The proposal, by Launceston couple Daniel and Simone Hackett, would see helicopter flights ferry up to 180 guests per year to a point just outside the the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, from which they could access a purpose-built camp on Halls Island.

Last week, The Wilderness Society launched a legal challenge in the Federal Court against the federal government’s September approval of the development – on which the final decision now rests with the Central Midlands Council.

Fishers And Walkers Against Helicopter Access held the rally at Launceston’s Civic Square on Sunday, with around 200 people in attendance.

The sentiment expressed by speakers at the event, including FAWAHA spokesperson Brett Smith, Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor, plus fly-fisher and writer Greg French, was that the campaign wasn’t a call for a lock up of heritage areas, but one of protecting wilderness values and public access – concerns the project’s proponent insists are shared.

Demonstrators and speakers also criticised what they said was a lack of public consultation on the proposal, and the potential for further development in the state’s protected areas.

Addressing the crowd, FAWAHA spokesperson Brett Smith referred to weekend media reports that the entire island had been leased secretly to the proponents, who would be limiting public access to 12 people per year.

“Wallet size now dictates access to this whole island in the middle of our Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area,” he said.

Later, Mr Smith reiterated the group would continue to fight against the proposal.

“Helicopters and standing camps are just an incursion onto wilderness values and effect all recreational users who want to venture into the world heritage area,” he said.

“It’s just about the incursion into the middle of wilderness – on everybody else’s experience – and the precedent it sets with this bad process for the possibility of more in the Western Lakes to come.”

Mr Hackett told The Examiner a private lease encompassing all of Halls Island had been in existence since 1955, after Reg Hall established his historic hut. 

He said a separate lease for the small footprint containing the structure had been arranged to “shield it” for specific protection.

Public access to the island would not be restricted under the proposal, Mr Hackett added, as limits were based on 27 years of visitation data.

“We will still be accommodating existing tourism levels,” he said.

“We’ve got nothing to do with what people do on Lake Malbena. I’m just responsible for the island from a legal environmental perspective.”

Ideas of previous unfettered access were incorrect too, “you’ve always had to ring up the old owner and do the right thing”.

The proposal, lodged by the Hacketts under Wild Drake Pty Ltd, would include the construction of four structures on the island to form a standing camp, from which visitors would undertake hiking, kayaking, educational, and occasional fishing activities.

Trips would  be limited to 30 per year for up to six guests.

According to the group, the only other addition to existing infrastructure on the island would be three short boardwalks used to rehabilitate and protect two Sphagnum bog communities.

Helicopters would be used to access the camp, though the landing site sits outside the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, and construction of a landing pad would not be required.

The proposal was assessed by the federal Environment Department against the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act, with federal environmental approval granted in September.

The Wilderness Society’s Federal Court challenge would look into whether an error had been made by having no assessment of the proposal, and not imposing conditions to ensure impacts on wilderness values were avoided.

That challenge was welcomed by FAWAHA but slammed by the tourism industry, with Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin saying the project was permitted under the UNESCO-endorsed management plan, and approved by both state and federal governments.

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