Coroner & Legal
Plug and Play … the Neo-Wilderness Experience
On December 23rd the 3 Capes Project will finally open, so if you can spare a paltry $495 for the track fees then go check it out – Remember this is a wilderness experience! PWS has informed that there is Telstra network virtually right across the region, so to assist the neo-wilderness adventurer they have installed charging stations for all your portable devices.
Three nights of walking and staying with 47 others in a hut complete with hot showers, soft mattress, heating, probably microwaves, and certainly electronic device charging stations. It all sounds like a tranquil wilderness experience that is intended to draw 10,000 people a year – Or so they think?
Don’t forget that adjacent to your crowded public hut there is another commercial hut loaded with even higher paying upper class guests. So whilst these sybarites are swilling on their Grange Hermitage, don’t forget to pack in those earplugs.
According to the latest rumours, a Tasmanian commercial tourist guide has been directly informed by government that only one inclusive commercial operator will be permitted on the 3 Capes circuit.
The government still hasn’t announced who that operator is, beyond the rumour that the Cradle Huts Co has been granted the concession. Furthermore you can speculate that no outsider will contribute anything of the $8 million that was required to construct the huts.
Such a monopoly will exclude any commercially-based company that would be considering a low-key camping option.
The government has claimed, “In addition to the new Three Capes track experience, all existing use, including day walks and overnight camping at overnight sites will still be available for National Parks pass holders.”
The question now begs: Does that mean no campsites beyond the hut village zones, and most likely none around the hut zones anyway. So maybe the entire region south of Fortescue Bay Road will be off limits to remote camping, which could be enforced by the imposition of a fine for offenders.
If this is the case it will most likely upset the conservative bushwalking clubs at least. So these hoodwinked groups should be pointing their finger, if not the bone, at the Tas Greens who ignored pleas from conservationists, thus wholeheartedly supported this decadent project from day one.
The latest up-to-date costs (so far) has been indicated to be around $52 Million for the 2 Capes section. Of course this alarming figure is possible, though yet to be substantiated.
Regardless of what the end costs are going to be, the government will find itself in the invidious position of having to make this current project viable, which will probably encompass millions of dollars in tourist campaigns to get the numbers on the walk.
One would expect the walking track to receive quite a bit of interest for the first summer, and only time will tell how economically viable it will be in the future given the preposterous track fee.
Considering Tasmanian taxpayers coughed-up tens of $ millions for this expensive project you’d think they would get some form of discount?
Meanwhile I hope Tassie walkers revolt by continuing to walk and camp out there in the Tasman National Park for free.
I certainly will.
And you can expect the ‘Keep the Capes Wild’ group to contest a legal challenge if the department prohibits public walking and camping out in the Cape Pillar region.
• Luke Martin: Valuing our World Class Nature Experiences Tasmania’s peak tourism body said the Three Capes Track experience offered tremendous value as one of Australia’s best multi-day nature experience. Tourism Industry Council Tasmania (TICT) CEO Luke Martin, said criticism about the cost of the new experience undervalued Tasmania’s potential to be a world leader in nature tourism. “The Three Capes experience is the equal to any coastal walking experience in the World, and needs to be looked at as an all-inclusive multi-day nature experience,’ Mr Martin said.
• Cassy O’Connor: Three Capes Access Still Clear as Mud In Question Time today, Minister Groom confirmed the suspicions of many – talking up the luxury aspects of the Three Capes ‘experience’ this morning, but ignoring the burning question from ordinary Tasmanians, “Can I do the walk without forking out $500?” What Minister Groom proves every time he speaks is that the development in the Tasman National Park is not for Tasmanians and regular tourists, it’s really there for wealthy visitors. Just under $2000 for a family of four to walk the Three Capes track is unaffordable for most Tasmanians and budget travellers. The Liberals’ Parks’ agenda is shutting low to medium income Tasmanians out of enjoying what was once a public asset.
• ABC: Three Capes Track: Public vents anger over six-tent capacity for popular national park’s only campsite … PWS responded that there would be no camping, except for one designated site that can house about six tents. … The post was met with a flurry of angry comments “That is outrageous what you’re doing here,” one Facebook user said. “A national park is supposed to be for the enjoyment of the people, not specifically for rich tourists who can afford it. This is shameful.” Another said: “So effectively Parks and Wildlife have locked up the Cape Pillar Walk as a private enterprise, no walking it unless you pay $500, how can this happen it’s a national park?” “Looks amazing but $495 is absolutely disgusting, we shouldn’t be pricing people out of seeing our beautiful state,” another reader posted.