Greens Leader and Forestry Kim Booth MP today tabled in the Parliament a formal call for Forestry Tasmania to abandon its plans to log contentious Coupe FD053 at Lapoinya in the state’s north-west.
“There are serious and necessary studies which have not been conducted for this coupe, and without these then logging should not occur, it is as simple as that, ” Mr Booth said.
“Lapoinya is recognised as home to the threatened Giant Freshwater Lobster, but no survey has been conducted to check whether this species is living within the planned logging area.”
“Similarly despite the Tommingeer Nation going to the coupe and identifying artefact zones, Forestry Tasmania has not undertaken any Aboriginal Heritage study.”
“This piece of land is not just beautiful, like all of Tasmanian’s wilderness, but importantly it is home to various vulnerable, threatened and endangered species.”
“As usual, Forestry Tasmania have gone like a bull at a gate with the proposed logging of Lapoinya”
“None of the appropriate surveys or studies have been undertaken, the healthy population of Tasmanian Devil has not been taken into account and nor has any thought been given to Aboriginal Heritage”
“The blatant disregard for proper process, and care for our unique natural and cultural heritage is a return to the bad old ways in which forestry operations were conducted.”
“Minister Harriss will have to accept responsibility for entrenching community conflict, which will also impact on any chance Forestry Tasmania has to achieve FSC certification,” Mr Booth said.
Text of Motion tabled today by Kim Booth MP:
That this House:
Notes with concern and regret that Forestry Tasmania have identified Coupe FD053 at Lapoinya in the State’s north west for logging;
Notes further the ongoing and vocal objection by the Tasmanian community at the intent by Forestry Tasmania to log this beautiful piece of land, such objections including much correspondence to both Forestry Tasmania and the Liberal government;
Acknowledges that the coupe is home to the Giant Freshwater Lobster, listed as ‘vulnerable’ in accordance with the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and has a global status of ‘endangered’ in accordance with the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species;
Notes with concern that despite the Regional Forestry Agreement 1997 recommendation that Forestry Tasmania “ensure the relevant studies occur prior to access”, that no Astacopsis Gouldi survey has been conducted to establish the presence, or otherwise, of the lobster;
Acknowledges that the coupe is home to a healthy population of Tasmanian Devil and that again no survey or study has been conducted by Forestry Tasmania to establish existence of their habitat, or otherwise;
Recognises the hypocrisy of the Liberal government in this case given that Minister for State Growth, Matthew Groom MP, has identified the Tasmanian Devil as new emblem for the State;
Acknowledges that the Tommingeer Nation have been to the coupe and identified artefact zones, however again no survey has been conducted by Forestry Tasmania with regard to Aboriginal Heritage;
Recognises that the aforementioned fauna are just the tip of the iceberg and the coupe is also home to the Burrowing Crayfish, Masked Owl and Platypus;
Further, this House calls for:
The Minister for Resources Paul Harriss MP to urgently intervene as shareholder Minister and ensure Forestry Tasmania complete all relevant surveys and studies to identify the existence of endangered and vulnerable species;
The Minister to liaise with Forestry Tasmania and ultimately inform the House of the reasons identified by that agency to log Coupe FD053 in favour of others; and
Forestry Tasmania to cease any plans for logging operations in this Coupe FD053 at Lapoinya.