GARRETT MUST REJECT TARKINE ROAD PROPOSAL

Acknowledged Risk to Tasmanian Devil is Too High

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today released their submission to the Federal government’s assessment of the controversial Tarkine Road proposal under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), saying that if assessed on the science then Environment Minister Peter Garret has no option but to reject the proposal.

Greens Environment, Parks and Tourism spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said that even the State government’s submission acknowledges that insufficient data has been collected and that further work is yet to be done on crucial areas including impacts on threatened species and roadkill impacts, which means that a proper and comprehensive assessment is not currently possible.

“The Greens’ submission to the Federal EPBC referral process on the Bartlett government’s divisive Tarkine road points out that given the acknowledged deficiencies in the State government’s own referral documentation, and the scientifically accepted risk to the Tasmanian Devil in its last disease-free stronghold, the only responsible course of action for Environment Minister Peter Garrett is to reject the proposal,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Despite the incomplete nature of the referral document it is clear that the potential impacts on threatened species resulting from the construction and use of the Tarkine road is considered a major concern.”

“The proposed road will carve through critical habitat for several threatened species, including that of the Tasmanian Devil and the Giant Freshwater Crayfish, and it is highly probable that the project will contribute to the further decline of these iconic species. This is simply and wholly unacceptable.”

“We are hopeful that come November 25th, we will see an end to this ludicrous, destructive and divisive Labor lemon, and that the allocated millions of dollars will be freed up to be invested in a Tarkine National Park, as well as the long-term alternative local business options as identified in the Greens’ Diverse Economic Vision for the Tarkine Region funding package.”

The Greens also support the application for the Tarkine wilderness to be granted an Emergency National Heritage listing.

Download: Tasmanian Greens’ Submission to the Tarkine Road EPBC Act Referral, November 2009.
Nov15_Greens Tarkine EPBC Referral Comment_C O’Connor_ATTACH.pdf
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Environment, Parks and Tourism spokesperson