Park entry on way up

No picnic for park visitors

THE cost of day passes in the state’s national parks is set to surge by 66 per cent next month.

Visiting Cradle Mountain will cost even more.

Environment and Parks Minister Mark Shelton said the government was “modernising the structure” of parks entry fees.

“Prices for two-year and annual parks passes, which are most commonly purchased by Tasmanians, will decrease from September 1,” he said.

IF YOU go down to the woods next month, you’re sure of a big surprise: fees to access national parks will jump by up to 66 per cent from September 1.

The state government said the price rises — which are up to three times more than inflation — would “provide value for Tasmanians”.

The fee rise also creates a new class of park: the Icon National Park at Cradle Mountain, which will cost even more than a regular park.

Day passes for an individual will rise by 66 per cent to $20, vehicle passes by 66 per cent to $40, and eight-week passes by between 25 and 33 per cent.

Going to Cradle Mountain for the day will cost 51 per cent more for an adult as prices rise from $16.50 to $25, and a family day pass will rise 45 per cent to $60. The price of parks passes were last increased 10 years ago, and over that period the consumer price index has risen by 20 per cent.

Longer-term passes will be cheaper – the cost of two-year passes will fall by 6 per cent to $115 and one-year passes by 6 per cent to $90.

Parks Minister Mark Shelton said the price hikes were “modernising the structure” of parks entry fees. “Prices for two-year and annual parks passes, which are most commonly purchased by Tasmanians, will decrease from September 1,” he said.

“This is the first major change to prices in over a decade and it will allow us to keep the cost down for locals who visit more frequently.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor called the fee hike a mistake.

“Being able to access our beautiful, public parks since the restrictions eased has been a salvation for so many Tasmanians,” she said.

“Slugging them more for a day out enjoying protected areas is just thoughtless and self defeating.”

The fee hike is expected to raise an extra $3m a year based on pre-COVID admission figures.

Labor’s parks spokeswoman Alison Standen said parks fees needed to be “affordable for Tasmanians to visit their own backyard”.

“Our concern is that this announcement comes at precisely the wrong time when we are trying to encourage Tasmanians to get out and enjoy the state,” she said.