Tarkine tourism strategy welcomed

Phill Pullinger Environment Tasmania MR

“The Tarkine also provides great opportunities for jobs and economic growth for our local community and our eco-tourism industry, if we invest sensibly in tourism infrastructure in the Tarkine region and surrounds,” he continued, “The Cradle Coast Authority plan includes many ideas that conservationists would be very happy to recommend to government as sensible and appropriate ways of developing tourism in the Tarkine,” he concluded.

MEDIA RELEASE: 15/10/2008

TARKINE TOURISM STRATEGY WELCOMED
Conservationists have welcomed the release of the Tarkine Tourism Development Strategy by the Cradle Coast Authority today, saying that the report clearly identifies opportunities for the Tarkine to be recognised, like Kakadu and the Daintree, as one of Australia’s great natural icons.

“There are certainly some proposals in this plan that we don’t agree with, however, we are excited about many of the proposals contained in this report, including the recommendation for a Visitor Centre at Arthur River, for more resources for the Parks & Wildlife service, for the tourism opportunities in the Arthur-Pieman, and for the development of key Tarkine gateway points at Waratah, Corinna and Arthur River. These are proposals that we would strongly commend to the government as great ways of spending public money in the Tarkine,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, President of the Tarkine National Coalition.

“The Tarkine also provides great opportunities for jobs and economic growth for our local community and our eco-tourism industry, if we invest sensibly in tourism infrastructure in the Tarkine region and surrounds,” he continued, “The Cradle Coast Authority plan includes many ideas that conservationists would be very happy to recommend to government as sensible and appropriate ways of developing tourism in the Tarkine,” he concluded.

“The Tarkine is an extraordinary wild area, containing Australia’s Largest Temperate rainforest, rich Aboriginal heritage, and rare and unique wildlife – this range of landscapes and values provides the potential for unique experiences for tourists – but it is crucially important that we protect the Tarkine as a National Park & World Heritage area and properly fund the Parks & Wildlife service to look after the large areas of the Tarkine that it manages – so that our kids and grandkids can experience the Tarkine in all its beauty,” continued Dr Pullinger.

The Tarkine is a 447,000 hectare wilderness area that is home to more than 60 species of threatened plants and animals, and contains Australia’s largest temperate rainforest.