Minister denies dragging his feet on $40m Tyndall Ranges walk

Tasmania’s Parks Minister has denied going slow on building a $40m flagship tourism development on the state’s West Coast to save money.

Artist’s impression of Lake Mary Hut on the proposed Next Iconic Walk near the Tyndall Range. Picture: Supplied/JAWS Architects

Tasmania’s Parks Minister has denied going slow on building a $40m flagship tourism development on the state’s west coast to save money.

The Liberals first promised to build the Next Iconic Walk in 2018, with the Tyndall Ranges selected to host the 28km multi-day hut-based experience.

Artist’s impression of Lake Huntley Hut on the proposed Next Iconic Walk near the Tyndall Range. Picture: Supplied/JAWS Architects

It had an original budget of $20m.

Parliamentary budget estimates committee hearing in Hobart heard it won’t be open for visitors until early 2029.

Labor’s Rebecca White grilled Minister Nick Duigan about the project on Wednesday.

This year’s budget allocated $30m over the next four years towards the walk, with $17m of that in the 2027/28 financial year.

“I can’t help it feel like you’re stringing this out so that you can stretch the budget, so that the money that needs to be expended on this is in the out years and doesn’t impact on the budget bottom line for your agency in the forward estimates,” she said.

“This is a project that was committed in the 2018 state election.

“We were told it would start construction on the project in the year 2020/21. Here we are and you’re telling us it won’t start until the end of 2025.

Rebecca White Labor member for Lyons. Commission of inquiry committee hearing. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Duigan rejected Ms White’s characterisation.

“This is a sensitive part of Tasmania. This is a project that needs to be very carefully considered for what its impacts might be,” he said.

“I would encourage the department to do all the work that is necessary to be done to make sure when we deliver this walk and that it is the best possible offering that it can be.

“I think it is important that we do the work, that we get it right and deliver an excellent product.”

Ms White said she was concerned the long delays meant the project budget would blow out further or the project would be scaled back.

The Tyndall Ranges Walk is expected to create 139 jobs during construction and an additional 40 jobs in tourism, hospitality and transport through ongoing operations.