RACT’S PROPOSED FREYCINET LODGE EXTENSION – THE PROCESS TO DATE & NEXT STEPS

Note that this is a summary of the current situation, not a specific call to action

Summary

Comment on the Freycinet National Park management plan amendment (i.e. to remove longstanding protections) opened in Dec 2015 and closed on the 1 Feb 2016. 463 representations were received.

The Director of the Parks and Wildlife Service will now review all representations received and prepare a report. The Director’s report will then be sent to the Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) for consideration.

The TPC MAY hold public hearings. The TPC will then prepare a report to Minister Groom. Even if the TPC advise against approving the amendment, the Minister can still proceed with the amendment. If the plan change is approved then there is a further assessment of the Freycinet Lodge expansion itself, which will involve another round of public comment. Let’s hope it does not get to this stage!!!

PS remember there are several other projects on the cards for Freycinet – Rotor-Lift’s invasive heli-tourism proposal and Picnic Island’s tourism ventur

Detailed Summary

1. The Expression of Interest Process (EOI) process for new tourism opportunities in National Parks and Reserves opened for concepts from June to November 2014.

2. 25 projects were invited to proceed to stage 2 of the EOI process including RACT’s proposed Freycinet Lodge extension. To find out more about the 25 projects visit http://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/ti/home/investment_attraction/tourism_eio/eoi_project_table

3. In order for RACT to be able to extend into Freycinet National Park, the Government needs to amend the Freycinet National Park Management Plan (i.e. remove longstanding protections). The management plan amendment was advertised for public comment on the 19 December 2015. For further information visit http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/indeX.aspX?base=41279

4. Public comment (representations) closed on the 1 February 2016. According to the Parks & Wildlife Service, 463 representations were received (I’m yet to hear further details as to the number against the project etc). I will let you know .

5. The Director of the Parks and Wildlife Service (Dr John Whittington) will review all representations received and prepare a report.

6. The Director will forward copies of all representations received, together with the Director’s report, to the Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) which will advertise the representations and the Director’s report for public viewing. The TPC MAY hold hearings on the representations.

7. The TPC will review the representations, the Director’s report and the results of any public hearings then prepare a report to the Minister. The TPC report to the Minister will be published.

8. Matthew Groom, the Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage will then make a decision on the amendment. Essentially he has the final say – even if the TPC recommend that the management plan not be amended – the Minister can proceed with the amendment.

9. The Review process for draft management plans can also be viewed here: http://www.planning.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/278747/Review_process_for_draft_management_plans_flowchart.pdf

10. If the plan change is approved then there is a further assessment of the Freycinet Lodge expansion itself, which will involve another round of public comment. Let’s hope it does not get to this stage!!!!

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Sophie Underwood