Early Tas tourism developments

[nickthetasmaniac]

Hi all, I'm hoping the brains trust might be able to help out.

I'm in the midsts of writing my Masters thesis, which looks at the approval process for commercial developments in Tasmanian NPs. I'm looking at six past and present case study projects, and it's proving hard to find info on some of the earlier examples.

I'd love to talk to anyone who was either directly involved or just generally paying attention during the planning or development of the following:
- Cradle Mt Huts (the original four huts by Ken Latona)
- Cockle Creek East/Planter Beach (the David Marriner development)
- Freycinet Lodge (the original lodge, not the current expansion by RACT)

Any help or input would be appreciated.

Cheers, Nick

[Son of a Beach]

- Freycinet Lodge (the original lodge, not the current expansion by RACT)

Do you mean the really original lodge (ie, "The Chateau"), or the new lodge much as it is now, and before RACT?

Not that I can help, but it may be worth clarifying. It used to be the Chateau back in the '70s when we used to stay there. It was quite run down and old looking even then. It had a MASSIVE upgrade and face lift some time around the turn of the millenium, I think it was - or perhaps in the '90s - to become what it is now.

[nickthetasmaniac]

- Freycinet Lodge (the original lodge, not the current expansion by RACT)

Do you mean the really original lodge (ie, "The Chateau"), or the new lodge much as it is now, and before RACT?

Both, everything prior to the current expansion by RACT.

Cheers, Nick

[Nuts]

Sounds like a very worthwhile examination, i'm sure there are a few old stagers around that could help, if not planning staff.
Good luck on the commercial side, without cumbersome FOI requests and games (redact & block), probably even to gather historical info from the current concessions staff wont be easy.

I only have the anecdotal account for the Overland Track and from an opposition POV.
Immediately obvious is the scale past and present of these projects (numbers), the standing governments, considering why Ken didn't get 5 huts, looking into the original stipulations of the concession.

So sorely needed in a wider framework which to me includes some way, law reform, constitutional amendment, some way.. to leave park planning solely to park planners (ie. well weighted to pure conservation as we expect). Which also, to me, means expecting an income from wilderness Or not.

[nickthetasmaniac]

Sounds like a very worthwhile examination, i'm sure there are a few old stagers around that could help, if not planning staff.
Good luck on the commercial side, without cumbersome FOI requests and games (redact & block), probably even to gather historical info from the current concessions staff wont be easy.

I only have the anecdotal account for the Overland Track and from an opposition POV.
Immediately obvious is the scale past and present of these projects (numbers), the standing governments, considering why Ken didn't get 5 huts, looking into the original stipulations of the concession.

So sorely needed in a wider framework which to me includes some way, law reform, constitutional amendment, some way.. to leave park planning solely to park planners (ie. well weighted to pure conservation as we expect). Which also, to me, means expecting an income from wilderness Or not.

Sorry Nuts, I thought I had replied to this...

I agree, it is very tricky getting any info on current projects due to commercial in confidence issues...

I am very interested in hearing anecdotal accounts from people who were around during these projects. Even though it can't really be used in the thesis, it's very helpful in getting my head around what was happening at the time (it's also interesting at a personal level!). If you have any tales could you please email me at clarknh(at)utas.edu.au? I'm particularly curious about why Ken only got four huts...

Interesting thoughts regarding park planning by parks planners. An obvious issue at the moment is that PWS is statutorily obliged to managed national parks for tourism and recreation as well as outright conservation. A major challenge I think is the overstep of politics into parks planning.

[Nuts]

Anyhow, I'm wondering how far you got? Care to elaborate or share any findings?