www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today reiterated their call for the Bartlett Government to abandon a proposal to grant a long-term lease on the Redbill Point Conservation Area, located near Beauty Point in Northern Tasmania, to a private caravan park operator with the intention of developing private campsites within the Conservation Area.

Greens Member for Lyons, Tim Morris MP, said the Redbill Point Conservation Area is extremely important to the local community who use it for recreation, and who are determined not to allow the current caravan park owner to take further control over the area.

Mr Morris also said that ongoing under-funding of the Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) is more than apparent at Redbill Point, which currently features a boarded-up public toilet, serious weed infestations, and dilapidated vehicle barriers.

“The Bartlett Government must abandon this mean-spirited proposal to privatise a much-loved public Conservation Area, and instead adequately fund PWS to manage Redbill Point, as well as consulting the local community regarding its future uses,” said Mr Morris.

“The people of Tasmania are entitled to expect that when land is set aside for conservation and recreation it will remain that way in perpetuity. Labor’s decision to consider leasing off these areas for private development is unconscionable, and unacceptable.”

“This government has under-funded PWS so badly that areas like Redbill Point are falling into disrepair. The obvious solution is to provide adequate funds to PWS, but instead the government are seriously considering a private lease for the Area.”

“The local community are up in arms about this proposal. They will not allow the privatisation of their Conservation Area without a fight.”

“The Greens are calling on the Bartlett Government to abandon the proposal to privatise the Redbill Point Conservation Area, and to instead consult the local community about the best way forward, as well as providing adequate funds to PWS to maintain and manage the Area properly,” said Mr Morris.

Download: “Red Bill Point Conservation Area,” Public Notice, Parks and Wildlife Service, The Examiner 12/9/09: Redbill_Point_Notice_T_Morris__ATTACH.pdf
Tim Morris MP Greens Member for Lyons