Claims contentious Flinders Chase lodges planned by Australian Walking Company ‘would have gone up like a torch’
A court battle to block contentious accommodation in Flinders Chase National Park will go ahead in June, as protesters claim the lodges would have been torched in the island’s bushfires.
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A court battle to block controversial accommodation plans for Flinders Chase National Park will be heard in June, as protesters say the buildings would have “gone up like a torch” in this month’s inferno.
It comes as Environment Minister David Speirs has said the project won’t progress this year.
Australian Walking Company wanted to build new accommodation at Sandy Creek and Sanderson Bay to service high-end tours of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail – but the track was this month destroyed by the blaze that virtually wiped out the park.
Kangaroo Island Eco Action last year began court action in a bid to have approvals by the State Commission Assessment Panel and Native Vegetation Council thrown out, amid a range of concerns including habitat destruction and a lack of community consultation.
Following the fires which have ripped through the island, group spokesman Fraser Vickery said the case, to be heard in the Supreme Court next month, was now adjourned until June.
He said the blazes devastating the island in December and January also demonstrated huge safety concerns.
“Can you can imagine what would have happened with this development and a fire like this going over the top of that?” he said.
“They had this pretty basic building prepared for a refuge. It would have gone up like a torch in this fire. Even Southern Ocean Lodge couldn’t protect people from the fire – they had to go into a specially prepared bunker.
“This is a lesson for anybody putting these developments in these wilderness areas that it is completely inappropriate ecologically but it’s also completely unsafe.”
Mr Vickery understood there were questions over whether the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail would be rebuilt in its original location.
Environment Minister David Speirs today told ABC the project had been due to progress throughout this year.
“That won’t be the case now because simply the landscape and the place where that was going to be is completely different, it’s completely burnt”,” he said.
Mr Speirs told The Advertiser it would take “some time” to determine the full extent of damage in Flinders Chase.
“The assessment will progress as soon as it is safe to do so and it is no longer an active fire ground,” he said.
“The State Government still has an agreement in place with the Australian Walking Company but given the situation on Kangaroo Island that agreement will need to be reviewed and considered further in the context of the current fire situation.”
Australian Walking Company executive director Neil Lynch said the project was subject to the legal case being resolved.
“Flinders Chase National Park has been severely damaged including the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail and further discussions need to happen with the Department for Environment and Water who may reassess aspects of the rebuild,” Mr Lynch said.
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He said the project involved “extensive work” with the Country Fire Service and referral body South Australia Fire Solutions.
“For the opposing group to suggest they now have concerns about the fire safety risk or more deaths is irresponsible and illogical,” Mr Lynch said.
“This oversimplifies a complex problem where there was extensive damage to the park with buildings lost both inside and outside of the area.
“Evacuation is always the solution whether you are beachside or not, as was the case with residents and tourists who were impacted by these bushfires.”
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au
