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The federal gov is assessing the Falls to Hotham development

For years now we have covered the debate around the Victorian governments plan to radically upgrade the Falls to Hotham Crossing (you can find stories here). It would upgrade the current walk, diverting it via Mt Feathertop and The Razorback, and is deeply unpopular among most outdoors users and environmentalists as it would introduce private commercial infrastructure in the Alpine national park.

While this is a state government initiative, there is now a very short period of time to make a submission to the federal government about the proposal. This is because it is being reviewed under the federal nature laws (called the EPBC). Opportunities for public comment close on November 10, 2025. Please take a few minutes to send in a personal submission.

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TAS Development Assessment Panels to take decisions away from local councils

There has been a long community-led campaign to oppose the plan to build a cable car up the face of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington, the mountain above Nipaluna/ Hobart. There is another important moment in the campaign.

The Tasmanian Government has now released the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) draft bill for comment. There are fears that, if passed, this legislation would mean that future Development Applications will be assessed by DAPs appointed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission rather than local councils.

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Mountain health snapshot

Much of the mountain country across south eastern Australia and lutruwita/ Tasmania is on protected public lands. While the ski resorts continue to intensify the impact of their existing footprint through continued building and infrastructure, across the undeveloped zones there are also a range of projects that threaten the health of ecosystems.

Seperately, each can feel insignificant. But when taken collectively the impact is enormous. This is a quick assessment of some of the big picture trends happening across the Alps and mountainous zones of Tasmania at present.

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Winter 2024 – the washup

If you were in the Victorian mountains during that amazing storm that passed through in the third week of July, you will have experienced winter at its best. In the Victorian backcountry we had already lost much of the base and the fresh snow was unconsolidated, but it didn’t really matter because there was so much of it. That wonderful and particular sound of fresh dry powder creaking underfoot as you weave through the trees on the uphill and that weightlessness as you head back down truly is magic (it always reminds me of that opening scene in the Valhalla film from Sweetgrass – When you’ve seen the season’s first great snow through the eyes of a child—you’ve known true happiness).

Then the blow drier was turned on, and we all know what happened next. Despite the amazing efforts of the resort groomers, the resorts started to close – the lower elevation ones like Mt Selwyn went first (consistent with what we expect from climate change). As of September 8 there is still cover in the Main Range and a few lifts are still going in places like Falls Creek. But basically the season is done – a whole month early.

This is obviously a huge blow for the businesses who are on their second short winter and everyone who was reliant on a full winter working in a resort or valley town. And, of course, it’s a drag for everyone who just wants to go skiing or riding.

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O’Connell’s Lookout safety railing proposal

There is a proposal to upgrade informal tracks close to the Mitta Mitta River within the Alpine national park. Many people have expressed concerns about plans to erect a set of steel stairs and putting in guard rails on top of the cliff at O’Connell’s Lookout, which overlooks the Graveyard rapid.

The Mittagundi outdoor education centre opposes the proposal, saying

‘young people who come to Mittagundi usually have the opportunity to abseil at this amazing and natural place without guard rails and steel stairs’.

They are urging people to contact Parks Victoria and object to the current proposal.

‘Mittagundi did object initially when we were invited to have a submission, however our objection was not successful. Please, if you choose too, could you write to Parks Victoria stating an objection, it might help prevent the proposal from going ahead.

Thank you!’

info@parks.vic.gov.au

Friends of the Mitta (FOTM) are concerned that if the project doesn’t go ahead, the area may be closed off because of safety concerns.

They say:

Over the years, we have been in ongoing discussions with Parks Victoria (PV) regarding the formalisation of the loop trail, which includes O’Connell’s Overlook. Our discussions included the requirement for a safety railing at the overlook to comply with evolving risk management protocols.

Initially, FOTM opposed the installation of a railing, as we believed it would detract from the site’s natural beauty.

However, approximately three years ago, PV informed us that, without a railing, the overlook would be closed to all visitors, including abseilers and hiking groups.

There is a major piece about the proposal available on their website which provides history and details on their views on the proposal.

