The Tasmanian government appears set on pressing ahead with its plans to remove the term ‘wilderness’ from the state’s wilderness world heritage area.
Under a draft management plan released last month, much of the wilderness zone would be rebadged as a ‘remote recreation’ area instead.
If adopted, the plan as a whole would mean that, for the first time, ‘sensitive development’ would be allowed in the area. According to the Guardian Australia, cruise ships berths will be considered on Lake Gordon, Macquarie harbour and Port Davey, with landing sites for planes and helicopters to be permitted in areas including Cradle Mountain and the Walls of Jerusalem national park.
Specialty timber craftsmen have been promised future access to some forests inside the world heritage area, but not within national parks.
The plan also axes wording from the area’s previous strategy document that pledged to ensure the world heritage site remained “in as good or better condition than at present”.
Premier Will Hodgman told the Sydney Morning Herald he wanted more people to “experience Tasmania’s incredible wilderness areas, and to help transform Tasmania into the environmental tourism capital of the world”.
The plan marks a significant escalation in the kind of development allowed within the world heritage area, with a shift towards ‘commercial tourism’ rather than the status quo of highly restricted access.
Tasmania’s wilderness world heritage area covers about a fifth of the state and includes tracts of largely untouched forests, lakes and mountains. It is listed internationally for both its environmental and cultural value.
The Tasmanian campaign manager at the Wilderness Society, Vica Bayley, said the ‘atrocious’ new plan would ‘open the floodgates’ to development and undermine the area’s world heritage status.
A sense of irony was not lost when one reads” … much of the wilderness zone would be rebadged as a ‘remote recreation’ … and the politician then goes on to say he wanted more people to … “experience Tasmania’s incredible wilderness areas …. ” suddenly “wilderness” was ok again. These politicians have the same “pedigree” as a former generation of Tasmanian politicians that would have seen the damming of the Franklin and the massive logging of their old growth forests. Having walked much of Tassie’s wild areas I cringe at the thought of another “Robin Gray” …
About time these areas where opened up for financial benefits, lock it up, nothing gains, no management or maintenance. With a value these areas will be managed and maintained to the benefit of all stakeholders and the environment. Have not seen the like of Vica Bayley or his fellow greenies don fire overalls to protect these areas, but you will see them blockading and stopping lawful persuits. These are the same that destroyed the forest industry in Tassie and said the land can be put to better use,
IE. Ecotourism, now they want to stop that . Go figure.
What a joke. Opening up the wilderness area imediately makes it no longer a wilderness so people won’t want to go. Everywhere else in Australia that Eco resorts are allowed there goes the pristine area that people wish to see. Just show s we are govenred by business not sensibility.
When it is badged as a Wilderness zone, you are not allowed in. Now they want to change it to open up for development, but then the only way in is to pay over inflated prices to a 5star resort who control the whole area. Despite the fact the whole area is owned by us tax paying Australians. Can’t win either way.
Joan you are not excluded from Wilderness areas of Tasmania … many people enjoy the wonderful wild parks. My wife and I frequently go to Tassie just for that purpose and have for nearly 35 years. Although we choose to bushwalk and enjoy the remote areas, frequently the starting points for some of the world class walks are crowded with people who are happy to simply picnic or camp in the vicinity. We have encountered the “5star” set a number of times along with other parties of guided tours and although not for us, in chatting to some they universally agree that they thoroughly appreciate their wilderness experience. Cheers Joan