Greens, independent MPs and Shooters Fishers Farmer representative, have all signed a joint letter calling on the Liberal Government to cancel the private lease over Halls Island at Lake Malbena in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
For 12 years Daniel Hackett of Wild Drake, a company still in liquidation, has proposed a luxury helicopter tourism venture on the island that has failed at every hurdle, and with the pending latest lease deadline of March 31st it’s time to cut it loose. Wild protected places like Halls Island should be open for the public to enjoy, not closed off for private interests.
The proponent has neglected the heritage-listed Halls Hut, and it needs urgent maintenance undertaken by responsible custodians; he has been thousands of dollars in arrears to Parks for unpaid lease fees; banned people he doesn’t like from the public island; and hasn’t fairly consulted with the Aboriginal community for the required assessments.
This proposal has been strongly opposed by bush walkers, fly-fishers, the Aboriginal community, and as of this week, publicly by the daughter of bush legend Reg Hall. The Greens are proud to join MPs from across political divide and both houses of the Tasmanian Parliament that have come together to say Malbena matters, and it’s time the private lease was cancelled.
It’s impossible for the proponent to have all project approvals in place by March 31st to satisfy the lease requirements. And realistically, it’s unlikely he will ever have these approvals for such an intrusive, destructive proposition in our Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Its time the Liberals stop propping up this terrible proposal, and proponent, and listen to their colleagues from all sides of politics and cancel the lease. It’s time to move on with better tourism proposals for our state and to give Halls Island back to all people and the wilderness.
