An operator of two accommodation businesses, Sawyers Bay Shacks on Flinders Island and another on Picnic Island, is pitching for a new venture on Little Dog Island.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Little Dog Island is less than a kilometre offshore from Flinders Island.
A development application for a six-bedroom visitor accommodation house on the island has been proposed to the Flinders Council and has been advertised.
"It is intended to create a very unique experience for visitors to the Furneaux Islands with this proposal," the application stated.
"Guests will experience first hand the history as well as the present day of life on and around the Furneaux Islands."
The island has two other private properties on it.
Regenerative tourism
The applicant has claimed the venture was a regenerative tourism proposal.
It listed a number of key regenerative, community and environmental benefits. Those included protecting access for all Furneaux Island residents to continue amateur birding in the long term.
It promised to protect Aboriginal heritage sites and work with Flinders Island Aboriginal Association Incorporated to deliver cultural heritage programs and supporting activities.
The application also stated a number of pest control measures.
Generation economic opportunities for new businesses to support the accommodation is another benefit the application outlined.
"An integral part of the proposal is to incorporate regenerative tourism principles to ensure that in addition to the tourism component there will be environmental, social and economic benefits for the whole community," the application stated.
Birding
Generations of Furneaux Islanders have used the island for amateur birding.
The application said they would accept a condition on the planning permit to guarantee ongoing access in perpetuity for Furneaux Islanders to bird there into the future.
"We would also agree to address community concerns about the potential for negative social media posts about birding by not taking general tourist bookings during the birding season," the application said.
Objectors
The application acknowledged some objectors would state the land shouldn't be built on. In response, it stated many similar titles had dwellings on them.
"In the absence of government acquiring these freehold titles it is a reasonable expectation that the land may be used in accordance with the planning scheme."
Why not have your say? Write a letter to the editor here:
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
- Follow us on Google News: The Examiner