Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor says Lake Malbena wilderness plan part of a ‘corrupted’ process

UPDATED: A CONTROVERSIAL proposal for a camp in World Heritage-listed wilderness will create three full-time jobs, leaked documents have revealed.

Aerial image of the Walls of Jerusalem. Lake Malbena is south of the Walls in this National Park. Picture: Bob Brown

A CONTROVERSIAL proposal for a camp in World Heritage-listed wilderness will create three full-time jobs, leaked documents have revealed.

A Parks and Wildlife Service reserve activity assessment for a fishing camp at Lake Malbena reveals the proposal will involve the construction of six demountable buildings and 120 helicopter flights a year.

The Greens said the plan had been secretly recommended for approval almost three years ago in what leader Cassy O’Connor described as “a corrupted process”.

“This proposal is one of 30 proposals that have been going through a secretive Expressions of Interest process for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area,” Ms O’Connor said. “This is the only World Heritage area on the planet that has the word ‘wilderness’ in its name.

“You can measure wilderness, you can protect it and you can destroy it. And the Liberals are setting about degrading and destroying wilderness values.”

Lake Malbena looking towards Halls Island in Tasmania. Picture: LYNDSEY EVANS

Project proponent Daniel Hackett said the Greens had been irresponsible in releasing his private financial information.

He said the impact of the proposal had been overstated.

“The helicopter route has been chosen to avoid people and wilderness areas and walking routes. It is pretty sensitive,” Mr Hackett said.

“We’ve said at every step of the way talk to us, have a chat, look out for the public comment period of the EPBC Act assessment period and have your say.”

He said the buildings which made up the standing camp would be flown into position and could be removed without any lasting sign of their presence.

“A standing camp is nothing new. We’ve got one on the Central Plateau already,” he said.

And Mr Hackett said he believed his project had come under fire in particular because it was the first to come through the government’s EOI process.

Bushwalker and angler Brett Smith has also been active in the debate over the proposal.

“I’ve been walking in those areas since I could carry a pack,” he said.

“It’s a passion I have for the area. A lot of anglers who walk in the Western Lakes and the Walls of Jerusalem feel that this proposal is very detrimental to the ambience of the area and its wilderness values.

“My young fellow is coming walking with me, it’s about preserving it for him.

“I can guarantee that everyone who walks in those areas is dead against it, and everybody is up in arms about the secrecy of the thing.”

In State Parliament on Tuesday, Premier Will Hodgman said the EOI process had been designed to protect both wilderness values and the commercial integrity of proposals.

“We are ensuring that not only are our precious wilderness areas well-protected … but also utilised to ensure that Tasmania’s visitor economy and the businesses within it and the people who work for them are able to access opportunities in our wilderness areas, including in the

World Heritage area, national parks, through an expressions of interest process that was designed to open our state for sensible and sustainable eco-tourism business to make Tasmania an eco-tourism capital of the world,” he said.

EARLIER: PREMIER Will Hodgman has accused the conservation movement of hypocrisy over its opposition to helicopter flights in wilderness areas.

Mr Hodgman, who is also minister for Parks, said the Greens were opposed to helicopter flights to Lake Malbena in the state’s Central Highlands, but revealed Bob Brown had applied for permission to fly in a helicopter over the Tarkine.

His comments came after Greens leader Cassy O’Connor described the Government’s approach to developments in National Parks as “a corrupted process”.

Ms O’Connor said anglers were up in arms over a wilderness camp being proposed at Lake Malbena.

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Greens leader Cassy O’Connor. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“What do you have to say to people who believe they’ve been shut out and their enjoyment of the wilderness is under threat from a corrupted process?” she asked.

Mr Hodgman said the process had been designed to protect both wilderness values and the commercial integrity of proposals.

And he hit back at Dr Brown’s intention to fly over the Tarkine.

“If the member is so concerned about people flying in and out of these areas by helicopter, what does she say about Bob Brown asking permission earlier this month to fly across the Tarkine to show it off to an international visitor?” he said.

“What do you say about Bob Brown degrading the environmental values?”

Dr Brown said he had long used helicopters during his campaigns to protect areas of special significance.

“The Tarkine is not World Heritage. I’ve very happy to desist once the Tarkine is World Heritage listed.

“The easiest way to stop me from flying over the Tarkine is to declare it World Heritage.”

Dr Brown said he was happy to debate Mr Hodgman over his management of the state’s natural environment any time the Premier wished.