When will the community, local businesses and stakeholders be given a chance to comment on the design?
Formal public consultation will occur as part of the submission of planning and environmental approvals with opportunities provided for submission of comments on the development. This consultation will include the release of designs.
There is community information sessions being held at the Coles Bay Community Hall, 60 Harold Street, Coles Bay on 30 – 31 May 2025.
Date: Friday 30 May 2025
Time: 12noon – 2pm and 4pm – 7pm
Date: Saturday 31 May 2025
Time: 9am – 12noon
The masterplan sets the vision for the Gateway site and managing visitation to Freycinet National Park for the future.
Where will the Visitor Gateway be located?
The Visitor Gateway site is proposed to be located outside of Freycinet National Park on the left-hand side of the road just before the Coles Bay township. The exact location will be determined as part of current investigations. The location can be viewed on the
Freycinet Visitor Gateway Project webpage on this website.
When will the Visitor Gateway be built?
Subject to planning approvals it is anticipated that construction could commence in 2026 with completion in late 2026/2027.
Will the new Visitor Gateway building impact the view to the Hazards?
The design for the Visitor Gateway site is proposed to be low impact and complement, not compete with the existing natural beauty of the area and in particular the view of the Hazards from Coles Bay Road.
How many carparks will be at the Visitor Gateway site?
The actual size of the Visitor Gateway site, the building and number of carparks will be subject to further investigation and design. However a low impact, sensitive, functional and efficient design has been proposed. It is likely that the carpark will be delivered in stages and subject to visitation growth and increased demand.
Will I be able to park my caravan/RV at the Visitor Gateway site?
Yes, parking at the Visitor Gateway site will accommodate RV’s, caravan, camper trailers, motorcycles and bicycles for visitors accessing the park. Overnight parking for caravans, campers and RV’s will not be permitted.
How will this development impact threatened species at this site?
There has been a significant number of surveys to identify the impact to flora and fauna on the site between 2020 to 2025. These surveys and investigations have identified the location of individual species. The Gateway design has been developed with input from specialist consultants to avoid or minimise impact to threatened species. Any impact to threatened species forms part of the planning approvals and environmental assessment processes (Commonwealth, state and local government).
Can I take my bicycle into the park?
Yes, a network of pathways will connect the Gateway site to the park and some shuttles (buses) are anticipated to have capacity to carry bicycles.
Will I be able to buy a national park pass at the Gateway site?
Yes, passes will be available at the Visitor Gateway site.
Will I be able to charge my phone or device at the Gateway site?
USB charging stations or access to power points for charging your device will be included in the Gateway site design.
Will there be any electric vehicle charge facilities at the Gateway site?
Charging facilities for electric vehicles will be available at the Gateway site.
Will I have to pay for the shuttle service?
The shuttle bus operating model is subject to further investigations and development over the next 18 months to provide the best solution for visitors, stakeholders and community. The shuttle service will likely operate on a partial cost recovery basis.
Will there be toilets at the Gateway site?
Gender neutral toilets, including accessible toilets and baby change facilities will be located at the Gateway site.
Will I still be able to drive into the national park after the Visitor Gateway site opens?
Visitors will still be able to drive into the national park and park in designated spaces along Freycinet Drive and Cape Tourville Road. Visitors towing or driving larger vehicles such as RVs and caravans will be encouraged to park at the Gateway site. A strategy for the management of vehicle access to the national park during peak demand periods when all carparks inside the park are full will be developed over the next 18 months.
Will the shuttle bus run through the Coles Bay township?
The shuttle bus will collect visitors from the Visitor Gateway site. It is proposed that some shuttles will travel through the Coles Bay township stopping at a few locations before travelling into the key experience nodes in the national park, however this is to be subject to further investigation and consultation. It is expected that at a minimum during peak operation periods, express services will run between the Gateway site and the national park.
Will the shuttle buses be fully electric vehicles?
The Shuttle buses are expected to be hybrid electric / diesel at minimum and may be fully electric subject to the capability of vehicles available in the market at the time of the shuttle service being implemented. This will be subject to further investigation.
How often will the shuttle service run?
The timing and frequency of the shuttle bus service will be determined following further investigations over the next 18 months. It is expected to be flexible to cater for demand and usage. What we do know is that it will be necessary to operate the shuttle service during high demand / peak visitation periods when the Gateway is the only available carparking option.
Will there be a café at the Gateway site?
Filtered water will be available at the Gateway site to fill water bottles. The shuttle service is proposed to have some services routing through the Coles Bay township which would stop adjacent to cafés in Coles Bay or visitors can walk or ride into town on the connecting pathway.
How will wastewater from Gateway be dealt with?
The design stage will investigate all options for wastewater treatment for the Gateway site with the proposed solution subject to planning approvals.
Will there be Aboriginal interpretation at the Gateway site and information on Aboriginal culture?
It is proposed as part of the Gateway project to integrate Aboriginal interpretation into the site and visitor experience. This will be developed over the next 18 months with input from representatives of the Aboriginal community.
Will there be any impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage because of the development?
Aboriginal Heritage surveys have been undertaken for the proposed Gateway site. They have not identified any registered Aboriginal sites within the boundaries of the project area. The 2024 survey report is currently being finalised including through engagement with the Aboriginal community.
Protocols will be in place and followed during all development or construction works in the event any cultural artefacts are uncovered.
Consultation with Aboriginal community representatives is occurring as part of the stakeholder engagement and communication strategy for the project. The project reference group includes a representative of the Aboriginal community to provide high level advice.
How will updates on the project be communicated to the public?
Regular Infrastructure Updates are provided via an emailing list which interested individuals can register for through the Freycinet Visitor Gateway Project webpage.
Will my feedback be incorporated into the plan?
All feedback will be considered by the project and design team and may be incorporated into future designs. Some feedback may require further investigation as part of considerations or may not be able to be incorporated due to constraints associated with the footprint, legislative codes and standards, budget or it may not be achievable from a wholistic optimal design perspective.
When will I next have the chance to view designs or provide feedback?
Information on future public consultation opportunities will be advised and advertised on the project web page, public notices and email circulation, as more detailed design and planning documents become available. Formal public consultation opportunities will be announced, as or part of one of the four statutory planning approval processes.
When will this project be delivered?
The delivery of this project is subject to multiple complex statutory and planning approval processes and completion of a successful construction tender process. Therefore, exact timing cannot be provided. It is anticipated that, subject to the above, the project may commence construction in 2026 and be operational in 2027.
Subject to budget allocation, the project may be delivered as a staged approach. The decision on the way forward is anticipated to be made at the end of the schematic design (current) design stage.
Will there be further consultation on the shuttle service?
The Freycinet Peninsula Masterplan 2019 and a high-level transport strategy has informed proposed routes and stops for the shuttle service. Further detailed investigations and analysis is to be undertaken over the next 18 months and will inform the business model for implementation of the service, routes, stops, frequency, staging approach, bus types and shuttle infrastructure requirements.
Further engagement and consultation on the shuttle service will occur as investigations progress.
What will the Visitor Gateway building look like?
The design approach is for an aesthetically pleasing building which nestles into the landscape and complements rather than competes with the surrounds. The building footprint will be kept to a minimum with an understated and low visual impact. Design will carefully consider appropriate, long-life, hard-wearing materials that are suitable for the location.
What will happen at the Gateway site if there is a fire?
The design and future operations of the Gateway site will incorporate advice from fire engineers, Tasmanian Fire Service and PWS fire operations teams and will be subject to the development of an emergency management plan. Fire management and safety will be carefully considered from a design perspective and integrated into the overall Freycinet Peninsula Management Plan.