Politicians, media and key industry figureheads braved the snow at Cradle Mountain on Saturday to unveil the plans for an “awesome” new visitor centre.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The $21.8 million project is the first stage of a $160 million master plan to completely revamp the tourist icon.
Parks Minister Matthew Groom announced the lodgement of the state’s development application for the new centre, with Kentish mayor Don Thwaites and Cradle Coast Authority chief executive Brett Smith.
“We’ve had growth in visitor numbers to Cradle Mountain of about 16 per cent year-on-year and this year, we’re looking at breaking the 250,000 mark for the first time ever,” Mr Groom said.
“We expect work to commence later this year. Obviously, from our perspective, we want to see that finished as soon as possible.”
Mr Smith said the new centre would replace the existing one, but it would be built on a different site.
”I think it will provide a much greater perspective for visitors so when they come to Cradle Mountain, they get a vista of Cradle, from the actual visitor centre,” he said.
“It’s really going to be an awesome project with lots of viewing points and better facilities for visitors when they arrive here.”
Cr Thwaites said the application still needed to go through the Kentish Council approval process.
“[But] I think it will do a lot to try and grow the number of visitors coming here,” he said.
“Not all the action in Tasmania happens in Hobart. There’s plenty that happens in the North and North-West and to encourage visitors to come to the area outside of Hobart, I think everyone will benefit from this.”
Mr Smith said this first stage of the master plan would go into a “detailed investigation stage” to de-risk it. He said that would take about 12 to 18 months.
Along with the visitor centre, the first stage of the master plan will include a commercial services hub, village precinct, new viewing shelter and viewing platform at Dove Lake, and improved transportation within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
The first stage of the project is expected to be completed by early 2019.