NEW BAY OF FIRES NATIONAL PARK WILL BE MINIMAL AND TOKENISTIC

After Bartlett Govt Excludes Important Local Areas

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today accused the Bartlett Government of tokenism in its efforts to establish a new Bay of Fires National Park, in light of the fact that the proposed new Park boundaries exclude important local areas of forest and coastline.

Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said Premier David Bartlett announced the new National Park with great fanfare during his State of the State address, yet just six months later the previously enthusiastic Premier and his Environment Minister Michelle O’Byrne were both conspicuously absent as the government very quietly issued proposed boundaries for the new Park and announced a public consultation phase.

Ms O’Connor also pointed out that the Bartlett Government has excluded the Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) from the process and has instead strangely chosen private consultants Pitt and Sherry to run the process.

“Why have a Bay of Fires National Park when it excludes important local areas such as the southern coastline of the Bay of Fires Conservation Area, the Doctors Peak Forest Reserve, the Humbug Point Nature Recreation Area and adjoining areas of high conservation value State Forest?” said Ms O’Connor.

“Sadly, this appears to be little more than a tokenistic effort to go through the motions to establish the most minimalistic National Park possible, while still meeting the Premier’s State of the State pledge.”

“The TPC is a public body with the expertise to run a thorough planning process while Pitt and Sherry are a private consulting company. Why has the Bartlett Government chosen to hire consultants for this process when the TPC already exists?”

“The Greens are calling on the Bartlett Government to include all important local areas inside the new Bay of Fires National Park, and to demonstrate it is genuine about protecting the outstanding natural and cultural values of the internationally recognised jewel that is the Bay of Fires area,” said Ms O’Connor.
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Environment and Coastal Protection Spokesperson