Freycinet plan ‘on nose’

THE State Government must prioritise sewerage facilities over tourist numbers as part of the master plan for Coles Bay, a community action group says.

The State Government’s draft master plan for the Freycinet Peninsula National Park has given top priority to a new visitor gateway hub rather than sewerage infrastructure, according to Freycinet Association Inc business and tourism president Susan Carins.

“Sewage treatment in the town and at Swanwick gets the least priority in the $28.8 million proposal. In fact, within that budget, Coles Bay does not get reticulated sewerage,” Mrs Carins said.

“With inadequate infrastructure, we are ruining the very experience that brings people here.”

The community believed a second draft plan should be drawn up incorporating FAI’s suggested changes, she said.

“The visitor hub concept is an important step in improving the visitor experience but the lack of reticulated sewerage in the town needs to be given equal priority as it is affecting quality tourism.

“There needs to be a reappraisal of priorities in a second draft.”

The draft master plan attempts to address the challenges of a huge growth in tourism. Freycinet National Park is visited by 301,000 people a year including 81,000 international visitors.

The plan aims to restrict vehicles in the national park by building a transport node and using water transport and shuttle buses.

In its submission, the FAI agreed that the new hub would help improve visitor experience and assist in alleviating pressure on existing infrastructure.

“We believe there are some welcome changes and improvements in the draft master plan,” Mrs Carins said.

“They were needed because of the huge growth in visitor numbers here while, at the same time, Coles Bay has been transforming from a quiet holiday village.

“We need improved infrastructure, but in the town as much as in the park.

“We [also] have major issues that relate to the lack of priority and consideration given to problems that the Coles Bay area faces with the pressure of visitors to Freycinet.”

“At the height of the summer, the national park is inundated with visitors and Coles Bay becomes a town under stress.”.

At the same time, there is the challenge of increased cruise ship numbers in Wine- glass Bay and proposed helicopter flights over the park.

The Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania welcomed the draft plan, which aims to get vehicles out of the park.

The master plan was developed with input from the community and a steering committee comprising representatives from the Department of State Growth, Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, East Coast Tourism, the Freycinet Association Inc and Freycinet Destination Action Plan group.