A Tasmanian entrepreneur who has been trying to get his controversial fly-in fly-out wilderness camping venture off the ground for years is pushing ahead with another attempt at gaining federal approval.
The proponent, Daniel Hackett, believes the drawn-out approvals process, which is in its seventh year, has been necessary, but he has decried what he described as the "politicisation" of the development.
His Lake Malbena proposal – where high-paying campers would be flown by helicopter to access remote Halls Island in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park – prompted vigorous public debate over the private use of public land, and the impact on wilderness values.
It has also faced multiple court appeals.
A council decision to reject the proposal was appealed — and counter-appealed — right up to the Supreme Court full bench, before Mr Hackett withdrew to focus on getting federal environmental approval first.
Former environment minister Sussan Ley requested more information in 2020, based on concerns about the helicopter disturbing wedge-tailed eagles, and the potential loss of 700 hectares of high-quality wilderness due to fly-over.
Mr Hackett questioned the methodology behind this conclusion, and his new attempt at approval — resubmitted this week — tries to allay those concerns.
"[The minister's] decision was using basic broad-based modelling, which didn't take into account spatial and temporal factors. Ms Ley thought it was a final statement of impact, but it wasn't," he said.
His submission argues Ms Ley's wilderness values decision was based on an "arbitrary assumption" that the venture would operate 365 days a year, rather than 60 days, while "time remoteness" should only be considered for the project area itself.
Mr Hackett said this would bring the wilderness impact down to 200 hectares for 16 per cent of the year — considerably less than Ms Ley's conclusion.
His submission includes correspondence with Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service, which had commented that the original modelling could "overestimate" the impacts.
In responding to the wedge-tailed eagle issue, the proposal has clarified a flight area — rather than specific flight path — to allow for the helicopter to navigate around discovered wedge-tailed eagle nests.
New environment minister Tanya Plibersek will assess his latest attempt at federal approval.
Wilderness group fights 'parks privatisation policy'
The Wilderness Society Tasmania is the reason why the matter is still being considered by the federal government.
It successfully appealed in the Federal Court for the proposal to be fully assessed, after former minister Melissa Price had decided that it did not.
The Society was also involved in the development application appeals process, and will likely be involved in future appeals. The proposal could be years away from a final determination.
The body's Tasmania campaign manager, Tom Allen, said they would encourage people to make submissions against the latest attempt at federal approval.
"The government's parks privatisation policy is the problem but remains on the table, despite seemingly the entire island being opposed," he said.
"Luxury accommodation, more tourism helicopters and privatising national parks — and palawa land — is bad policy. Good policy is encouraging nature tourism outside national park boundaries."
The venture has resulted in protests from a diverse group of people — including those who would not always be associated with traditional green campaigns in Tasmania, such as fly fishers.
Approvals 'far too politicised'
Mr Hackett has always maintained the flight path skirted the boundary of the wilderness area, rather than flying over it, while pointing out other existing helicopter travel that flies over.
But he expects opposition to the proposal will remain.
"The approval processes are what they are. I can't change them, we just go along with it," he said.
"The oversight is needed, but it's far too politicised."
The Wilderness Society argues that the Tasmanian government has politicised the issue via its expressions of interest process for development in national parks.
The latest attempt for approval is open for comment.
Mr Hackett then plans to submit a development application should it get federal approval.
