The developer of a wilderness venture at Lake Malbena has accused Greens leader Cassy O’Connor of being unethical in releasing a document on the proposal which contained commercially sensitive information.
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Ms O’Connor brought the leaked document to Parliament on Tuesday, arguing that the assessment process conducted by the state’s Parks and Wildlife Service for the project had been secretive and in favour of the proponent.
She said the proposal was symptomatic of the government's expressions of interest process for development in the state's wilderness areas.
Ms O’Connor said the state Coordinator-General’s recommendation for approval of the Lake Malbena project went back to 2015; two-and-a-half years before details of the proposal had been publicly known.
“This proposal is just one of 30 proposals which has been going through a secretive expressions of interest process for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area,” she said.
The proposal involves three twin-share accommodation buildings, a central kitchen or communal hut, and a toiletry building in the Walls Of Jerusalem Nation Park.
It includes the construction of a helipad adjacent to Halls Island.
The business plan proposes a maximum of 25 commercial trips per season with a maximum of six people per trip.
Each trip is planned for three nights and four days.
It is estimated there will be 30 helicopter flights from the area and up to 40 hours of flight time over a year.
It is anticipated the camp would run from November until May each year and occupy a site measuring 40 metres by 20 metres.
Developer Daniel Hackett said a redacted copy of the reserve activity assessment report, with commercial-in-confidence information omitted, was due to be released by June 19 through the Right To Information process.
He said Ms O’Connor had chosen to attack a small family business allowing personal details and financial information to be made public.
“This is the height hypocrisy and unethical behaviour,” he said.
Angler Brett Smith, who has been fishing out of the area’s Western Lakes over decades, said the proposal would affect the ambience of the area and angler groups were vehemently against the process.
“It’s our passion to enjoy it free from commercial development and helicopters,” he said.
“It’s a small gain for someone for a big affect on a larger group of people.”
The proposal will be assessed by the federal Environment Department against the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The proposal had been referred to the department for assessment in April but the public comment period was paused after the department requested the proponent provide more information.
“The additional information once received will be made publicly available and there will be a second 10-day public comment period,” the department said.