PRICE WAS RIGHT

FEDERAL Environment Minister Melissa Price’s delegated decision to not stand in the way of the Lake Malbena tourist camp was based on a detailed assessment of World Heritage values, government documents reveal.

The documents obtained by the Mercury under Freedom of Information laws reveal how Ms Price’s department determined that measures aimed at minimising the impact of the development were sufficient.

The advice was light on detail about the number of helicopter flights in and out. But it clearly advised the green light be given.

ADVICE given to the federal Environment Minister ahead of her decision to approve a controversial tourism development within World Heritagelisted wilderness failed to mention the proposed project would have at least 120 helicopter flights through the area each year.

Melissa Price’s 16-page decision briefing — obtained by the Mercury under freedom of information laws — noted the proposed helicopter-accessed standing camp development at Lake Malbena within the Walls of Jerusalem National Park was “locally contentious” but recommended the project receive the Environment Department’s green light.

Advice from the independent National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council that recommended the project not go ahead was not referenced.

But the document stepped out in detail why the federal department considered the proposed development would not breach federal environmental laws.

That was because proponents Daniel and Simone Hackett had agreed to a number of measures aimed at minimising the impact on wildlife, vegetation and the World Heritage Area’s cultural and natural criteria, it said.

“… the department considers that the proposed action is unlikely to cause one or more of the World Heritage values to be lost, degraded or damaged or notably altered, modified, obscured or diminished,” it said.

“The department concludes there is unlikely to be a significant impact to the values of a World Heritage property.”

The initial referral decision brief said Launceston couple Daniel and Simone Hackett’s proposal would involve 30 trips to Halls Island on Lake Malbena each year.

A document separate to the decision brief clarified this would equal 60 to 120 flights per year.

A Parks and Wildlife Service staffer raised concerns helicopter use could negatively impact on the recreational experience of “many other users — [for example] especially the many visitors who use the Cynthia Bay/Lake St Clair/ Pumphouse Point vicinity”.

“Feedback comments on past proposals for helicopter access to the [Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area] have reflected significant opposition to helicopters because they disturb the peace and quiet of the TWWHA experience,” they wrote.

The service’s response was that the proponents would be asked to adhere to the department’s “fly neighbourly advice” — a voluntary code of practice.

The Wilderness Society will fight the Federal Government’s approval of the Lake Malbena development in the Federal Court. A procedural hearing is listed for next week.