Lake Malbena development – impact on wilderness

Report

In a report commissioned by the Wilderness Society, an established wilderness-assessment methodology has been used to assess the impact on wilderness character of the proposed helicopter-based tourism development at Lake Malbena in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The assessment shows significant loss of wilderness character at the lake and in the surrounding country would occur if the development proceeds.

This loss is due to the reduction in access-time remoteness associated with allowing commercial helicopter access to the lake. The associated flight path further exacerbates the extent of impacts on wilderness values and people’s experience of it.