South Sister: Sadness … and Hope

Frances Daily

In the meantime we plan to continue the research begun over the past few years (soil, invertebrates, fungi, lichens etc) in the hope that the Local, State and Federal governments will appreciate the biodiversity of the area, the special qualities that the area has being a cloud mountain and declare the area a reserve. It is planned that this would link up with the Forest Reserves of Mt Nicholas, Avenue River, German Town and the St Marys Pass State Reserve to enable a corridor leading to Douglas Apsley National Park.

With St Marys’ sesquicentenary celebrations scheduled to begin in only a few weeks, it would be a healing gesture to all those who have suffered in the past few weeks of horrendous fires in the area.

RECENT severe bushfires in the St Marys area have sadly resulted in both South and North Sister being burnt. On December 10, 2007 a fire ravished the South Sister followed by burning of the North Sister late that night. The controversial logging coupe and areas beyond (southern and northern slopes, the rocky peak) have all been severely burnt. www.southsister.org

South Sister holds a special place for many local residents and visitors with its magnificent views from the summit, source of water for many properties north, east and south and the magnificent bush which is used by many for bushwalking, bird watching, rock and bolder climbing, mountain bike riding etc. In addition, there are many threatened species that have been recorded in the area including wedge tailed eagle (nest discovered only a few hundred metres from the coupe boundary), spotted tailed quoll (11 recorded in September 2006), grey goshawk and blind and giant velvet worms. Just a few days before the bushfire, a moss specialist from Victoria discovered moss never recorded in Tasmania. This adds to the list of lichen and moths which have also not previously been discovered or recorded in Tasmania. If more research had been carried it, it is very likely that additional discoveries would have been made.

The people of St Marys have been battling to save the South Sister from logging for more than 3 years. But what a blow to lose it to fire!

We now hope for rains so that the ash and debris left behind can be covered in the beautiful plants, mosses, lichens and liverworts that have lived there for centuries.

In the meantime we plan to continue the research begun over the past few years (soil, invertebrates, fungi, lichens etc) in the hope that the Local, State and Federal governments will appreciate the biodiversity of the area, the special qualities that the area has being a cloud mountain and declare the area a reserve. It is planned that this would link up with the Forest Reserves of Mt Nicholas, Avenue River, German Town and the St Marys Pass State Reserve to enable a corridor leading to Douglas Apsley National Park.

With St Marys’ sesquicentenary celebrations scheduled to begin in only a few weeks, it would be a healing gesture to all those who have suffered in the past few weeks of horrendous fires in the area.

In addition, we face the Resource Management and Appeals Tribunal in February after appealing Minister Llewellyn’s decision not to list three lichen species on the Threatened Species List (despite the recommendation from the Scientific Advisory Committee to do so). The Minister’s challenge that we had no right of appeal was deemed incompetent on December 8, 2006 and the Final Hearing has been set down to take place on February 7, 2007.

As for the viability of the lichens after the fire, a thorough investigation will be carried out once the fire and smoke has settled. With the unique microtopography and rocky nature of the mountain it is likely that some lichens will have survived.

To the many firefighters who risked their lives to help us save our properties, a special thank you. Without your efforts we would have lost much more.

Images of the fire: HERE

Frances Daily for SOS
www.southsister.org