Tasmania’s ‘Next Iconic Walk’ has cleared a federal hurdle, with Canberra deciding the planned 31-kilometre Tyndall Range track does not need further environmental assessment.
A delegate for the federal environment minister ruled this week the project is “not a controlled action” under national environment laws.
The decision follows a push by the Tasmanian Greens and a coalition of environment groups, which urged federal Environment Minister Murray Watt to call the project in for a deeper review.
Greens parks spokesperson Tabatha Badger has raised concerns about potential cost blowouts, high walker fees and environmental impacts on the alpine area.
“The Tyndalls should be protected, not stripped of its wild character for another high-end walk, when there are better, more cost efficient alternatives,” she said.
“Both the state and federal governments have failed to properly protect this important wild place.”
The Greens have also argued the Tyndall Range should be added to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, rather than opened up to new development.
West Coast mayor Shane Pitt hit back at the party this week, accusing the Greens of trying to undermine jobs in the region.
“First, the Greens said that we couldn’t dam Gordon River and we could have tourism jobs instead,” he said.
“Then they said that we should close down Macquarie Harbour salmon aquaculture and we could have tourism jobs instead.”
“Now, surprise surprise they say we can’t have those tourism jobs either.”
Pitt said the walk was not within the World Heritage Area or even a national park.
He said it would cross a mix of public land, including Hydro Tasmania land, where mining, hunting, fishing and four-wheel driving are already permitted.
“This fantastic 31 kilometre walk will generate real economic returns for our community,” he said.
“This decision is fantastic news and a real boost for our region and will allow Tasmanians to access areas of our state that only a select few were able to previously.”
The project is forecast to create 139 construction jobs and 40 ongoing roles, and to bring about 7,000 walkers to the West Coast each year.
Acting parks minister Madeleine Ogilvie welcomed the federal decision.
“The Tasmanian government referred the project to ensure it received the highest level of scrutiny given the location’s proximity to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area,” Ogilvie said.
“The decision affirms the planning, consultation, science and design inputs that mitigate impacts to matters of national environmental significance.”
The three-day, two-night, hut-based walk will run between Lake Plimsoll and the Lake Margaret Power Station, with overnight stops at Lake Huntley and Lake Mary.
The project still requires approval from the West Coast Council before construction can begin, with the walk on track to open in 2029.
