Freycinet Experience Walk DA: Freycinet Resort owner accuses rival of ‘double standards’
An East Coast resort owner has accused a rival of double standards for opposing his expansion before unveiling their own, a claim denied on the basis the two plans are “apples and oranges”.
Tasmania
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The owner of an East Coast resort has accused a renowned eco-tourism operator of double standards for opposing his proposed expansion but putting forward their own plan for new infrastructure – albeit demountable – in a national park.
Coles Bay Holdings, the owner of 10-villa Freycinet Resort, and Freycinet Experience Pty Ltd, the owner of Freycinet Experience Walk and Friendly Beaches Lodge, have been locked in dispute since 2020.
The dispute relates to the former’s proposal to add an additional 28 villas, staff cabins, a new carpark and other infrastructure to its approximately 400ha Mt Paul site, which is privately owned.
Freycinet Experience (referred to in previous media reports as Saltwater Lagoon Pty Ltd) previously appealed Glamorgan–Spring Bay Council’s approval of its rival’s expansion, arguing not enough consideration was given to the area’s “high priority biodiversity values”.
The appeal remains before the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
A new front in the war has now opened after Freycinet Experience lodged its own development application – within Freycinet National Park proper – for the reinstatement of ‘standing camps’ at Bluestone Bay and Cooks Beach, for use by hikers on its guided walks.
According to a report in support of the application, the camps formerly existed until about the mid-2000s before they were scratched in favour of hikers using the Friendly Beaches Lodge as the base for all three nights of their tour, as opposed to a progressive itinerary.
Freycinet Experience seeks to reinstate the camps, which would both feature a communal kitchen/dining tent, six two-person tents, and a demountable toilet block.
Tom Yang, Coles Bay Holdings’ director, criticised Freycinet Experience’s proposal as “double standards,” in light of their opposition to his company’s plans.
“It is very interesting that this party who did not allow a development in private land [because of] ‘high priority biodiversity values,’ now would like to have a development in the national park,” Mr Yang said.
“Does [Freycinet Experience] think that they are special and outside the rules? Their development proposal is more sensitive and on public land. [They have] double standards.”
Mr Yang was asked whether he truly believed a permanent 28-villa expansion was comparable to two bush camps that will have little permanent infrastructure, replying it was a matter for other people’s “judgment”.
He said he offered to delete 13 villas from his proposal during an April mediation, but this was rejected by Freycinet Experience.
“I do not believe the number of units is the true issue here,” he said.
Freycinet Experience, whose founders Joan Masterman and Ken Latona are widely considered to have pioneered Tasmania’s eco-tourism industry, retorted that the two proposals were “apples and oranges”.
Whereas their proposal was minimalistic and involved “reclaiming” campsites to which they had been entitled since the company’s founding in 1992 – “we’ve had those rights for 30 years” – the “massive” resort proposal would permanently blight the Mt Paul skyline.
Freycinet Experience director Michael Masterman – Joan’s son – said the company “has had the licence to operate the camps for a long time and we have exceptional environmental credentials”.
“A lot of this [the DA] is just updating compliance so we can put the camps back in,” he said.
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