Minister for Parks Nick Duigan today doubled-down on the Liberals’ support for the Lake Malbena proposal, despite new evidence emerging that the developer’s excuses for neglecting the Heritage-listed Hall’s Hut are false.
Since the 1950’s Tasmanian bushwalkers have maintained Reg Hall’s old bush hut with care and diligence. That all stopped when the lease was obtained by the current lease-holder, who in 2018, denied access to a walker on the grounds “urgent repairs” were required. So urgent he hasn’t lifted a finger.
The proponent’s excuse for not maintaining this heritage asset has been that he’s not allowed to because it would interfere with environmental assessments that are under way. Newly released advice from the federal government shows that claim is false, and says maintenance is permitted.
As bad as attempting to privatise wilderness is, Minister Duigan and the proponent of the Halls Island helicopter tourism proposal are also allowing an iconic part of Tasmania’s heritage to crumble into dust. It’s shameful.
You’d think damaging neglect of an important heritage-listed site within the Wilderness World Heritage Area would be enough for the Liberals to finally tear up this developer’s exclusive lease holding. Unfortunately though, this kind of behaviour is emblematic of the Liberals’ policy to privatise and develop public protected areas.
The Liberals will do their best to dismiss the well held concerns of so many other Tasmanians, but the Greens won’t let them get away with it. We will continue to advocate for wilderness and for wilderness lovers – not rent seekers and developers.
