Lake Malbena Appeal
The decision in our appeal against proposed helicopter-accessed visitor accommodation at Lake Malbena was announced on 15 September 2021. It was a 2:1 majority decision in our favour by the full bench of the Supreme Court.
Proposed ‘Next Iconic Walk’
PWS has released the 198 page feasibility study for its ‘next iconic walk’, proposed to be constructed in the Tyndall Range. Total cost of construction is now estimated at $37 million. Surely this much money could be better spent elsewhere!
Cradle Mountain Cableway
Everybody had thought that the most preposterous aspect of the 2016 Cradle Mountain Master Plan – the cableway from the visitor centre to Dove Lake – had long been forgotten. But the nightmare is turning into reality with the Coordinator General announcing it to the annual conference of the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania as a fait accompli.
UNESCO decision on TWWHA
The World Heritage Committee has raised questions about the relationship between the recently-finalised TWWHA Tourism Master Plan, the Management Plan and the Expression of Interest process.
Cradle Mountain Visitor Experience Master Plan
Released in 2016, the Cradle Mountain Visitor Experience Master Plan is better characterised as an ambit claim from the tourism industry but is still driving development at Cradle despite some glaring inadequacies.
Devils on Maria Island
The insurance population of Tasmanian Devils on Maria Island has wiped out all breeding colonies of Little Penguins. This situation demonstrates an alarming failure of management responsibility by PWS and DPIPWE.
kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car rejected
The kunanyi proposal has finally been rejected by the Hobart City Council by 9 votes to 3. Removal of the looming threat of the cable car should leave the way open for rational consideration of all aspects of management of The Mountain.
Maria Island Management Plan
The review of the Maria Island National Park management plan has finally commenced. Visitor numbers have been rising rapidly and further increases are anticipated, but it seems no consideration is being given to limiting visitor numbers.
TWWHA Tourism Master Plan
The long-awaited Tourism Master Plan for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area was released on 1st June 2021. While some content is better than expected, it is not a statutory document and can only provide context and guidance on how the Management Plan should be interpreted and applied.
Election Manifesto 2021
In the lead-up to the forthcoming 2021 Tasmanian State election, we have prepared an Election Manifesto listing our major concerns with government policy and practice.