TICT chief hits out at ‘hysterical campaigning’ against Walls of Jerusalem tourism project

TASMANIA’S peak tourism industry body has hit out at “hysterical campaigning” against a planned tourism development in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

TASMANIA’S peak tourism industry body has hit out at “hysterical campaigning” against a planned tourism development in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

A protest rally was held in Launceston on Sunday by the Fishers and Walkers Against Helicopter Access group, after the Wilderness Society launched legal action to challenge the Federal Government’s approval of the Halls Island project at Lake Malbena.

Photos from yesterday's rally (via https://t.co/ip28eYHFfB) #politas pic.twitter.com/DCiu3XggNk

— Wilderness Soc. Tas (@wildtastweet) October 28, 2018

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Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin on Monday said the “hysterical campaigning against the proposed Halls Island standing camp” revealed the depth of conservationists’ ideological opposition to any commercial tourism in protected areas.

“The Tasmanian Greens and the Wilderness Society should be upfront and honest with Tasmanians about the fact they oppose any kind of new commercial tourism developments within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, or the nearly 50 per cent of Tasmania under some form of land conservation,” Mr Martin said.

“It’s a hard line ideological position that offers no room for compromise.”

Lake Malbena looking towards Halls Island in Tasmania. Picture: LYNDSEY EVANS

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Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price has approved a proposal by Launceston couple Daniel and Simone Hackett to develop a standing camp and allow helicopter flights to tiny Halls Island on Lake Malbena. This was despite the government’s independent advisory body, the National Parks and Wildlife Council, advising against the development.

The Wilderness Society’s Tasmanian campaign manager Vica Bayley said Mr Martin’s claims were false.

“We’re really supportive of commercial products in the World Heritage Areas and in reserves, and we can point to the RACT operation, we can point to Tasmanian Expeditions rafting trips down the Franklin,” Mr Bayley said.

“We can point to a whole range of commercial activities that are anchored in Tasmania’s nature-based reputation and our national parks, but ... the Lake Malbena development has widespread opposition, including from the experts.

“To me, this just looks like a kneejerk hissy fit from the industry body because it realises that the sentiment is shifting.”

Mr Martin said the Halls Island project was small in scale and very similar to existing products already operating within Tasmania’s World Heritage Areas.

“We’re talking about four standing camps barely large enough to fit a double bed in each,” he said.

“They are smaller in scale than both the Blue Derby Pods Ride in the North-East, and the Maria Island Walk in World-Heritage-listed Maria Island Walk.

“It is exactly the kind of small-scale, high-yielding tourism we can and should encourage in Tasmania’s protected areas that will attract influential customers from all over the globe.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the party had been consistent in its position on commercial development within Tasmania’s protected areas.

“The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is globally significant and was protected because of its unique natural and cultural values,” she said.

“If Mr Martin had the courage of his convictions, instead of settling in to his usual Green-bashing, he would face up to the hundreds of anglers and bushwalkers who oppose the privatisation and lock out of Halls Island in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.”

A directions hearing is expected to be held in the Federal Court in the next few weeks in what will be the Wilderness Society’s first legal challenge since Gunns’ failed pulp mill project.