Government quietly extends deadlines for controversial Lake Malbena wilderness project
The state government has secretly struck a deal over the controversial Lake Malbena wilderness project. DETAILS >>>
Tasmania
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The state government secretly extended the deadlines for a controversial development inside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, budget estimates hearings have revealed.
Earlier this week, the Liberals announced reforms to the Expressions of Interest process for developments in national parks – including time limits on developments.
Plans for a standing camp on Halls Island in Lake Malbena were first proposed in 2015, but it still hasn’t been built amid protests and legal action by conservation groups.
Parks Minister Jacquie Petrusma said that the government has extended the completion deadlines for the project at the proponent’s request.
“Wild Drake have demonstrated best endeavours to progress the necessary environmental approvals for their proposal in accordance with the conditions detailed in the lease, but they have been significantly delayed by a number of protracted legal appeals,” she said.
“Given the planning requirements in the ongoing environmental approval processes underway, termination of the lease would create uncertainty for all parties, including the Crown.
“This is a reasonable and fair approach and by no way provides any green light for any approval processes.”
Project proponent Daniel Hackett said the suggestion the extension was secret were incorrect as his application was published on a government website months ago and he had uploaded the amended deed to his website on Wednesday night.
Tasmanian National Parks Association president Nicholas Sawyer said all commercial developments in national parks should be halted.
“If the state government really wants to ensure that our magnificent national parks remain an asset in perpetuity it should implement measures to keep commercial developments out of our national parks, not the opposite,” he said.
Tasmanian campaign manager for the Wilderness Society Tom Allen said the developments were unpopular.
“Given the near-universal unpopularity of and widespread public opposition to the Hodgman, Gutwein and now Rockliff government’s continued parks privatisation push, business as usual wasn’t really tenable although these changes don’t go far enough,” he said.
Ms O’Connor also asked Ms Petrusma why the government had renewed the contract of Parks and Wildlife Service chief Jason Jacobi.
“Since Mr. Jacobi came to lead the Parks and Wildlife Service, it’s reported to us on a semi-regular basis there has been a high level of dissatisfaction from staff, tourism operators and the general public in both his performance, his communication and the direction the Parks Service has taken,” she said.
“Can you confirm you’re aware of this range of concerns from a range of stakeholders and can you outline why his contract was extended?”
Ms Petrusma said she has received “lots of positive feedback” about Mr Jacobi’s performance.
“We must talk to different people,” Ms O’Connor said.
Ms Petrusma also said she was not aware of any internal investigation into Mr Jacobi.
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