Central Highlands Council extends public submission period for controversial Lake Malbena project
A high level of community interest has prompted the Central Highlands Council to review the public submission period for the Lake Malbena tourism plans.
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A HIGH level of community interest has convinced the Central Highland Council to extend the public submission period for the Lake Malbena tourism project by 11 days.
The public will now have until 5pm on February 15 to lodge submissions regarding plans to build a standing camp on Halls Island in the Walls of Jerusalem with helicopter access for visitors.
The original deadline was February 4 but Central Highlands mayor Loueen Triffitt said the high level of public interest and the bushfires had prompted the decision to extend the public submission period.
“Council acknowledges the high level of public interest in this application and the constraints on the time and attention of the community created by the recent fire emergency situation in the Central Highlands,” Councillor Triffitt said.
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“Written representations will now be accepted until 5pm Friday, 15th February 2019.
“All application documents will remain available for consideration on council’s website or at the offices in Bothwell and Hamilton until this date.”
Launceston couple Daniel and Simone Hackett’s proposal would see the construction of four demountable buildings at Lake Malbena to provide a luxury camping experience.
Visitors would be able to kayak, fish, hike and bushwalk in the area.
It would be accessed by helicopter, with 120 return flights — 240 individual flights — planned for the 30 tourist trips to the region each year.
The pair have a private lease for Halls Island and have received state and federal approval to develop a helicopter-accessed standing camp in the area.
Mr and Mrs Hackett’s proposal has drawn the ire of conservationists, walkers and fly fishers.
The Wilderness Society is challenging the process of approval in the Federal Court.
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