Lake Pedder Chalet re-opens to public

Hydro Tasmania today announced the re-opening of the Lake Pedder Chalet at Strathgordon to the general public.

The chalet has been leased to private operators to run as tourism accommodation in what is recognised as the gateway to the South-West wilderness. The chalet will be open to the public from 1 January 2012 and is already taking bookings.

The new operators – Susan and Neville Quarrier – are adopted Tasmanians with business experience across the retail and aged care sectors and a passion for promoting the State’s tourism potential.

The Quarriers approached Hydro Tasmania earlier this year with a detailed proposal to re-open the chalet which had been closed to visitors since June 2009. The contractor managing the chalet on a care and maintenance basis for Hydro Tasmania was then invited to submit a competitive proposal.

These had been considered in detail with the Quarriers’ business plan being selected for further investigation. Full due diligence was then carried out prior to a decision being made.

The Quarriers’ proposal was supported as it provided Hydro Tasmania with the most cost-effective, sustainable and considered option while continuing to provide necessary support to field operations in the region, particularly staff at the Gordon power station.

A leasing arrangement was signed in early November with a commencement date of 1 December 2011. Finishing touches are being made to recent refurbishment work prior to reopening on 1 January.

CEO Roy Adair said Hydro Tasmania was pleased to see the chalet once again opened to tourists. It had been closed to the public for over two years because of excessive operating costs and the need for the business to realign its priorities following three years of drought.

“The chalet is located in a magnificent part of Tasmania right next to the World Heritage area,” Mr Adair said. “More and more people want to experience this type of natural attraction and the chalet is in the perfect spot on the banks of Lake Pedder.

“We are confident the chalet will be a successful business under the enthusiastic and professional guidance of the Quarriers,” Mr Adair said.

Susan Quarrier said she was looking forward to the challenge of operating a business in the region.

“The area is what Tasmania is all about – it is unique, historic, diverse and untamed,” she said. “We can’t wait to use our business experience as well as what we have learned from our travels to attract visitors to the chalet.

“We are confident the re-opened chalet will prove popular and we look forward to providing a well-run, professional business that welcomes guests not only from Tasmania but elsewhere in Australia and from overseas.”

Hydro Tasmania has taken the opportunity to carry out much-needed repairs around the chalet while parts of the accommodation are being renovated. The total value of this work is around $300,000. The new operators will be re-opening the restaurant and bar and are keen to upgrade the sports facilities and introduce kayaks, bikes, native gardens and a children's playground.

An official opening is being planned for the end of January. 

For more information please contact Samantha Meyer on 6230 5746
Susan and Neville Quarrier can be contacted at 6280 1166