Instead of addressing and finding management solutions to present concerns arising from the increase in visitors to Maria Island, it seems that increasing visitor numbers even more, and upgrading infrastructure to support this increase, is the government’s priority. This includes supporting the introduction of a new, larger ferry later in 2026, pre-empting the majority public comment on the draft management plan which wanted numbers to be limited.
Opportunities for public comment on the PWS's 'Next Iconic Walk' proposal have or will comprise the EIS in late 2025, a Parliamentary Public Works Committee Inquiry in early 2026, a EPBC Act referral also in early 2026, and a West Coast Council development application in autumn 2026.
Tasmanians have already lost the right to appeal developments in national parks. Parks Minister Duigan’s statement on 18 September 2025 that the long running review of the Reserve Activity Assessment (RAA) process will not result in a new statutory process for the assessment of developments in national parks makes it clear that the government has no intention of reinstating appeal rights.
Future Tasmanian governments should provide increased funding for national parks, public land management and conservation programs to protect the values of these areas, together with balanced tourism policies that protect the natural experience, prevent environmental harm, and avoid over-commercialisation of public lands.
The TNPA opposes a proposed zipline from The Springs to a location near Strickland Falls (upper Strickland Avenue) because it is another example of a private commercial development on protected public land which impacts on both the natural and cultural (Aboriginal and historical) values of Wellington Park and the appreciation of those values by current visitors.
Changes announced for the proposed 'Next Iconic Walk' in the Tyndall Range will reduce the number of overnight nodes from 3 to 2 but will result in even more separate structures at Lakes Huntley and Mary.
Lightning-initiated wildfires have again burnt extensive tracts of wild country and likely destroyed still more areas of irreplaceable fire-sensitive vegetation. The fires continue to burn and may not be fully controlled for months.
Upgraded authoritative pre-trip information, ideally provided by the Parks and Wildlife Service, could reduce the chances of some avoidable rescues occurring when walkers get into difficulty because they have not anticipated the challenges of their planned bushwalk.
A budget estimates committee of the Tasmanian parliament has been advised that the state wants the federal government to provide most of the estimated $190 million total cost of the proposed Cradle Mountain cableway. The proposed cableway is a sop to the local tourism industry with serious environmental and social impacts rather than a serious proposal to meet an identified need.
An overwhelming majority of submissions opposed the Tasmanian Government’s proposal for a statutory Reserve Activity Assessment (RAA) process, the assessment process for developing reserved land and management planning for that land. Now it is proposing that “submissions received will be used to inform a RAA Reform options paper taking feedback into account to determine next steps”. We call for a commitment to releasing the options paper for public comment.
