Department of Parks and Wildlife

Call for

Registrations of Interest (ROI) To operate

Perup Nature’s Guesthouse

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS

ROI Closing Date 3:00pm (WST) Tuesday 4 November 2014 ROI 2 243 2014

For more information please contact Matthew King on (08) 9334 0499 or

Matthew.King@dpaw.wa.gov.au

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................. 2

1.1. Department of Parks and Wildlife ............................................................................ 3 1.2. Objectives ............................................................................................................... 4

2. THE REGION ................................................................................................................ 4 2.1. Tourism Overview ................................................................................................... 4 2.2. Target Market .......................................................................................................... 5 2.3. Tourism Experiences .............................................................................................. 5 2.4. Visitation .................................................................................................................. 5 2.5. Perup accommodation inventory and current tariffs ................................................ 6

3. Location ......................................................................................................................... 8 4. PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE .................................................................................. 9 5. REGISTRATION OF INTEREST SUBMISSIONS ......................................................... 9

5.1. Point of Contact ....................................................................................................... 9 5.2. Site Visits ................................................................................................................ 9 5.3. Selection Criteria ..................................................................................................... 9 5.4. Response Date ..................................................................................................... 11 5.5. Respondent Information ........................................................................................ 12

6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS ........................................................................................ 13

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1. BACKGROUND The Department of Parks and Wildlife is seeking registrations of interest from suitably qualified individuals and organisations to operate Perup – Nature’s Guesthouse (Perup). Perup located in Tone Perup Nature Reserve is a research and education facility approximately 310kms from Perth and is accessed from the towns of Boyup Brook, Bridgetown and Manjimup (see section 3 – Location). Perup was opened in the late 1980s and in partnership with the University of Western Australia’s Extension Service (LANDSCOPE Expeditions) was one of the state’s first ecotourism ventures. The facility has been promoted as Perup – Nature’s Guesthouse. Perup currently provides accommodation to three main user groups, students, scientific researchers and tourists. Student groups comprise of primary and secondary schools together with TAFE and University students. The Perup facility provides on-site accommodation to visitors to experience Western Australian native wildlife in an isolated bush setting.

Entry sign

The facilities are significant and comprise:

• homestead accommodating nine guests; • bunkhouse accommodating 28 guests; • cottage, fully self-contained accommodating seven guests; • scientist cottage, self-contained and has been used specifically by visiting

researchers (seven guests); • caretaker manager’s cottage;

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• classroom with a functioning laboratory; • barbecue and picnic area adjoining accommodation; • solar and wind power generation system with a back up diesel generator; and • four walk trails designed around the rare and endangered species found in the

reserve; o Woylie Walk o Ringtail Night Walk o Bandicoot Scoot o Numbat Path

Solar and wind power generation system

The facilities and infrastructure at Perup were built in two stages commencing with the Homestead and Bunk House in 1994 followed by the cottage, caretaker accommodation, classroom/lab and power system completed in 2003.

1.1. Department of Parks and Wildlife The Department of Parks and Wildlife is the State Government’s agency that has the lead responsibility for working with the community to ensure that the nature of Western Australia is conserved, for its intrinsic values and to sustain and enrich people’s lives. Perup Nature Reserve is vested in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia and the facilities are managed by the department. Should a suitable applicant be found, authority to manage and operate accommodation and experiences at Perup – Nature’s Guesthouse will be by way of a commercial

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operations licence or lease pursuant to the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 and regulations.

1.2. Objectives The objective of this Registration of Interest process is to identify a suitable operator to manage and operate accommodation and experiences at Perup – Nature’s Guesthouse. The ideal attributes include:

a) financially secure individual, partnership or organisation with a demonstrated understanding of governance;

b) demonstrated record in operating a business, preferably in nature-based tourism;

c) commitment to cultural and environmental best practice and a willingness to work with key stakeholders to ensure a sustainable approach to the use of the natural environment;

d) knowledge of the tourism industry; e) willingness to involve local labour and businesses in the supply of services

wherever possible; f) demonstrated practical maintenance skills (buildings and gardens); g) willingness to interact with the public and with a demonstrated understanding

of public relations and people management skills; and h) prepared to live in a relatively isolated locality in terms of the South West of

WA (50km to nearest town).

