Minister Groom refuses to meet conservation groups re tourist developments in national parks

Minister Groom refuses to acknowledge serous concerns regarding process for assessment of tourist developments in national parks and refuses to meet with conservation organisations.

Eight of Tasmania’s leading conservation organisations have gone public to complain that Minister for Parks, Environment and Heritage Matthew Groom has refused to formally meet with or consult our groups over the government’s call for expressions of interest for commercial tourist developments in national parks and other reserves.

The eight conservation organisations wrote to the minister on 30 August 2016 outlining concerns and requesting a meeting prior to the next call for expressions of interest.

“Three months after sending this letter our groups have not received a reply and have not been offered a meeting with the minister, which we find unacceptable for a minister for the environment,” said Peter McGlone, Director, Tasmanian Conservation Trust.

“We have raised numerous serious concerns regarding the previous EoI process and parallel Government processes that are weakening longstanding protections contained in reserve management plans and planning scheme processes and cutting out public engagement in development decisions in publicly-owned reserves,” said Vica Bayley, Tasmanian Campaign Manager, the Wilderness Society.

“The EoI process relates to public land and the large number of people that are members of our organisations deserve some response from the minister,” said Sophie Underwood, Freycinet Action Network.

“Our concerns relate to fundamental flaws in the process and it is astonishing that the minister is not even prepared to talk to us and attempt to understand these concerns,” said Nick Sawyer, Spokesperson for the Tasmanian National Parks Association.

The TCT and TNPA have written three times to the minister about these matters over more than 18 months but the replies have failed to provide answers to questions provided.

Other groups supporting the 30 August letter were Markets for Change, Bob Brown Foundation, BirdLife Tasmania and North-east Bioregional Network.

The concerns the groups raised included:
– the lack of clear and credible criteria for assessing EOI projects
– the lack of information, public consultation or any opportunity to challenge decisions
– the lack of commitment to assessment under the Parks and Wildlife Service’s Reserve Activity Assessment process
– contradictory statements regarding potential changes to management plans and regulations to facilitate developments

The groups pointed out to the minister that while he has given assurances that the EOI projects will all be subject to “normal statutory process” the changes proposed under the statewide planning scheme will make all developments in reserves permitted as long as they are assessed and approved by PWS under its internal and non-statutory Reserve Activity Assessment process. Being permitted means that the developments in reserves will not be subject to public comment and councils cannot refuse them.

We remain concerned that developments in national parks will be subject to a less rigorous, open and transparent process than equivalent development proposals on private land.

Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc
Level2, 191-193 Liverpool St, Hobart 7000
Phone: +61 3 6234 3552

Web: www.tct.org.au
Peter McGlone, Vica Bayley, Nick Sawyer, Sophie Underwood