In theory, new eco tourism projects are a good idea, and will get more people out into wild environments in a way that doesn’t damage the environment. But when it comes to the current Tasmanian government, I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them.

The following comes from The Great Walks website.

Three eco-tourism projects have been given the green light to operate in Tasmania as part of the Government’s bid to open up the state’s national parks to eco-tourism.

The approved projects are a multi-day boat charter in Tasmania’s southwest from Tasmanian Boat Charters, day walking tours from Freycinet Eco Retreat and Trees Adventures’ proposed eco-tourism trees adventure park at Mount Field NP.

Tasmania’s State Growth Minister Matthew Groom accepted the three proposals at the recommendation of an assessment panel commissioned to sift through dozens of expressions of interest. He told a budget estimates committee a total of 25 proposals had progressed and would take more time to assess.

“These three proposals will see 19 new jobs created when they are up and running,” he told the ABC.

Mr Groom said the Government remained committed to the proper protection of natural and cultural heritage in the state’s parks and reserves.

But not everyone is happy.

The Wilderness Society’s Vica Bayley has dismissed the tree top walk in a world heritage area as an “offensive idea”. He has also said he wanted more details on the proposals.

“The Minister needs to commit to putting them through the proper statutory process and more information needs to be put on the record and on the table about exactly what these proposals are,” he told the ABC.

The Government said all projects that were approved through the EOI process would need to comply with the statutory framework in place at the time.