Tasmania’s peak tourism body said the push by Local Government to rate tourism developments within Tasmania’s National Parks and Reserves was impractical and sounded like a cheeky cash grab.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO, Luke Martin, said the motion passed at yesterday’s Local Government calling for tourism operators within Tasmania’s National Parks and Reserves to be charged commercial rates raised questions for existing rate payers about what additional services councils were planning to offer across Tasmania’s reserves system.
‘It would be interesting to know what new local government services tourism operators working within Tasmania’s National Parks and Reserves can expect once they start paying council rates,’ Mr Martin said.
‘Is Huon Valley Council intending to start collecting tourism operator’s rubbish at Melaleuca in the remote South-West?
‘Is Glamorgan-Spring Bay offering to take responsibility for fixing the pot holes on the road through Freycinet National Park?
‘Is Circular Head Council offering to invest council resources into upgrading the walking track on the Nut?’
‘Of course they are not, and the reality is tourism operators working within Tasmania’s National Parks and Reserves already pay license fees and leases to Parks and Wildlife.
‘This system is long established, and ensures operators pay their fair share for the right to operate within Tasmania’s public lands.
‘There are next to no examples currently of Tasmanian councils delivering services within Tasmania’s National Parks and Reserves – that’s the responsibility of Parks and Wildlife.
‘This whole proposal reeks of a cheeky cash grab by local government, who should be doing whatever they can to assist much needed tourism development in their local areas, both within and outside our National Parks and Reserves.’
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO, Luke Martin