2. THE REGION

2.1. Tourism Overview The South West is the leading tourism destination in regional WA, with more than 1.4 million visitors staying more than 5.5 million nights and spending nearly $600 million annually. The region’s share of international visitors to the State is 107,000 out of a State pool of 738,000 in 2011. Most visitors are from within Western Australia. There were 2,920 tourism businesses in Australia’s South West Tourism Region in 2010-11. The South West features in the top 20 of Australia’s tourism destinations and combined day and overnight visitors total 1.7 million contributing $895 million (Tourism Research Australia, 2011). The total value of tourism to Western Australia is $7.5 billion and State Government policy is to grow this to $12 billion by 2020. Tourism in the South West is principally driven by Margaret River brand awareness that integrates with international events and the “Experience the Extraordinary” marketing by Tourism WA. (Draft South West Regional Blueprint, Regional Development Australia and South West Development Commission August 2013.)

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2.2. Target Market School Groups

• Primary schools • High schools – science focus • Outdoor education groups • Bush Rangers WA (youth-based conservation and community development program)

Tertiary

• Universities • TAFEs • Honours, Masters and PhD students

Ecotourists

• Self drive tourists • Tour operators • Community groups (e.g. Church, youth, recreational, landcare, special interest

groups, businesses) • Family groups and functions • Adventure seekers

2.3. Tourism Experiences

Perup provides the opportunity to develop and expand a number of nature-based tourism experiences. While it has historically been used to cater for school groups and for scientific researchers, there is an opportunity to expand these markets as well as grow the smaller tourist market that uses the facility. The experiences that could be offered include:

• wilderness appreciation; • camping/caravanning; • wildlife viewing; • bushwalking; and • rest and relaxation.

2.4. Visitation

The Southern Forests area that includes Bridgetown, Boyup Brook, Donnybrook, Balingup, Manjimup and Pemberton averaged 294,000 visitors per annum over the three years 2011/12/13 as reported by Tourism Western Australia. Domestic visitors to the area had an estimated 758,300 visitor nights with an average stay of 2.8 nights.

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2.5. Perup accommodation inventory and current tariffs  Perup  can  accommodate  a  maximum  of  51  guests  per  night.1  

Perup  Tariffs  (2012-­‐13)   Bed  Capacity  

Lettable  Units  

Tariff  (Per  night)  

Adult   Child  Student  

Min  Rate  

The  Cottage   7   1   $80   -­‐   -­‐   -­‐  

Bunkhouse/Dormitory   28   28   -­‐   $20   $15   $75*  

Homestead  Lodge   9   1   -­‐   $20   $15   $75*  

Workers  Cottage  (Also  referred  to  as  the  “Scientist  Cottage”)  

7   1   $80   -­‐   -­‐   -­‐  

*Minimum  rate  applied  when  groups  are  only  2-­‐3  people  

 

Per Christensen Classroom

1 Strategic Destination Management Plan 2012-16 Perup – Nature’s Guesthouse; 2012; Harradine et al; Murdoch University

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20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June

Number of visitors

PERUP - NATURE'S GUESTHOUSE - OVERNIGHT VISITORS

2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

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Worker’s quarters  

Caretaker’s cottage

Bunkhouse

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3. Location

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4. PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE It is a standard Parks and Wildlife lease and licence condition that operators are covered with a minimum $10 million public liability insurance. It will be a requirement of the successful applicant that they obtain a minimum coverage of $10 million public liability insurance for the operations before an agreement is entered into. This will need to include cover for all activities allowed by the agreement. 5. REGISTRATION OF INTEREST SUBMISSIONS Applicants to this Registrations of Interest are required to address the objectives set out in section 1.2 of these guidelines. Applicants should respond to each objective in the order they are listed. A Registration of Interest submitted by an applicant will not constitute a contractually binding offer, but will form part of the basis upon which the Department of Parks and Wildlife may select an applicant to be invited to enter into negotiations for a commercial contract, at which time applicants will be required to submit a more detailed proposal.

5.1. Point of Contact All communications, requests for information or clarification of matters associated with the process should be addressed to Matthew King using the contact details listed below. Matthew King Policy and Tourism Branch Parks and Visitor Services Division Department of Parks and Wildlife 17 Dick Perry Avenue Kensington WA 6151 Telephone (08) 9334 0499 Email: Matthew.King@dpaw.wa.gov.au

5.2. Site Visits Site visits are encouraged and may be requested through the Point of Contact.

5.3. Selection Criteria If you believe you have the suitable qualifications and experience to establish and operate a tourism business at Perup – Nature’s Guesthouse please contact Matthew King at Parks and Wildlife or complete the attached Respondent Information page and we will contact you. Please also provide a brief overview of your proposal and tourism experience that you envisage at the site. This should include your skills and experience and meet the objectives outlined in section 1.2 on page 4.

