Both tourism and national park bodies have welcomed news of an Auditor-General probe into the program aimed at opening up protected land to private developers.
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The Tasmanian Audit Office quietly updated its website with details of the wide-ranging review last week, The Examiner revealed Saturday.
That memorandum noted the audit intended to "assess the effectiveness" of the expression of interest process, a key pillar of the Hodgman government's tourism push, which had drawn significant public criticism since its launch in 2014.
Overseen by the Co-ordinator-General, proposal are assessed by an EOI program panel before recommendations are made to the State Growth Minister.
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Proponents are then invited to enter lease and licence negotiations and relevant statutory approvals.
"[I] think it's good they're scrutinising it," Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said of the audit.
"The EOI process is critically important to the future of Tasmania as a world class nature tourism destination and we would welcome opportunities to strengthen its process."
Tasmanian National Parks Association president Nicholas Sawyer agreed the program needed looking into.
He added that the "only thing" that would address the criticism leveled at it would be legislative changes.
"It's an administration process but it has no basis in legislation," Mr Sawyer said, suggesting appeal rights needed to be "lock[ed] in".
In a statement Saturday, State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on the independent audit process but looked forward to the final report.
"The EOI process is an opportunity for private operators to develop sensitive and appropriate tourism ventures that broaden the range of unique experiences on offer in our parks and reserves," he said.
"Since inception, the EOI program has made a valuable contribution to delivering the government's vision to grow the tourism industry, so it continues to deliver jobs and economic benefits across the state."
Thirty projects are listed on the Co-ordinator-General's website as having progressed to the negotiation stage or beyond. Nine are operational.
One proposal, for luxury helicopter-accessed accommodation on Halls Island, is now the subject of legal battles in both the state's planning tribunal and Federal Court.
Emails released under right to information in February showed the state government had rezoned Halls Island under the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area management plan because that proposal was received.
A decision by the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal on the Central Highland Council rejection of the plan is due by October 21.
Tasmanian Greens leader and parks spokesperson Cassy O'Connor has welcomed a review of the "secretive" EOI process, saying it was "past time for some independent scrutiny and transparency".
On Saturday, the party's planning spokesperson, Rosalie Woodruff, questioned the timing of a Planning Commission review announced by the government that day.
"Increased development within Tasmania means we need the unencumbered oversight of the TPC more than ever," she said.
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Matt Dennien
Matt Dennien is a journalist at The Examiner, based in Launceston. Contact him via email at matt.dennien@examiner.com.au, or more securely via Signal on +61 437 672 994.
Matt Dennien is a journalist at The Examiner, based in Launceston. Contact him via email at matt.dennien@examiner.com.au, or more securely via Signal on +61 437 672 994.
