NeoConned
THE Premier has carefully avoided mentioning plantation companies in his suite of measures for handling bush-fire death traps, as reported in the Mercury, 16th March. Perhaps Bartlett needs a reminder about who as a major culprit, should bear their share of the costs.
I moved my camera further East of Preolenna and Takone for the following images of plantations engulfing rural communities. Perhaps others would care to contribute images from their region, just to prevent the truth from slipping the Premier’s mind.
Figure 1. Plantations encroaching on South Elliott.
Plantations are invading South Elliott, enveloping existing farms and destroying the last remaining native forest corridor to the coast between Burnie and Wynyard. This also happens to be a water catchment for Wynyard and Somerset.
Moving further East we see the effects on West Ridgely. It is on the fringes of the great block of plantations that has swallowed Oonah, Tewkesbury, and Hampshire nearby, and headed on to what was once Upper Natone.
Figure 2. West Ridgley township.
Young trees split the Western side of West Ridgley township – young E. Nitens definitely no older than the township. Who was there first?
Figure 3. A wall of fuel is a backdrop to this reclad West Ridgely dwelling.
Figure 4. Another instance of plantations moving in beside a rural residence.
Figure 5. A pair of West Ridgley houses being swallowed by the invading plantations.
One could hardly say that the house circled in Figure 5 was put there after the plantations were in.
“Oh look … there’s a clearing in the plantation, complete with its own wind break trees .. let’s build our house in there ! If I get a job with an insurance company we are sure to be fine!”
Can anyone else help Mr Bartlett see the light?
