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Abstract: The stratigraphy of fringing coral reef environments and platforms provides unique insights into reef development and evolution. This study used twelve sediment cores from three transects across a reef flat in Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island (NE Australia), to examine its development over the Holocene. The maximum thickness of the Holocene reefal material based on seismic and bore log data was around 5m and comparable to other fringing reefs in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Six different sedimentary facies were identified in the cores and two coincided with reef accretion: the lower muddy sand with coral rubble and the upper siliciclastic sand with coral rubble. Radiocarbon and U-series dates show that the Nelly Bay fringing reef initiated around 6300yr BP on a gently sloping, unconsolidated or weakly cemented Pleistocene alluvial sedimentary facies. The ages of four massive coral heads (range between 5790 and 6290 calibrated C-14 yr BP) were almost contemporaneous with reefal initiation indicating that conditions were favourable for reef growth around this time. Vertical accretion rates for the Nelly Bay fringing reef were, on average about 0.5mm/yr over the last 6000yr, although rates were as high as 5mm/yr during initiation. Average lateral accretion rates varied from 98 to 120mm/yr, which are comparable to rates of other fringing reefs in the region. The age structure of the lower muddy sedimentary facies was consistent with the classic seaward prograding model of fringing reef development. In contrast, the upper siliciclastic sand with coral rubble facies was much younger in age (<1100yr BP) than the models and appears to represent an erosional unconformity between the upper and lower reefal facies possibly linked to late Holocene sea-level fall. This younger facies extends laterally across the reef flat and has no obvious prograding symmetry. Our integrated approach, using multi-proxy analyses of sediment cores from the Nelly Bay reef flat, highlights the complex development of this reef which include changes in coral composition and rubble preservation, reef evolution in response to sea-level change and changes in reef accretion rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tourism is increasingly perceived as important for island sustainability, though it also has impacts. Impacts on host communities have negative consequences on desired interactions with visitors, an important visitor appeal of islands. This paper uses social exchange and social representation theories to investigate island community perceptions of tourism development and impacts. The investigations highlight a diversity of island community perspectives, the salient tourism consequences, and importantly the processes that lead to the perceived impacts. On Magnetic Island, the development of resorts, changes to the type of visitor and consequent changes to the social environment were uncovered reasons not to interact with visitors. On Bruny Island, visitors overcrowding island infrastructure was highlighted as a key reason not to interact with visitors. On both islands, the reason not to interact was more due to the process of tourism development decision-making, rather than the consequent impacts of these developments. Overall, the research highlights the need for community inclusion and consultation in sustainable island tourism policy and planning, both to facilitate the process of sustainable development and to educate communities of the likely consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the feasibility of setting up a tourist-focused boat business on Magnetic Island, Townsville, Australia. Environmental concerns involving the operation of the business; Possible returns from the business; Alternative options with regard to operating an eco-tourism business on the island.