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Category: State Parliament / Parliament / Government and Politics / Alp / Regional Development

Power station hot tubs part of Tasmanian Labor's revitalisation plan

Sunday, 13 Nov 2016 12:27:10 | Georgie Burgess

Tourists could be soaking away their cares in a Lake Margaret power station pipeline tub. (ABC News)

The Tasmanian Opposition has unveiled part of its vision for the state's west coast, with incentives for mining, and a tourism masterplan including hot tubs made from old wooden hydro power station pipelines.

Labor leader Bryan Green addressed members at the party's state conference in Queenstown on Sunday.

The revitalisation of the Lake Margaret Power Station is on the list, and Mr Green said an idea that sprung from the Unconformity Festival was setting up hot tubs made from the King Billy Pine that was used to run water into the power station.

"Imagine on a cold winter day getting into a hot tub, and taking in the views and getting out and feeling the chill of the west coast," he said.

"I'm not suggesting it's a hot tub led-recovery but it's that sort of thinking outside the square that will draw people to the west coast."

Lake Margaret pipeline Photo: The wooden pipeline that once fed the Lake Margaret power station could be turned into hot tubs. (Hydro Tasmania)

Mr Green has promised funding for a "branding strategy" for the area, and loans of $100,000 for drilling projects and mine rehabilitation in the region.

"Right here in Queenstown obviously the Queen River runs orange as a result of the pollution that goes into it," he said.

"With new technology, you can have that copper extracted from the water and utilised in industry.

"Mining can and will play an important role in the west coast's future."

View to Queen River from the Abt Railway Photo: Labor sees some dollar value in cleaning up the river. (Margot Foster)

Mr Green said tourism and events like the Unconformity Festival were exposing the region to new audience.

He said a Labor government would develop a west coast tourism masterplan.

"The tourism masterplan would follow the successful model of the Cradle Mountain masterplan by setting clear priorities for investment in public infrastructure that will unlock millions of dollars of private capital," he said.

Projects that would be considered include an upgrade for the Strahan visitor centre, and a feasibility study for a regional airport in the town.

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