Wild Drake releases artist’s impression of Lake Malbena huts

The Launceston couple behind a controversial tourism development within World Heritage-listed wilderness has released a first look at their proposed Halls Island standing camp.

In anticipation for an upcoming development application and public comment period, the Hackett family has released the first artist’s impression of their proposed Lake Malbena eco-tourism standing camp. Picture: CUMULUS STUDIO

THE Launceston couple behind a controversial tourism development within World Heritage-listed wilderness has released a first look at their proposed Halls Island standing camp.

Daniel and Simone Hackett’s plans for a helicopter-accessed development on Lake Malbena in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park will likely be released for public comment by the Central Highlands Council at the end of the month.

Mr Hackett on Wednesday released an impression of one of three planned huts that will make up the standing camp as designed by Tasmanian firm Cumulus Studio.

The camp is expected to be in place year round.

“It’s exciting to see the fruition of three years’ worth of design work, combined with 10 years of operational experience in the TWWHA coming together through the Lake Malbena project,” Mr Hackett said.

“The standing camp design requires less than a week to fully install, or fully remove, with only a few tent-peg like anchors used to secure the pods on-site.

“The infrastructure footprint is respectfully minimal: approximately 65m2, and the camp would be completely hidden when viewed from off-island, or from our existing historical hut on the island.”

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Cumulus Studio director Todd Henderson said the Lake Malbena design was “an interesting challenge”.

“Daniel and Simone’s brief called for a lightweight, fully demountable camp design, while delivering aesthetics that paid homage to the existing, culturally significant Hall’s Hut,” Mr Henderson said.

“At no point were the ‘rigid tents’ to be the hero; instead, the natural bush would remain as the endearing feature, while the shelters blend in to the landscape as a recessive feature.”

The Hacketts, who plan to develop the site under the company name of Wild Drake, announced this week they would allow public access to Halls Island to anyone with “a history of respectful relations with the owners”.

The couple has copped flak for their Lake Malbena proposal, with concerns about the potential privatisation of Halls Island and the use of helicopters to fly high-end tourists into the proposed development.

The Wilderness Society has launched a Federal Court challenge to the Federal Government’s approval of the development, which also faces approval from the Central Highland Council before it can proceed.