Parks fee hike triple current inflation rates

If you go down in the woods next month, you’re sure of a big surprise: park entry fees are rising by up to 66 per cent. SEE THE BREAKDOWN >>

• Parks and Wildlife Service signs being refaced
• Tassie wildlife coming out to play as parks closed to human visitors

IF YOU go down to the woods next month, you’re sure of a big surprise: fees to access national parks will jump by up to 66 per cent from September 1.

The government says the price rises — which are up to three times more than inflation — will “provide value for Tasmanians”.

The fee rise also creates a new class of park: the Icon National Park at Cradle Mountain, which will cost even more than a regular park.

Day passes for an individual will rise by 66 per cent to $20, vehicle passes by 66 per cent to $40 and eight-week passes by between 25 and 33 per cent.

Going to Cradle Mountain for the day will cost 51 per cent more for an adult as prices rise from $16.50 to $25 and a family day pass will rise 45 per cent to $60.

The price of parks passes were last increased ten years ago, over the period the consumer price index has risen by 20 per cent

Longer term passes will be cheaper: the cost of two year passes will fall by six per cent to $115 and one year passes by six per cent to $90.

Environment and Parks Minister Roger Jaensch said the price hikes were the government's way of “modernising the structure” of parks entry fees.

“Prices for two-year and annual parks passes, which are most commonly-purchased by Tasmanians, will decrease from 1 September 2020,” he said.

PAY PER VIEW: Cradle Mountain.

The changes were originally due to take effect from 1 May 2020 but were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is the first major change to prices in over a decade and it will allow us to keep the cost down for locals who visit more frequently,” Mr Jaensch said.

Locals make up 64 per cent of visitors to local national parks — although that figure is currently 100 per cent as the state’s borders remain closed to tourists.

“A new icon park fee at Cradle Mountain has also been created to reflect the special experience offered to visitors, and the additional services required to manage visitor numbers such as the dedicated shuttle bus service,” Mr Jaensch said.

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Greens leader Cassy O’Connor called the fee hike a mistake.

“Thousands of Tasmanians have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19. Peoples’ income, as well as their world, has shrunk.

“Being able to access our beautiful, public Parks since the restrictions eased has been a salvation for so many Tasmanians.

“Slugging them more for a day out enjoying protected areas is just thoughtless and self defeating.”

The fee hike is expected to raise an extra $3 million a year based on pre-COVID admission figures.

Labor’s Environment, Parks and Heritage spokeswoman Alison Standen said parks fees needed to be “affordable for Tasmanians to visit their own backyard.”

“Our concern is that this announcement comes at precisely the wrong time when we are trying to encourage Tasmanians to get out and enjoy the state,” she said.

The Parks service said offering a discount for Tasmanian residents only would be unconstitutional.

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