The Greens call on the Liberals to extend the public consultation period and release an updated feasibility study on the proposed Tyndall Range hut complex walk.
Documents released for public comment by the Parks and Wildlife on the proposed Tyndall Range walk are either misleading, incorrect, or outdated. An initial read of the dense pile of material raises significant questions over the work that has been done to date.
The plans say off site prefabrication work will be done by September 2025, yet the projects $40m public investment hasn’t been signed off by the Public Works Committee. The Minister needs to be clear, has the work been done or is the draft report out for comment misleading and incorrect?
The four-week comment period is insufficient given the hundreds of pages of information the public needs to read through and understand. Considering other less controversial Parks projects have been granted six-week comment periods, it’s inexcusable this complex and contentious project has only four.
No one is buying that the unsubstantiated claims that the $40m price tag for construction of the walk and huts remains correct after several years of inflation, project design changes, route alterations, and more huts planned to be built. The Greens again call on the Government to provide an updated feasibility study that is a genuine reflection of the present proposal.
This is fundamental, considering the walk would be publicly owned and operated. Based on the presented statistics, it will be an onerous asset for Tasmanian taxpayers, as figures have shown the Three Capes Track is.
It’s appalling that we have reached a point where the Liberal Government is locking up public land for a new walk paid for by Tasmania’s, then charging a premium price that’s unattainable for most people. The estimated cost for a tent site is $288 and free walkers will be excluded from using the publicly owned track infrastructure.
In a budget crisis, and while our Parks Service is in dire need of more funding, an over $40million investment into a loss-making venture that’s unattainable for most Tasmanians is reckless and totally unnecessary. Without an updated feasibility studies on the present proposal, the Liberal Government cannot genuinely advocate for this costly project.
