Luke Martin
WINNING approval for developments in Tasmania's national parks and World Heritage Area would be quicker and cheaper under a new federal government proposal.
The Examiner understands that the proposal would involve a "strategic assessment" of Tasmania's wilderness areas that would determine which areas were suitable for sustainable development and identify the types of development allowed and the conditions they would be subject to.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke approached the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania this week with the idea, that has already been applied to the Great Barrier Reef.
Allaying the tourism industry's concerns about lack of access to new reserves created under the forestry peace deal is critical to winning the support of the majority of Legislative Councillors who are yet to vote on legislation to protect 381,000 hectares of forests.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive officer Luke Martin said the current approval process was a nightmare of red and green tape at state and federal levels.
"It can be extremely expensive and it can be incredibly frustrating to get those approvals," Mr Martin said.
"For a lot of people, it's very off- putting and a disincentive to developers."
Mr Martin said the idea had been sold as a simple process offering more certainty for developers.
The tourism industry had complained about being shut out of the forestry negotiations and Mr Martin was pleased that Mr Burke had finally recognised the industry as a major stakeholder in the future of the forests.The council will get a full briefing on the plan before formally responding to Mr Burke next week.