New proposals for Tassie wilderness as Government’s EOI process continues

ELEVEN new proposals have been received by the State Government as part of its wilderness tourism expression of interest process.

Proposals continue to roll in under the State Government’s expressions of interest process for wilderness areas. Picture: SUPPLIED

ELEVEN new proposals have been received by the State Government as part of its wilderness tourism expression of interest process.

The process entered an open-ended round two after 37 EOIs were received during round one.

State Growth Minister Matthew Groom said one of the new projects, West Coast Yacht Charters’ multi-night Gordon River eco-cruise, had been progressed to negotiations for a licence.

The company was seeking to increase its cruise offering from an overnight tour to a three to four-day cruise.

“Regional areas … are being stimulated through investment in new tourism projects that are providing new experiences, attracting additional visitor numbers and revitalising local communities,” Mr Groom said.

Twenty-five round one proposals were invited by the Minister to progress to a second stage. Seven had signed leases or licences, 11 were in negotiations, four had been withdrawn and the status of three was not indicated on the State Growth website.

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Tasmanian tourism identity, Simon Currant has withdrawn his EOI proposal. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Tourism guru Simon Currant pulled his proposal for a tour to the world’s oldest living organism, a 10,500-year-old Huon pine at Mt Read near Rosebery in the state’s West..

Mr Currant, the brains behind iconic projects such as Cradle Mountain and Pumphouse Point, said other projects had taken priority.

“I’ve got too much on my plate at the moment to do justice to it and I felt it was only fair to let someone else have the opportunity to go in there,” Mr Currant said.

The Mt Read Ancient Huon pine Experience was submitted by Mr Currant after the State Government first called for EOIs on parks and reserves tourism in 2014.

The proposal offered a “sensitive and carefully managed” viewing of the tree and a boat ride on Lake Pieman to view harvesting of underwater logs.

Mr Currant said he’d reached a point where more detailed work was needed, but he was backing the Government process.

The tourism industry said securing licences from the Parks and Wildlife Service was a bureaucratic nightmare before the Government’s move.

“The perception around investing or dealing with Parks around coming up with projects for protected areas was just absolutely shot,” Tourism Industry Council chief Luke Martin said.

“There was no investor confidence in dealing with Parks because Parks had no way of dealing with people who came up with an idea for a new walk.”

Other projects that were withdrawn were the RACT’s Cape Sorell cabins, accommodation for a new walk on Maria Island and surfing photographer Stuart Gibson’s South Arm surf school.

Mr Martin said the initial 37 proposals had exceeded expectations.

Wilderness tourism to get new lease on life

The Becker family who operate Cradle Country Adventures — Liam, 4, on Stingo, with Ray, Laura and baby Ned pictured at Kimberley. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

For Ray and Laura Becker, taking tourists horseriding at Narawntapu National Park no longer need be a military-style operation.

Before a new Parks and Wildlife Service lease, issued as a result of the State Government’s wilderness tourism initiative, animals and staff had to be trucked in for day rides.

But on-site accommodation under a renewable five-year lease means more products will be available on top of the company’s current multi-day rides, including short rides of two to three hours.

“That’s a big difference to your backside,” Mr Becker told the Sunday Tasmanian.

“We’re looking forward to a really productive first summer.”

An extra two staff, cleaning contactors and suppliers of horse related goods will all benefit, Mr Becker said.

“Our costs in terms of horse maintenance, feed and staff will probably go close to doubling,” he said.

Mr Becker said dealings with the Coordinator-General’s had been straightforward, and negotiations with Parks had improved under the new system.

“We didn’t get everything we wanted, and some of the things in the lease we probably don’t really think are necessary, but it’s all workable,” he said.

Eleven proposals remain in the negotiation stage, with tourism insiders expecting more to be signed off soon.

World Heritage Cruises’ Troy Grining is seeking an exclusive licence to operate his proposed Lighthouse eco-cruise on the Gordon River.

Mr Grining has garnered interest from US renewables giant Tesla for the project.

But construction won’t begin on the boat until a deal is signed, Mr Grining said.

“If we go into the thing and build the multi-million dollar set-up, we don’t want some Joe Bloggs coming in five minutes later next door and setting up,” he said.

“We’re just discussing that at the moment, that’s a bit of a sticking point.

“As soon as we settle that, we’ll be into the design stage and go from there.”