar NP - North section) covering the SEQ-HTN. The first site (D-Aguilar NP - South Section) was surveyed on 6 days over the extended Easter period in 2011 to obtain a large enough dataset to be able to compare among different user groups, with 75% of visitors given the core survey, and 25% given the extended survey including questions regarding the change in status of the site. The other sites were surveyed using the extended survey including questions regarding visitor values in September- October 2011 to assess if patterns of use, attitudes and values were consistent among parks/reserves. Across all people surveyed (79% response rate), the most popular activities were bushwalking (285 people), mountain biking (261), running (62), trail bike riding (29), picnicking (24), horse riding (12), dog walking (10) and other less common activities (34). Types of use varied dramatically among sites, with hiking the only activity undertaken in all Parks. Based on the 288 visitor surveyed at Site 1 (DAguilar NP South), the most popular activities were bushwalking (121 people), mountain bike riding (95), running (39), dog walking (6), horse riding (5), bird watching (4), nature encounter (4), volunteering (3), socialising (2), picnicking (2), conservation (1), fishing (1), praying (1) and scenic driving (1). At this site, there was a neutral to positive perception about mountain biking, horse riding, bushwalking, running, picnicking and dog walking, but unauthorised use by trail bikes and 4WD were perceived as having a negative effect on visitor experiences. Further analysis of the visitor data will be undertaken including assessing if patterns found at Site 1 apply more generally and comparing demographic, attitudes and usage patterns amongst major user groups. Once the visitor survey analysis is completed, the second stage of the research will be undertaken in the first half of 2012. This will involve conducting interviews to stakeholder groups who may not be captured through the park user survey. These interviews will provide qualitative information about their perceptions of the SEQ-HTN. Details of the methods that will be used for the interviews are given in this report. The third and final stage of the research will examine impacts of the horse riding trail network on the broader community. It will involve conducting surveys of local communities including park neighbours to provide qualitative and quantitative information about any off-site social impacts of the SEQ-HTN. Catchment communities will be identified based on the visitor survey data. Details of how the catchment communities will be surveyed in the second half of 2012 are given in the report.