New lookout at tourism hot spot Wineglass Bay walk proposed by Parks and Wildlife Service
It’s rated as one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks, has one of the most photographed views — and now it’s set for a new addition.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Coles Bay locals and businesses dismiss calls for tourist cap in Freycinet Master Plan
- Labor says sewerage issues at Coles Bay must be fixed with new infrastructure
A NEW lookout at one of Tasmania’s premier tourism drawcards could soon be a reality, as the region prepares for an influx of visitors ahead of borders reopening.
A development application has been lodged by the Parks and Wildlife Service to the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council for a second lookout and loop track for the iconic Wineglass Bay walk.
The $700,000 proposal would feature a new one-way loop track, elevated walkways with viewing platforms, seating areas and a new elevated second lookout connecting to the existing lookout.
Jointly funded by the state and federal governments, the project was one of a number of priorities identified in the Freycinet Peninsula Master Plan 2019.
Included in the application documents, a visual impact assessment commissioned by the PWS concluded the proposed project “under current environmental conditions, was likely to represent a relatively low and acceptable level of visual impact on the scenic qualities of the landscape”.
The Freycinet Peninsula has long been a favourite tourism hotspot for visitors and locals alike, with visitor growth increasing by 9 per cent a year for the past five years.
The Wineglass Bay walk attracts about 200,000 walkers of the more than 300,000 people who visit the Freycinet National Park each year. Environment and Parks Minister Roger Jaensch said the new lookout would reduce congestion in peak times.
“Freycinet is one of the jewels in Tasmania’s crown of stunning natural locations, and this new lookout will ease congestion issues and ensure the area can be enjoyed by Tasmanians and visitors for years to come,” he said.
Public submissions on the application close on July 29.
New $24m recycling facility ‘a win-win for everyone’
The operators of a new recycling facility say that it is the “most advanced of its kind in Tasmania” and will almost double the state’s current processing capacity.
‘Duopoly’: Rockliff and Barnett run engine room of government
Not surprisingly, Labor is unimpressed with Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s new look cabinet. But a political scientist says the reset might provide stability.