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Although this document contains information about the ROI evaluation process, none of the information shall give rise to any promise or contract, and no legal relationship shall be created between the State and an applicant at any stage prior to the grant of a licence.

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5.4. Response Date

RESPONSES CLOSE AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY

3:00pm WST, Tuesday 4 November 2014

Faxed or electronic responses will not be accepted. Late responses will not be accepted. Do not assume that because your response has been posted that it will get to the Tender Box on time. Arriving at Parks and Wildlife Post Box on the closing day does not mean it will make it to the Tender Box on time. If posting, address the package as per the instructions in the guidelines. The words TENDER BOX should be highlighted. Do not assume that Express Post services from regional areas will be next day delivery. For clarification get in touch with the Point of Contact person if you are concerned your application will not be received in time.

All applicants must submit three copies of their response.

The response (as well as the outside of the envelope) should be marked:

Registration of Interest to develop and operate Perup – Nature’s Guesthouse Registrations of Interest No. ROI 2 243 2014

TENDER BOX and posted to:

Tender Box Director General Department of Parks and Wildlife Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983

Hand delivered submissions must be delivered to the Tender Box, Main Reception Desk at:

Department of Parks and Wildlife State Operations Headquarters 17 Dick Perry Avenue Technology Park – Western Precinct KENSINGTON WA 6151

Important Note: Late Submissions Parks and Wildlife may at its discretion elect to accept a late submission where the department considers it appropriate in the circumstances and it is satisfied that no applicant has been materially advantaged or disadvantaged.

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5.5. Respondent Information

Organisation Name:

Contact Person:

Postal Address:

Street Address:

Position Title:

Telephone:

Facsimile:

E-Mail:

Date:

Statement addressing key attributes: a) Financial security with a demonstrated understanding of governance. b) Demonstrated record in operating a business preferably in nature-based

tourism. c) Commitment to cultural and environmental best practice and a willingness to

work with key stakeholders to ensure a sustainable approach to the use of the natural environment.

d) Knowledge of the tourism industry. e) Willingness to involve local labour and businesses in the supply of services

wherever possible. f) Demonstrated practical maintenance skills (buildings and gardens). g) Willingness to interact with the public and with a demonstrated understanding

of public relations and people management skills. h) Prepared to live in a relatively isolated locality in terms of the South West of

WA (50km to nearest town). Proposal:

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6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Disclaimer Applicants must make and rely upon their own investigations and satisfy themselves in relation to all aspects of the project. The department will not be liable for any incorrect or misleading information or omission to disclose information in relation to any part of this document and reference documents thereto. Costs borne by applicant All costs and expenses incurred by applicants in any way associated with the project, preparation and submission of applications, including but not limited to attendance at meetings, discussions etc., and through provision of any additional information required by the department will be borne entirely and exclusively by the applicants. Addendum/General Advice Addendums and notices of General Advice may be issued during the process. These will be distributed to all registered applicants and notification will be advertised via the Parks and Wildlife website or email broadcast system. If a proposed applicant is not registered, they risk not receiving addendums or notices of General Advice. Rights to amend process The department reserves the right to amend the process set out in this document by notice in writing to applicants who have not withdrawn or been excluded from the process. Such amendments may include cancellation, variation or supplementation of the process. Absence of obligation No legal or other obligation other than those associated with this section shall rise between the applicant and the department unless and until formal project documentation has been signed and all necessary Ministerial approvals and consents have been obtained. The department is not obliged to proceed with any application or applicant. Cultural/heritage/environmental issues (if appropriate) The department takes no responsibility with respect to any site impediments including but not restricted to encumbrances on title, heritage status, native title claims and environmental, planning and other approvals. Applicants must satisfy themselves in regard to heritage status or native title claims with respect to the project area. Applicants will be obliged to comply with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Authority as these affect the project area.

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Confidentiality All information submitted by applicants will be examined and assessed by a panel appointed by the department, its specialist consultant advisers and any other party from whom the department may seek advice. The confidentiality of any information submitted by applicants, which is not available to the public, will be respected except where disclosure is permitted or required by law. All applicants will be required to maintain confidentiality with respect to their own bids and should not seek details of competing bids.