Wilderness Society launches legal challenge to Walls of Jerusalem tourism development

UPDATED: THE man behind a proposed tourism development in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park has labelled a legal challenge to the luxury camp “a disgrace”.

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

UPDATED: THE man behind a proposed tourism development in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park has labelled the Wilderness Society’s legal challenge to the luxury camp “a disgrace”.

The green group on Wednesday filed documents in the Federal Court challenging the Federal Government’s approval of the helicopter-accessed high-end standing camp proposed for the World Heritage-listed wilderness.

Wilderness Society spokesman Vica Bayley said Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price’s decision – made despite 900 submissions in response to the proposal and in defiance of advice from the National Parks and Wildlife Council – was “deficient”.

“After careful consideration of the evidence and the Government’s reasons for this decision, we still think it is woefully inadequate and believe it important to test it in court,” Mr Bayley said.

CONTROVERSIAL WALLS OF JERUSALEM CAMP APPROVED

COUNCIL ADVISED AGAINST DEVELOPMENT

MINISTER SAYS EXPERT ADVICE INFORMED DECISION

EDO Tasmania, representing the Wilderness Society, will argue the Federal Government did not properly apply the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in approving the development.

Project proponent Daniel Hackett said the Wilderness Society’s decision to challenge his development’s approval came as no surprise.

“For Vica Bayley, the end game is ‘no presence is good presence’ in the World Heritage Area,” Mr Hackett said.

“In other words, lock it up, and lock users such as bushwalkers and fishers out.

“It’s a disgrace and nothing more than giving the bird to the UNESCO-endorsed Management Plan, and the Tasmanian community.”

Halls Island luxury camp proponents Daniel and Simone Hackett. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

UNESCO has repeatedly lobbied the State Government to develop a tourism plan for the state’s World Heritage areas.

Mr Hackett and his wife Simone’s proposed standing camp would remain erected all year, but visitors would be present only from November to May, according to application documents.

The site would be accessed via helicopter with a helipad to be built on the mainland next to Halls Island on Lake Malbena.

There would be about 120 helicopter flights in the area each year should the development go ahead.

The spproval from the Federal Government means the final decision on the project sits with the Central Highlands Council, which is yet to discuss the project.

The development will also be protested against in Launceston on Sunday at a rally organised by Fishers and Walkers Against Helicopter Access.

EARLIER: TASMANIA’S peak tourism industry body has lashed out at the Wilderness Society’s Federal Court legal challenge to a controversial development in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

Defending “mum-and-dad proponents” Daniel and Simone Hackett, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin labelled the Wilderness Society “hard-line conservationists” and “hypocritical in the extreme”.

“Actions speak louder than words, and unfortunately what we’re seeing now are the same tried and true tactics as they’ve applied against forestry, mining and other economic generators they don’t like,” Mr Martin said.

“The facts are the Lake Malbena project is permitted under the TWWHA Management Plan that was endorsed by UNESCO, and has been approved by both state and federal governments after extensive legislated approval process.

“But, typically, the ideologues in the conservation movement won’t accept due process when it doesn’t deliver the outcome they want, and are now dragging the process into the courts.”

UNESCO has repeatedly urged the Tasmanian Government to develop and release a tourism plan for the state’s World Heritage-listed wilderness.

EARLIER: THE Wilderness Society has announced it will challenge the Federal Government’s approval of a controversial tourism development in Tasmania’s World Heritage-listed wilderness in the Federal Court.

Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price in August ticked off on a proposal from Launceston couple Daniel and Simone Hackett to develop a standing camp and allow helicopter flights in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

This was despite the Government’s independent advisory body, the National Parks and Wildlife Council, advising against the development.

The couple’s final hurdle will be approval from the Central Highlands Council.

Wilderness Society spokesman Vica Bayley said his organisation would today launch legal action against the Federal Government’s decision.

“At the time this proposal was waved through the federal process we said that it was a deficient decision that ignored impacts on World Heritage values like wilderness,” Mr Bayley said.

An aerial image of the Walls of Jerusalem. Lake Malbena is south of the Walls in this National Park. Picture: BOB BROWN

“After careful consideration of the evidence and the government’s reasons for this decision, we still think it is woefully inadequate and believe it important to test it in court.”

The Hacketts’ proposal was first approved by the State Government and has been strenuously defended by the Liberals under questioning from the Greens.

It was put forward under the Government’s expressions of interest process, which allows for unsolicited tourism development applications in the state’s national parks.

Mr Hackett has previously dismissed challenges to his proposal as “political bullying at its most basic”.

“The Halls Island proposal has undergone multiple assessments at both state and federal levels, including two public consultation periods at the federal level,” he said last week

“We strongly believe that the results of these assessments speak for themselves.”

The development, proposed for Halls Island on Lake Malbena in the Walls of Jerusalem, will also be protested in an event organised by Fishers and Walkers Against Helicopter Access in Launceston on Sunday.