Federal Court to hear objections to Lake Malbena tourist development on March 26 in Melbourne

The Wilderness Society launched action against the project, which was assessed against the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation this year and approved by federal Environment Minister Melissa Price.

This was despite more than 900 submissions against the project in the World Heritage-listed area.

This proposal is one of 30 proposals that have been going through an expressions of interest process with the State Growth Department for Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area and national parks.

It involves three twin-share accommodation buildings, a central kitchen or communal hut, and a toiletry building in the Walls Of Jerusalem Nation Park and a helipad.

Proceedings will be held over one day on March 26 before Justice Debra Mortimer in Melbourne with a videolink to Hobart.

Before that, standalone documents and submissions for the hearing will need to be lodged by March 22.

Legal counsel for the Wilderness Society informed Tuesday’s case management hearing that the Lake Malbena development’s proponents, Daniel and Simone Hackett, had not responded to any material relevant to the proceedings nor expressed any desire to be part of it.

Justice Mortimer said there was no obligation for them to be.

The Wilderness Society believes an appeal by environmentalists against a decision to uphold the federal Environment Department’s approval of the Okehampton Bay salmon farm might have a bearing on the case.

That matter has been reserved for decision.