Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass
Forestry Tasmania has advised that logging of the outer part of contentious coupe CC104B at Derby will be delayed to February 2017.*
If nothing else, this is acknowledgement that the community were right to speak up and express their concerns.
Concerned Derby residents now have 10 months to convince the government the coupe's outer parts would be better left standing and contributing to mountain bike tourism.
The Minister for Forestry, and Member for Bass, needs to use the next 10 months to hear his constituents' concerns and seize the opportunity to stop logging around Derby permanently.
As the Derby community makes the transition to a new and sustainable economy it is crucial that they're supported by the government. The Liberals should be offering up policy that reflects the transition.
Tasmanians are sick and tired of perpetually propping up the unsustainable forestry industry in Tasmania, especially when it threatens an emerging industry like active tourism.
Tourism is the future for Derby and it's time Minister Gutwein realised that and supported his community through that change.
* http://www.forestrytas.com.au/news/2016/04/forestry-and-mountain-bike-to...