In a historical event, the Tasmanian Labor Minister David O’Byrne and Greens MHA Tim Morris recently combined to convene a public meeting on the Tasmanian Peninsula regarding the Three Capes Development Proposal. The meeting encompassed a broad range of local residents and tourism operators, and included representative from Tasmania’s Tourism Association, Parks and Wildlife Service, and some Tasman Councillors.
Spokesperson for the locally formed action group “Keep the Capes Wild” Mr. Ted Mead states that – on the day a broad spectrum of issues were discussed regarding the concept, planning and logistics on the proposal.
Mr. Mead claims “with an overwhelming response, most of the Tasman Peninsula residential representatives at the meeting expressed serious concerns about the developments ability to retain the integrity of the regions natural and culture values. The residents and local commercial operators were also convinced that the development will not provide the most suitable economic benefits to the local community”.
Mr. Mead claims “this visionless, poorly researched and highly unpopular development is simply illogical and unfeasible. It is merely a commercial grab at our national parks system to the benefit of big business, and will fail to provide the best experience to future visitors”.
“Given that suitable tourist visitor alternatives were proposed at the meeting, of which would satisfied community concerns, then the government has little choice except to scuttle the Three Capes proposed development and retreat back to drawing board”. Mr. Mead said.
Mr. Mead claims “to date an enormous amount of tax payers money has, and continues to be, spent investigating a development of which they have no assurance that they can finance or construct”.
Mr. Mead also claims “the Tasmanian Government has no conformation that the Federal government will ultimately supply any funding for the project due to their inept processes, and lack of expressions from commercial operators to manage and contribute financially to it”
“Not only was there overwhelming discontent from the local residents and accommodation providers, there also appeared a dearth of support from Tasman Councilors who were present at the meeting” Mr. Mead” said
Mr. Mead emphasized that the State Labor Government would need such a project to be approved by the Tasman Council unless it chooses to once again circumvent planning and democratic processes by declaring it as another unpopular Site of State Significance.
The Keep the Capes Wild group is convinced that the wheels are rapidly falling of the Three Capes project, and are now calling for the current development proposal to be scraped before more taxpayers money is squandered on yet another embarrassing government white elephant.
