The Lake Pedder Chalet at the Strathgordon Village will be closed to the general public with effect from 1 July 2009.
The chalet is an accommodation facility owned by Hydro Tasmania and catering for staff working in and around the Gordon Power Station and visitors. It comprises a 70-bed motel, nine accommodation units and 17 houses primarily for staff working at the power station on a permanent basis.
Hydro Tasmania’s Manager Service Delivery Margaret Whiteside said the decision had been a hard one but the chalet had run an average annual operational loss of around $800 000 for the last few years and its occupancy rate for 07/08 had been just over 23 per cent.
“We are looking at an even lower occupancy rate for this financial year despite a pick-up in February and March which is unsustainable in anyone’s language,” she said.
“The chalet has existed for around 40 years since it was built to support the influx of thousands of people who worked on the Gordon power scheme of the late 60s and early 70s. It has served our business well but we simply cannot sustain this level of losses any more.
“While those visitors who have made the journey over the years find the trip worthwhile and the Chalet a welcoming destination, the evidence shows most tourists will not travel to a destination that requires them having to return the same way they came.
“It would require a massive multi-million dollar investment to change the whole nature of the location to tempt more visitors or a different type of visitor and that is not the business Hydro Tasmania is in.
“Hydro Tasmania looked at all the possible options, including sale or lease, but decided that in the current economic climate it was best to operate it on a ‘care and maintenance’ basis to meet our current and future operational requirements.
“This will involve the closure of the main accommodation and kitchen but the continuation of basic services to the travelling public such as postal, fuel and visitor information. The emergency services access helipad will also continue.
“The remaining accommodation will be for the use of Hydro Tasmania staff and contractors.”
As a result of the decision, 11 casual positions at the Chalet will be no longer required from the end of June when usage of the facility is at its lowest during the winter months. Staff were advised of the decision yesterday.
Hydro Tasmania is working with its staff at the Gordon Power Station who live at and use the services of the Chalet to investigate possible options to replace the loss of some of the facility’s services.
As part of the decision, Hydro Tasmania is advising a wide range of external stakeholders to inform potential visitors and update various publications and websites.
Hydro Tasmania will discuss with organisers of the annual Back to Pedder fishing event the implications of the change of operation and potential alternative arrangements.
ends