Jasmine Kassis. (Wednesday 10 July 2024). Occasional closure part of Indigenous Protected Area plan for troubled Never Never River's Promised Lands. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-10/never-never-river-bellingen-indigenous-protected-area/103993356
Analysis -
This website contains a review of the current state of the Never Never River which may have a positive outcome for the river as it contains the effects that tourists and other visitors have on the waterway, possibly influencing viewers to have a deeper consideration and care factor for the area when and if they choose to visit. The website also includes plans and ideas from organisations that are looking t0 help the preservation of the area and support the biodiversity that may be struggling due to the impacts of the contamination. These plans being open to the public, allow the locals of the Bellingen shire to understand the issues going on in their home and have a platform to help and share their valuable feedback on how to help the area themselves. This website has an overall positive impact on the environment at risk and should be something more talked about.
James Booth. (Friday 10 March 2023). I swam in Australia's 'best kept secret.' It was full of sh*t. Escape. https://www.escape.com.au/destinations/australia/nsw/i-swam-in-australias-best-kept-secret-it-was-full-of-sht/news-story/2659e561c43e5be61a2263ca6a995fb9
Analysis -
This website is a review on a tourist's visit to the Never Never River and includes experiences, social media reviews, assumptions on the area and the popular issue of the amount of faecal matter contaminating the water. The impact on viewing this website possibly has both positive and negative effects for the area as it covers areas of stigma surrounding both Bellingen and the Never Never River. The author both dismisses certain beliefs and reinforces others which can leave viewers either enticed to visit or are left more deterred from visiting. The author did mention the environmentally sensitive community Bellingen has which may bring a better view of consideration for people who may be adding to the damage being caused in the area. But being honest, the author stated he found the area as naturally beautiful and peaceful and the media makes it out to be, which can lead to a bigger tourist population then what is safe for the area. Overall, the website is a great resource for visitors of the Promised lands, but if received the wrong way can cause dangerous amounts of tourists who end up ruining the space for the animals, plants and locals who call the area home.
Indiana Hansen, Fiona Poole, Nick Parmeter. (Wednesday 18 January 2023). The Promised Land swimming hole near Bellingen records faecal contamination of water. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-18/promised-land-swimming-hole-bellingen-faecal-contamination/101844606
Analysis -
This website is a resourceful blog describing the state of Gleniffer after the pandemic where tourists are finally coming back out on holidays. The Bellingen council has done testing of the waters to find out about the faeces contamination. The website is very informative of how the water has been contaminated, about how the Never Never river is extremely popular over the holidays, how the council has made efforts to limit the amount of people coming in but they believe they need to do more. This website is a strong source of information on what has happened recently to Gleniffer and why as a tourist you need to care for the pristine waterway.
Jonny Melon. (January 3, 2024). The Promised Land Bellingen – Visitor’s Guide. Jonny Melon. https://www.jonnymelon.com/promised-land-bellingen/
Analysis -
This website is a great resource for newcomers of Bellingen to discover the beautiful waterways it has to offer however, its websites like these that cause tourist like occurrences to occur in the precious area like overpopulation and littering which damage the area for the animals and plants to survive and the locals who call the area home. Fortunately, the blog recommends for visitors to go at quieter times avoiding the crowds and to take their rubbish protecting the area from contamination as well as providing the views with information on the communities environmentally sensitive mindset towards Gleniffer, hopefully maintaining a considerate mindset for visitors.
Jack Evans. (January 19, 2023). TikTok-famous swimming hole turned to ‘s***’. News.com. https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/health-safety/tiktokfamous-swimming-hole-turned-to-s/news-story/9f05041d52fd389f3c0013bc20ca5372
Analysis -
This website contains information about how the Never Never River has recently had record breaking high readings of faeces readings of human and dog mainly. Listed examples of what has come out of this contamination such as high readings of enterococcus bacteria which can lead to illnesses. Mainly blamed on the social media influencers, this website can result in a positive way because of the knowledge of how the river is getting contaminated by over-population of tourists and the results of this with unhealthy water.