The Freycinet Action Network has welcomed the RACT's decision to abandon extension plans for Freycinet Lodge, saying it will help protect the area’s integrity while still investing in tourism.
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The RACT released a statement on Friday announcing it had dropped plans to extend the lodge a further 5.6 hectares into Freycinet National Park following “consultation with members and other external stakeholders, including Parks and Wildlife”, and would instead set about making upgrades to the existing site.
The decision comes after the project attracted considerable community concern, including a petition from RACT members calling for the organisation to rule out further expansion into the national park.
The petition, which gathered more than 600 signatures, appeared set to force a special general meeting of the RACT board until Friday’s announcement.
Freycinet Action Network member Sophie Underwood said the decision was a win-win for the national park, the RACT and its members.
The fact that they're not going to go into a part of the park that hasn't been developed before is a fantastic outcome," Ms Underwood said.
"It's still going to lead to tourism and investment so they're still going to invest in the park, but it's going to be on their existing site."
The RACT will now continue finalising its concept for the redevelopment, which is set to include new spa cabins, access rooms and improved amenities in the main building.
The organisation has also committed to consulting with the East Coast community about its new plans for the site to ensure redevelopments are in line with community expectations.
Ms Underwood said the network was keen to see the final concept for the development.
“What that will involve is a development application and that will be open for public comment and we'll see what they propose but... they said they will be talking to the East Coast community about their future plans so I think it's a really good outcome.”
Ms Underwood said the network was also keeping a close eye on a Rotor-Lift heli tourism operation planned for the Freycinet National Park area.
“The proposal they've made public... is very limited so it's hard to know what they're proposing.
“I don’t think it's conducive or compatible with the current visitor experience... to have helicopters flying around, it's not really conducive with why you go to Freycinet.”
