With public submissions due tomorrow on proposed changes to the Freycinet National Park Management Plan, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust has called for the state government to scrap the changes entirely in light of its deception over the true extent of the changes.
The TCT Director Peter McGlone said that “The implications of the proposed changes go well beyond the government’s stated objective of allowing the expansion of the Freycinet Lodge.
“The effect of the amendment will be to allow the Minister to issue licences or leases for built accommodation, without limit, in the entire Coles Bay Visitor Services Zone, opening up the entire area to new built accommodation.
“The State Government released the proposed amendments for public comment but failed to explain that this will be the implication of the changes. The information released with the proposed amendments (see link below) justifies the changes only in relation to facilitating the Freycinet Lodge expansion.
“Government should not be allowed to mislead the public on such an important change to the management of a national park.”
The Coles Bay Visitor Services Zone includes the coastal area of the park from the quarry near The Fisheries to the Coles Bay town ship. A map of the Coles Bay Visitor Services Zone is attached but can also be found on page 16 out of current Freycinet Management Plan at: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=6206
In regard to the Freycinet Lodge expansion, no information regarding the impacts on natural and cultural values has been released with the proposed amendments. Until this is provided the TCT cannot make an informed assessment of the proposal and cannot support the management plan being changed to facilitate it.
Mr McGlone continued by saying that: “The TCT’s submission on the proposed amendments will not only point out our concerns regard the government’s approach, we have suggested solutions, proposing a process for how new tourist accommodation might be better planned and assessed and outlining the need for a comprehensive review of the management plan.
“The TCT urges all concerned Tasmanians to make a last minute submission to help stop this dangerous change to the rules governing development in Freycinet National Park.”
The proposed amendment to the Freycinet National Park Management Plan is available at:
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?sys=News Article&intID=3538
A submission template is available from the TCT’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TasmanianConservationTrust/?fref=ts
