Next Iconic Walk criticised as ‘elitist and exclusionary’ as government defends proposal

Tipped to rival the Three Capes Track, a proposed new multi-day walk on Tasmania’s West Coast has been derided as a “purely commercial” development for wealthy tourists.

Artist’s impression of Lake Mary Hut on the proposed Next Iconic Walk near the Tyndall Range. Picture: Supplied/JAWS Architects

The proposed ‘Next Iconic Walk’ slated for the Tyndall Range has been described by critics as a “purely commercial” project that will lock non-paying bushwalkers out of the region by adopting an “elitist and exclusionary” approach to wilderness tourism.

A series of eight public consultation sessions regarding the $40m development have recently concluded, giving more than 200 attendees an idea of what the 28km walk will look like.

Located between Queenstown and Tullah, the Tyndall Range multi-day walk will boast timber huts and be set against a backdrop of dramatic mountain ridges.

Artist’s impression of a camper at Lake Malcolm on the proposed Next Iconic Walk near the Tyndall Range. Picture: Supplied/JAWS Architects

It will begin at Lake Plimsoll in the north and run to Lake Margaret Power Station in the south.

Parks and Environment Minister Nick Duigan says the “vast majority” of people who attended the consultation sessions were “positive and very supportive of the walk”, which he is adamant will bring economic and social benefits to the state’s West Coast and Tasmania more broadly.

However, not everyone is on-board with the plan. The Tasmanian National Parks Association (TNPA) has raised concerns about the scale of the development footprint and the potential risk posed to “sensitive” alpine vegetation at the top of the range.

Parks and Environment Minister Nick Duigan. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

TNPA president Nick Sawyer said the Tyndall Range walk proposal went “way beyond any traditional idea of providing refuge for walkers in the wilderness”.

“Now we’ve expanded into what is purely commercial accommodation in remote areas,” he said.

“This track doesn’t actually go over the top of the range … [and] the Tyndall Range itself is not in the World Heritage Area but it has been the conservation movement’s absolute top priority for addition to the World Heritage Area for at least the last 30 years because it’s got some extremely sensitive and special alpine vegetation.

President of Tasmanian National Parks Association Nick Sawyer. Picture: Chris Kidd

“It is going to greatly facilitate access to the top of the range and the top of the range has already got trampling issues from bushwalkers and we’re concerned that this is just going to make things an awful lot worse.”

Greens parks and public lands spokeswoman Tabatha Badger said people without the means to pay for what was likely to be an expensive experience in the Tyndall Range Conservation Area would no longer be permitted to enjoy that part of the state.

“Walkers who have moved delicately through the area for generations will have to pay fees projected to be higher than the 5-7 day Overland Track – for just two nights – should they want to visit,” she said.

Green member for Lyons Tabatha Badger. Picture: Linda Higginson

Ms Badger said this was an “elitist and exclusionary approach to managing our reserve system”.

But Mr Duigan rejected the Greens’ claim, saying he had been “clear” that people would continue to be able to walk on “existing tracks in the area” free of charge.

“The Greens consistently oppose any plan to allow sensitive and appropriate development after telling us that Tasmania’s future was in tourism – now all we hear is opposition,” he said.

Originally published as Next Iconic Walk criticised as ‘elitist and exclusionary’ as government defends proposal