Ms BADGER – In the past budget and this budget there’s about $7 million allocated to make Mt Field a year-round destination. In the past budget description, part of it articulated for new huts and in this Budget, it says for the public huts.
I note after the last budget came out retrospectively, there was an EMRS poll that popped up by QR codes throughout the National Park asking people how they might want to make the National Park a year-round destination and how they would use it.
Can you just talk us through exactly what the breakdown of the $7 million funding is for: new huts, public huts, and what other infrastructure that investment’s going into and how that decision was made. Whether it was based on need, previous feedback or was that retrospective to the EMRS polling?
Mr DUIGAN – There are track upgrades, a new concourse which sits outside of that.
Ms BADGER – That’s a separate line of funding.
Mr DUIGAN – Yes. There is the opportunity to contemplate something new in accommodation on the mountain and we’re not yet settled on exactly what that looks like, but in terms of how the funding breaks down and what else is included in that, perhaps, Sophie?
Ms MULLER – We are still in the planning phase of this particular project and part of that includes listening to the park users. We are certainly interested in the feedback from community and from people who regularly use that park.
There are a number of components to that funding package which include upgrades to tracks and investment in accommodation. We have been going through a comprehensive process looking at the range of possibilities that could be considered in delivering that. Having particular regard to visitor safety and not increasing invitation in sensitive Alpine areas and certainly wanting to make sure that visitors are safe when they use our park.
Ms BADGER – To clarify before I move on to my next question, you don’t have specifics of what that $7.6 million is actually for that you can provide us?
Ms MULLER – We have a broad description, as I said – a combination of track work, accommodation, improved wayfinding and transport options through the park. The actual breakdown of what that will look like in terms of a program of work is still being deliberated and we’re looking at a range of options for what that might look like.
Ms BADGER – It has a funding figure attached to it, so you must have some estimate or breakdown. I am confident you didn’t just pull that figure out of thin air. It wasn’t the minister’s favourite number. There must be something more that you can provide than a vague description of how a regular park works.
Ms MULLER – At this stage there’s no additional concrete breakdown of what that expenditure profile will look like. It will be determined as we work through this planning process.
