Strathgordon motel to reopen

THE Lake Pedder Chalet will reopen on January 1 after being closed for more than two years. Situated on the water's edge at Strathgordon, the chalet has been leased to private operators Susan and Neville Quarrier to run as tourist accommodation.

Located at the far end of the Derwent Valley municipality, the village is a recognised gateway to the south-west wilderness. The chalet has been undergoing a $300,000 refurbishment prior to reopening.

Hydro Tasmania CEO Roy Adair said he was pleased to see the chalet back in business. It had been closed to the public in 2009 due to excessive operating costs and the need for the Hydro 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.

The new operators will also open the restaurant and bar and are keen to upgrade the sports facilities and introduce kayaks, bikes, native gardens and a children's playground. “The area is what Tasmania is all about – it is unique, historic, diverse and untamed,” Mrs Quarrier said.