The development on Lake Malbena, accessed only by helicopter, will target “discerning travellers” and is aimed at the “very top-end of the market”, according to documents lodged by the proponent. It will involve 30 return helicopter flights a year, with six customers per trip, and includes three accommodation buildings, kitchen and toilets, a helicopter landing site and boardwalks. The decision to waive federal assessment of the proposal was made on behalf of Environment Minister Melissa Price. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Minister’s delegate, senior department official James Barker, determined that the proposal was unlikely to significantly impact a matter of national environmental importance and did not require federal assessment or approval. Ms Price was advised of the ruling. However documents obtained by the Wilderness Society under freedom of information laws show that decision contradicted the advice of three government-appointed expert bodies. The Australian Heritage Council, the federal government’s principal adviser on heritage matters, said “the cumulative impact on world heritage and natural heritage values would be considerable”. In particular, it warned of the intrusion of helicopters “on the outstanding natural aesthetic value” of the area.

Buildings, the helipad and tracks did not conform to zoning rules and construction of a boardwalk would not avoid negative impacts on vulnerable plant species, some of which were “very sensitive to trampling”, the group said. The National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council, which provides advice on the Tasmanian world heritage area to the state and federal governments, told the department it “does not support this project”. It questioned turning the public land over for exclusive private commercial use, and said the proposal was “masquerading” as a standing camp when it involved permanent structures. The Tasmanian Aboriginal Heritage Council, which advises the state government, said the development should not proceed because it was close to a rare heritage site that was only recently rediscovered. Aboriginal people should first be allowed to visit and assess the site, the cultural importance of which “far outweighs any potential short-term gains from tourism”, it said.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee earlier this year expressed concern at the Tasmanian government’s rezoning of some wilderness areas as “recreation” to allow more tourism and aircraft access. It said little progress had been made on a tourism master plan to guide development. Wilderness Society Tasmanian campaign manager Vica Bayley said the federal government ruling showed Commonwealth laws were failing the environment. Credit:Peter Mathew The Tasmanian Liberal government is seeking to attract tourism developments in national parks and other public land. The Wilderness Society says 10 shortlisted projects, including the Halls Island proposal, are in the world heritage area, and its Tasmanian campaign manager Vica Bayley said the federal government’s ruling “speaks to the utter failure of our laws to protect these values”. “[The federal government] have clearly run such a low bar assessment ... and waved it through as not even needing approval. Its gobsmacking in its negligence,” he said. “This is happening from the Queensland Great Barrier Reef all the way down to Tasmania’s wilderness.”

The group has launched a legal challenge over the federal government’s decision. It commissioned an assessment showing the project would negatively impact 50 square kilometres of wilderness. About 900 public submissions were made to the federal government as it deliberated the decision. The vast majority opposed the project. The Environment Department provided Fairfax Media with the briefing on which the decision was based. It said the proposal, while “locally contentious” was not likely to significantly impact the wilderness area. Endangered plants and animals would be protected, the project site was unlikely to contain Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, and helicopter use was designed to minimise impact to other users such as bushwalkers, the brief said. Daniel Hackett, of the proponent Wild Drake Pty Ltd, said helicopters would land on exposed rock which required only “selective pruning” and aircraft were “not a new thing” in the wilderness area. “There’s a massive chunk [of Tasmanian wilderness] hived off ... for conservation’s sake then there’s a mixed use area ... that’s important to Tasmania as well,” he said.