Lake Malbena proponents to appeal against Central Highlands Council knockback

The couple behind a proposal for a helicopter-accessed luxury standing camp within the Wilderness World Heritage Area say they will appeal against the blocking of their development.

Simone and Daniel Hackett, front centre, listen to Nick McKim speak at the Central Highlands Council meeting. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

THE couple behind a proposal for a helicopter-accessed luxury standing camp within the Wilderness World Heritage Area say they will appeal against the blocking of their development.

Daniel and Simone Hackett fronted the Central Highlands Council meeting on Tuesday to argue why their Lake Malbena proposal should be allowed to proceed.

The council rejected it 6-3 against the advice of their planner and despite previous state and federal sign-offs. It received 1344 submissions lobbying against the Hacketts’ application.

COUNCIL REJECTS LAKE MALBENA PROPOSAL

“While we sympathise with the passion shown on the day, the council had a clear, single role: to assess the development application against the planning scheme,” Mr Hackett said on Wednesday.

“Despite the best efforts and advice of the council planner, and having the required information and resources, we feel strongly that a number of councillors failed in this role.

“We will appeal this decision in due course.”

An artist’s impression of the proposed Lake Malbena standing camp. Picture: CUMULUS STUDIO

Mr and Mrs Hackett’s development application would have had four huts constructed on Halls Island, which they privately lease, and tourists helicoptered in to a naturally formed landing site at the nearby Central Plateau Conservation Area.

The proposal would have had up to 240 flights carrying tourists into the Walls of Jerusalem National Park over 60 days each year.

The proponents had agreed to a range of measures aimed at protecting the wilderness values of the site and argued helicopter travel was the most environmentally friendly way of accessing the area.

The Federal Environment Department last year gave what was effectively its approval by determining the proposal as not requiring assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act. The Commonwealth’s green light was given against the advice of its own independent heritage advice body, the Australian Heritage Council.

The State Government gave its thumbs up after rezoning the formerly protected site within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area specifically to allow the development to proceed.

BIG TICK FOR WILDERNESS CAMP PLANS ON LAKE MALBENA

ISLAND REZONED AFTER TOURISM PROPOSAL RECEIVED

TH epacked Central Highlands Council meeting on Tuesday. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

The council was the Hacketts’ final hurdle for construction. But councillors this week knocked the proposal back on several grounds, including issues with bushfire risk and stormwater management.

Mayor Loueen Triffitt afterwards said she felt the council had been made a test case for the State Government’s expressions of interest process, which invites unsolicited development proposals for public land, including in the TWWHA.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin on wednesday accused the Central Highlands Council of listening to a “stacked public gallery” over planning experts.

“The council’s decision demonstrates there are robust and appropriate planning and community consultation processes in place for all tourism proposals within Tasmania’s protected areas and World Heritage Areas, as there should be,” Mr Martin said.

“This process means there will be occasions like Tuesday where councils may err to the sentiment of a stacked public gallery over the recommendations of their own qualified planning experts.”

LAKE MALBENA PROPOSAL SET FOR COURT BATTLE

GALLERY: HALLS ISLAND STANDING CAMP PROPOSAL

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor on Wednesday said her party would move to end the expressions of interest process when parliament resumes next month “in the interests of Tasmania’s wilderness and every Tasmanian who loves it”.

The Wilderness Society will proceed with its Federal Court appeal at the end of March against the Federal Environment Department’s process of approval.