Mona’s DarkLab proposal for a Huon Valley attraction “in the mix”

Mona’s DarkLab tourism fix for the bushfire battered Huon Valley is in the recovery plan “mix”.

Mona’s DarkLab tourism fix for the bushfire battered Huon Valley is in the recovery plan “mix”. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE state’s peak tourism body remains hopeful of federal funding for a Mona-led tourism attraction to help the Huon region get back on its feet.

The Huon Valley’s major drawcard, the Tahune airwalk, will be closed for at least the rest of this year due to bushfire damage.

One month ago, Mona’s DarkLab, Destination Southern Tasmania and the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania wrote to Liberal Senator Jonathan Duniam seeking funds for a bold idea to draw people to the Huon.

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The proposed DarkLab attraction would be a “large-scale, semi-permanent public art installation” around the Geeveston/Dover area based on the theme of “dark skies” and taking advantage of southern Tasmania’s status as one of the least light-polluted locations on Earth.

The installation is planned to open in June and stay open for several months.

“To enable the opportunity to be progressed, DarkLab requires a commitment of $2 million to achieve an activation of enough scale to attract and sustain visitor activity over several months,” the letter said.

Dover business Post Office 6985 closed due to bushfire threat near the town (Dover is ok... owners may live in a high risk area). Bushfires (Bush Fires) February 2019 Tasmania. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

TICT CEO Luke Martin said there was some urgency around helping the Huon region’s tourism economy get back on its feet. “No-one has shot it down. It seems like it’s all in the mix as part of bushfire recovery,” he said.

Senator Duniam said the Federal Government was keen to support the Huon region and had been working with the local council and State Government.

“I’m hopeful we will see results of that work soon,” he said.

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