Hopes Ningaloo documentary success can give Exmouth’s hype train another push, and boost environmental efforts

ABC’s three-part documentary series Ningaloo Nyinggulu came to a close last week, leaving Exmouth hoping the Tim Winton-narrated showcase of the region will be another win for local tourism. Meanwhile, environmentalists hope the national attention can give a boost to their campaigns to give the region more protection. About 268,000 people watched the finale of Ningaloo Nyinggulu on the evening of Tuesday, May 30 on free-to-air television, while 327,000 saw its opening three weeks earlier. The series of hour-long episodes featured author Winton exploring the Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range and Exmouth Gulf. Following on from the total solar eclipse on April 20, and the onset of Qantas’ direct Melbourne-Exmouth flights, Exmouth Shire president Darlene Allston said she hoped the documentary would serve as another reason to attract visitors. “Hopefully it will be an inspiration to travellers, bringing them to visit and experience what Ningaloo has to offer,” she said. Ms Allston said she also hoped the showcase of the region’s unique ecosystems could inform outsiders of its environmental importance. “Dedicated programs like this are essential to provide education globally, about our pristine environment and the world heritage status and recognition of the area,” she said. Director of Protect Ningaloo, Paul Gamblin, echoed the sentiment, saying he hoped more attention would benefit efforts to expand environmental protection for Exmouth Gulf. “It’s certainly got even more people talking about the area, and I think there is a sense of pride in Western Australia that we have this globally important area,” Mr Gamblin said. “We’re concerned about the impacts of industrial development regimes in the (Exmouth Gulf) area, we feel that the future for the area should be based much more upon well-managed tourism, increasing the aount of scientific work that’s being done there, cultural tourism, things that have a soft footprint.”