Three cheers for Three Capes Track
How does a pristine wilderness win a property award? Three Capes Track in Tasmania recently took home the state’s top honour for a smart and sustainable approach to development.
Since opening in December 2015, Three Capes Track on the Tasman Peninsula has been a huge hit with walkers. Last year, the number of tourists visiting Tasmania for overnight bushwalks grew by almost 70 per cent, and this growth is attributed to the Three Capes Track.
Conceived by Parks and Wildlife Tasmania, JAWS Architects and built by Vos Construction, Three Capes Track was recently presented with the Property Council of Australia’s RLB Tasmanian Development of the Year award.
“The cabins situated along the Three Capes Track demonstrate how thoughtfully-designed, sustainable development can create better places for people and enhance economic opportunity across our state,” says the Property Council’s Tasmanian executive director Brian Wightman.
Wightman says the judges were impressed with the “refined and unassuming buildings” that “tread lightly on this precious environment, while providing an enhanced walker experience”.
The approach to development along the Three Capes Track sets new benchmarks for both eco-tourism and sustainable construction.
“Being situated in a national park, many design choices were informed by the potential threat of bushfire, while maintaining an aesthetic that would complement the surrounding landscape,” Wightman explains.
Using innovative prefabrication techniques, the cabins were transported by helicopter in 800-kilogram loads, and then assembled ‘flat-pack style’ on site by a small team.
Lightweight recyclable materials minimise site disturbance, and when the time comes to remove the buildings they can be disassembled as easily as they were assembled.
The Tasmanian Development of the Year award is part of the national 2018 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards program. RLB has partnered with the Property Council to present the awards program since its inception in 1982.