Fortescue Bay Developments
Nesting penguin © Simone Yemm
The following information was originally published Tuesday, 18 February 2003. The issue is still ongoing, with the recent sale of land at Canoe Bay giving cause for concern - for details see our current campaigns.
The Tasmanian National Parks Association (TNPA) is concerned about a number of options presented in the recently released Draft Plan of the Fortescue Bay Site Plan December 2002.
In section 3.5 Built Structures- Guidelines of the Draft Plan, we totally disagree on the point of allowing commercial accommodation developments within our National Parks. Our Parks are not there to use as pieces of prime real estate. However we do support sensitive developments outside the National park boundaries, adjacent to our National Parks. Strahan and Cradle Valley are excellent examples of this. There is plenty of attractive real estate on the Tasman Peninsula outside the Tasman National Park suitable for accommodation developments. It is crucial for the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service to protect the values that made the area a National Park in the first place.
Other built structures such as visitor facilities, picnic shelters or amenities blocks we may consider appropriate, depending on the environmental impact and site specific details. It is the commercial accommodation developments within Parks that the TNPA is strongly opposed to.
Parks cannot simply be rezoned as a Visitor Services Zone (VSZ) and then choose to allow commercial accommodation developments because the new VSZ allows this!! Parks are for Nature Conservation and any accommodation development at Canoe Bay (in either node), or in any area in the Park south of Fortescue Bay is totally inappropriate and will erode not only the natural values of the Park, but also the economic advantage that Tasmania has over the rest of the world, with its "so far" pristine National Parks.
We believe that the penguin rookeries that exist between Fortescue Bay and Canoe Bay ought to be conserved with the least impact possible. Instead the Draft Plan proposes allowing two potential commercial accommodation developments in this area. The TNPS re-iterates its belief that National parks are for Nature Conservation, and this penguin rookery and the area itself needs to be protected for its intrinsic values.
In the same grain we disagree with section 3.6.2 Commercial Accommodation. We do not support any built commercial accommodation anywhere in the Park. This includes proposals for the VSZ, south of the Park, linked licensed camps anywhere in the Park. All will degrade the natural values of the Park. There are many areas nearby outside the Park boundaries that could have commercial accommodation.
In terms of allowing commercial walking operations within the Park, the TNPA would disagree with anything other than completely self contained backpacking commercial operations in the Park. However, group sizes need to be carefully managed in order not to impact adversely on tracks and campsites.
The TNPA strongly recommends that the Fortescue Bay Site Plan be amended so that it does not allow any commercial accommodation developments or linked licenced camps (also known as standing camps) within the current Tasman National Park boundaries. This is vital in order to retain the natural values of the park for future generations.
The Tasmanian National Parks Association (TNPA) is concerned about a number of options presented in the recently released Draft Plan of the Fortescue Bay Site Plan December 2002.
In section 3.5 Built Structures- Guidelines of the Draft Plan, we totally disagree on the point of allowing commercial accommodation developments within our National Parks. Our Parks are not there to use as pieces of prime real estate. However we do support sensitive developments outside the National park boundaries, adjacent to our National Parks. Strahan and Cradle Valley are excellent examples of this. There is plenty of attractive real estate on the Tasman Peninsula outside the Tasman National Park suitable for accommodation developments. It is crucial for the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service to protect the values that made the area a National Park in the first place.
Other built structures such as visitor facilities, picnic shelters or amenities blocks we may consider appropriate, depending on the environmental impact and site specific details. It is the commercial accommodation developments within Parks that the TNPA is strongly opposed to.
Parks cannot simply be rezoned as a Visitor Services Zone (VSZ) and then choose to allow commercial accommodation developments because the new VSZ allows this!! Parks are for Nature Conservation and any accommodation development at Canoe Bay (in either node), or in any area in the Park south of Fortescue Bay is totally inappropriate and will erode not only the natural values of the Park, but also the economic advantage that Tasmania has over the rest of the world, with its "so far" pristine National Parks.
We believe that the penguin rookeries that exist between Fortescue Bay and Canoe Bay ought to be conserved with the least impact possible. Instead the Draft Plan proposes allowing two potential commercial accommodation developments in this area. The TNPS re-iterates its belief that National parks are for Nature Conservation, and this penguin rookery and the area itself needs to be protected for its intrinsic values.
In the same grain we disagree with section 3.6.2 Commercial Accommodation. We do not support any built commercial accommodation anywhere in the Park. This includes proposals for the VSZ, south of the Park, linked licensed camps anywhere in the Park. All will degrade the natural values of the Park. There are many areas nearby outside the Park boundaries that could have commercial accommodation.
In terms of allowing commercial walking operations within the Park, the TNPA would disagree with anything other than completely self contained backpacking commercial operations in the Park. However, group sizes need to be carefully managed in order not to impact adversely on tracks and campsites.
The TNPA strongly recommends that the Fortescue Bay Site Plan be amended so that it does not allow any commercial accommodation developments or linked licenced camps (also known as standing camps) within the current Tasman National Park boundaries. This is vital in order to retain the natural values of the park for future generations.
Copyright © 2011
The Tasmania National Parks Association Inc seeks to preserve Tasmania's national parks and reserves through management committed to the conservation of their natural and cultural values.
ABN: 38 875 435 295
The Tasmania National Parks Association Inc seeks to preserve Tasmania's national parks and reserves through management committed to the conservation of their natural and cultural values.
ABN: 38 875 435 295
