Tourism boss puts boot into track bid

TASMANIA’S peak tourism body has poured cold water over a community group’s plans to extend a walking track in the state’s remote SouthWest.

Huon Valley group Geeves Effect is pushing for a 2.5km track extension to give walkers views of Lake Geeves, near Federation Peak.

The group has released its business case for the plan and is also proposing an ecotourism hub.

The hub is understood to be located outside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

The proposal has the support of the Liberal and Labor parties, but the Greens and the Wilderness Society are worried about the effect it could have on the World Heritage Area.

And now Tourism Industry Council chief Luke Martin has chimed in on the debate.

“It is only a concept for growing visitation into a regional part of Tasmania, not a development proposal,” he said.

“The reality is, key elements of the proposal are not permitted under the new management plan for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Areas that was only finalised 12 months ago.

“We know there are exciting proposals currently before the Government for outstanding new visitor experiences within the World Heritage Area that are permitted under the new management plan.”

Mr Martin said while Geeves Effect deserved merit, the concept had not been initiated by the tourism industry or the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.