‘Pod’ camps in WHA trails draw protest

NEW semi-permanent “puffer pod” tents could be built along Tasmania’s most famous World Heritage bushwalking tracks after preliminary approval from a panel set up by the State Government.

As part of the Government’s expressions of interest process in parks and reserves, World Expeditions plans to build five semi-permanent pods along the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park Overland Track and one pod along the Walls of Jerusalem track at Wild Dog Creek.

Although the concept has gained stage 1 approval from an independent assessment panel, World Expeditions must now undertake a Reserve Activity Assessment and seek approval through the normal Commonwealth Government and State Government planning approval processes.

The architecturally de- signed “puffer pods” would be communal cold-weather tents at standing height, with down inner fabric and canvas covers.

World Expeditions chief executive Sue Badyari said the pods would be erected during the walking season, about eight months of the year from September to April, and then taken down so the vegetation underneath could regrow over winter.

The company already has walking tours along the Overland Track, operating locally under the name Tasmanian Expeditions, where walkers trek with all their own gear.

Ms Badyari said the new offering would almost halve the amount people needed to carry, from 18kg backpacks down to 10kg, because the bedding and tents would not need to be carried.

“We call this comfort trekking,” she said.

In announcing stage 1 approval, Premier Will Hodgman said the proposal was expected to employ 15 to 20 staff.

Wilderness Society campaign manager Vica Bayley said the approval process lacked credibility as it had not consulted with the community and should have waited until the World Heritage Area had a tourism master plan.

“Since 2015, UNESCO has been asking the Hodgman Government to produce a tourism master plan for the World Heritage Area so tourism can be managed in a way that protects important values and the experience of other users,” Mr Bayley said.

“This approval, via a secret process that has no credibility or community engagement, pre-empts that tourism plan,” he said.

“We call on the Government and company to release the full project proposal and the assessment documents, so people can see exactly what’s been approved, against what criteria and on what basis.”