 

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Wild Places and the social media ‘positive feedback loop’

I have lost track of the number of times I have stumbled into one of those ‘instagram is killing the places we love’ conversations but, after a busy summer in the mountains, its hard to ignore the ever growing numbers of people out on the trails.  I saw this recently in Outside magazine:

If you’ve talked to any longtime outdoor enthusiasts in the last few years, you’ve probably heard some grumbling about how crowded the campsites are and how difficult it’s become to find trailhead parking. And they’ve probably attributed the uptick in popularity of outside activities to social media, where widely shared photos of beautiful sites draw crowds.

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Protect Our Winters report: Our Changing Snowscapes

We have known for years that climate change is reducing the overall amount of snow we receive in Australia. The snow pack has been in decline since at least 1957. We also know that the loss of snow is being felt especially at lower elevations and will have enormous impacts on the local economies that have developed around the mountains.

Today Protect Our Winters (POW) have released a comprehensive update on the threats posed by climate change – to snow pack, the mountain environment and animals who rely on a thriving ecosystem, and downstream rivers, and also the impacts on the local economies that rely on good snowfalls.

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Mountain Journal magazine #4 now online

Once a year we produce the Mountain Journal magazine. It is distributed through mountain and valley towns from Melbourne to Canberra each autumn. 2024 is the fourth print edition, and the magazine is being distributed at present.

You can also enjoy this PDF of the magazine MJ4.

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An important meeting about the future of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington

There has been a long and spirited campaign against the proposal from The Mt Wellington Cableway Company (MWCC) to build a commercial centre on the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, an aerial tramway up the face of the mountain, and associated infrastructure and works (background information available here). Now, with a state election coming up soon, Residents Opposed to the Cable Car are urging locals in nipaluna/ Hobart to attend an important public meeting.

Continue reading “An important meeting about the future of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington” →

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Lake Malbena update: Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment required

On 13 November 2023 Minister Plibersek issued yet another Extension of Time for her decision on federal approval of the controversial standing camp proposal on Halls Island on the Central Plateau in lutruwita/ Tasmania. You can read about the proposal here.

However, unlike the previous extensions this one includes a request for further information, including “a thorough Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment report”.

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TAS gov pushes ahead with Tyndall Range proposal

[ABOVE: do you want a privately run hut here?]

Around the country, protected areas are being threatened by the prospect of commercial development within parks. One of the long running issues has been a proposal to build an ‘iconic’ walk in the Tyndall Range in western lutruwita/ Tasmania.

The Tyndalls are a spectacular range which is tucked out of the way and currently in a wild condition, with no roads or other infrastructure on the range itself. However in 2019, the Tasmanian Liberals announced a plan to commit “up to $20 million … to deliver our next iconic multi-day, hut-based walk which will enhance the visitor economy throughout the entire region”. According to the proponent, the proposal includes the option of “a private walking company .. investing in the development of private lodges similar to that of Three Capes Track”. A subsequent Feasibility Study concluded that the proposed walk was only feasible if the then-budget of $20 million was doubled, which the government duly did.

Recently it has been made clear that the government intends to proceed with this controversial project.

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A zip line on kunanyi/ Mt Wellington?

Tasmania/ lutruwita is blessed with hundreds of mountains and mountain ranges (the ‘Abels’). Although generally lower than the high country of south eastern Australia, they tend towards the rocky and sheer, and many have wonderful summits. Some, like Frenchmans Cap, Federation Peak and Mt Geryon, are impressive rocky mountains. But sadly, successive state governments and developers have spent years obsessing over building things on many mountain tops.

From the long campaign to halt a cable car up the main face of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington, to the proposal for a Gondola up along Cradle Valley to Dove Lake and the short lived idea of constructing a cable car up Mt Roland, the mountaintops have long been an allure to those who want to convert beauty into profit. There are even plans for a cable car up Mt Owen, on the west coast.

Now, a tourism ‘entrepreneur’ wants to build what he says would be “the longest, fastest and highest zip-line in the Asia-Pacific” on the mid slopes of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington. 

Continue reading “A zip line on kunanyi/ Mt Wellington?” →

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