We’re not radical greens, say anti-Lake Malbena fishers and walkers

UPDATED: The Wilderness Society has released a report which found the proposed Lake Malbena development would lead to “significant loss” of wilderness character in the area.

Walker and trout fisher Richard Webb leaves Halls Island on Lake Malbena in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

UPDATED: THE Wilderness Society has released a report it commissioned from wilderness consultant Martin Hawes which found the proposed Lake Malbena development would lead to “significant loss” of wilderness character in the area should it go ahead.

“[Wilderness character] would also be significantly affected by overflights in the vicinity of the proposed helicopter flight path,” the report said.

The Wilderness Society will challenge the Federal Government’s process of approving the Lake Malbena development in the Federal Court next year.

Labor Braddon MHA Shane Broad said it was “no wonder” the Society was challenging the proposal in court.

“The whole thing is all over the place,” he said.

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LAKE MALBENA PROJECT UNDER FIRE

EARLIER: FISHERS and walkers campaigning against a proposed helicopter-accessed luxury development in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park have hit out at the Government and tourism industry for dismissing them as green activists.

Fishers and Walkers Against Helicopter Access last month held a protest in Launceston against the Lake Malbena standing camp proposal.

Co-spokesman Mitchell Crowden said the group had no affiliation with the Greens or Wilderness Society and called on Premier, Parks and Tourism Minister Will Hodgman to meet his group’s members.

“It seems they fear this large moderate community element of opposition, and refuse to acknowledge it,” Mr Crowden said.

“The proposal has no social licence.”

However, project proponent Daniel Hackett said he did not believe the group’s claim it was not linked to the Greens or Wilderness Society as it had reposted press releases on its Facebook page from both groups.

Mr Hackett said: “As a small family business it is horrific to hear the extremes that this small group of anglers are willing to go to in order to destroy us personally, destroy our business, and all in the fear of other projects that don’t even exist.”

Mr Hackett and his wife Simone’s proposed standing camp on Halls Island in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area would have about 120 flights into the Walls of Jerusalem each year.

Fewer than five of 129 submissions to the Federal Government stating opposition to the project were from typically green groups.

The bulk were from walkers and fishers, including Anglers Alliance Tasmania, which represents about 27,000 members.

The Australian Heritage Council and the Aboriginal Heritage Council also urged the federal government not to approve the project.

The proposal has received the green light from the state and federal governments and Mr Hodgman has called on Tasmanians to back tourism developments that tick the boxes.

Mr Crowden emphasised his group was not anti-development or anti-tourism and suggested Wild Drake instead consider flying tourists to the edge of the World Heritage Area and walking to Lake Malbena.

“The rules have been bent to allow [this development] and we’re constantly told the process has been rigorous by the development side, when in fact it’s been revealed in numerous leaked documents that almost every bit of official advice sought, recommended the development not go ahead,” Mr Crowden said.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin acknowledged the group’s opposition to the proposal but said: “I’d urge them to be careful they’re not being used by the conservation movement.”