South Coast Track & Private Developments

Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion.
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Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion. Please avoid publishing details of access to sensitive areas with no tracks.

South Coast Track & Private Developments

Postby Nuts » Thu 10 Mar, 2022 5:13 pm

Ownership of the permit to develop private huts on our South Coast Track appears to have been sold along with the previous owner's business (I know right, very shonky, very predictable). Also, to match this proposal, lots of public money will be demanded to bring the track up to their required 'standard'. Green's Cassy O'Connor had a bit of a chat about this one in parliament today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIKl3c9U21g

"In Tasmania’s Parliament today we asked the Parks Minister about the Queensland based, ASX listed mega-tourism company, Experience Co, who have confirmed their plans to develop five star luxury lodges along the wild, unspoiled South Coast Track. They have submitted a draft Reserve Activity Assessment (RAA) which means it’s all systems go from their end.

This is an troubling move given the Parks Minister has admitted the RAA process needs a complete overhaul. Why any proposal should be considered under such a flawed, opaque process is astounding in the first instance.

The South Coast Track is heartland country of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. An Aboriginal Heritage report can’t possibly condone the construction required to build five star lodges, and you can’t have five star lodges dotted along a one star track – a track so rough it’s described by Tasmanian-based tourism operators as wading through 85 kilometres of waist deep mud.

This track also crosses a major mountain range exposed to the full force of the Roaring Forties. It’s a formidable and wild place. It’s also a life-changing adventure for generations of bushwalkers.

Consultants have estimated that upwards of $40 million is required to get the track ‘up to standard’ for the clientele of these five star lodges. That is, Overland Track standard. Presently it’s graded ‘T2’ by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service – “a rough track”. To get it up to the standard of the much lauded Three Capes Track would cost tens of millions more.

Is this government prepared to spend over $40 million of public money facilitating the pipe dreams of the Gold Coast-based white shoe brigade? Tasking our Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service with paving paradise for a private developer, rather than acting as careful custodian of the wilderness.

And, given UNESCO’s interest in Aboriginal cultural heritage, why has no Aboriginal Heritage Assessment been commissioned by the government? Minister Petrusma dismissed this requirement in Parliament on Tuesday, saying it would happen when the developer was ready to do so!

UNESCO has asked that this happen before any development is considered.

Once again, the Liberal government is putting developers before Aboriginal Tasmanians and wilderness values.

You can help by letting the Minister know why this is a half-baked proposal that should be rejected, email her today.
jacquie.petrusma@dpac.tas.gov.au

You can also let the Queensland developers know they can keep their greedy paws off our Southwest wilderness by emailing them.
info@experienceco.com

We’ll fight this every step of the way.

For lutruwita/Tasmania and its people, always.


Cassy O’Connor MP"
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Re: South Coast Track & Private Developments

Postby grunter » Fri 11 Mar, 2022 8:04 am

https://youtu.be/8aOhSb8frKw I watched this during the week regarding SCT. Let's hope it doesn't go ahead.
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Re: South Coast Track & Private Developments

Postby tastrax » Fri 11 Mar, 2022 9:48 am

Plus there is also the 'grant' that has been provided for some of this work

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-04/ ... ea/9724798

https://business.gov.au/grants-and-prog ... recipients
Cheers - Phil

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Re: South Coast Track & Private Developments

Postby Nuts » Sat 12 Mar, 2022 8:46 am

Always lots of angles. A shame, and has always been a concern, that the argument even gets to minority counterpoints such as aboriginal heritage and equatable partnerships of existing companies (as very real these are). At the end of the day surely there is little hope if a minimalist approach to preserving wilderness isn't reason enough alone, even for the concept itself. In some ways they weaken the main event.. us humans can save wild places, even for their own sake, even just as an expression of 'progress'. With clear limits and a minimalist approach lot's of tracks could be upgraded without a worry that they are just being set up for private interests, present and future. Or then used as a precedent or springboard to other areas. Nothing wrong with a mud-free SCT, with great hardened campsites, appropriate & efficient toilets (and commercial operators able to offer a hand to the vast majority of less capable... using the same level of minimal development).

tastrax wrote:Plus there is also the 'grant' that has been provided for some of this work
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-04/ ... ea/9724798
https://business.gov.au/grants-and-prog ... recipients


Yes, good point. What happens to this money! :?
EOI, parks driven dot.com investment? :roll:
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