Dove Lake progress heading in the right direction

THE Government has unveiled its new viewing shelter at Dove Lake in Cradle Mountain-Lake Sinclair National Park. It is part of the $27m already spent in the World Heritage area with a new visitor centre complimenting the viewing platform.

By all accounts and looking at the spectacular photos it’s an impressive bit of infrastructure that allows the many thousands of tourists to look out in awe at Dove Lake while keeping them safe from the elements.

The other plus is that the building isn’t obtrusive. It blends in with the surroundings and takes the place of what was once an ugly parking area.

As Parks Minister Roger Jaensch said, the Dove Lake Viewing Shelter was a proud moment and an example of the “quiet pursuit of the extraordinary.”

“A brutal car park will never again burst the bubble of visitors to Cradle Mountain. This building will be given back to the elements. Lichen will grow on its concrete walls and the blonde timber will turn to silver.

“Some people will hold nostalgia for the days when you could drive the family wagon into the Dove Lake car park and have the place to yourselves. “But it really wasn’t good enough.” It’s a good example of how the government is trying to make the most of Tasmania’s natural assets.

Instead of driving up to the lake people now catch a bus and will be able to take in the beauty of the lake without the cars and noise.

The next step in the project is a cable way to stop the use of buses and further enhance the visitor experience.

Mr Jaensch made clear the development was still alive and all about lightening the tourist load on Cradle Mountain even further.

“It will not be in the view field of visitors and it will not be noisy,” he said.

“This is a transit solution, not a tourist attraction,” he said.

It will be interesting to see how the project progresses and how many people will try to stand in its way in the name of protecting the Tassie wilderness.