Arthur Pieman – Minister O’Byrne favouring four-wheel drivers

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has accused the Minister responsible for the Parks and Wildlife Service, David O’Byrne, of favouring four-wheel drive groups over conservationists and not being open and transparent in negotiations over recreational vehicle use of the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area.

“The Minister has met recreational vehicle groups numerous times and designed a licencing system which suits them, without even talking to us about it,” said TCT Director, Peter McGlone.

“The Minister has only met the TCT once and, so far, has totally ignored our concerns. The Minister has even failed to put in writing what the consultation process would be after promising to do so.

“The Minister is not being transparent, open or fair in how he deals with conservation interests and this approach will only increase community conflict rather than resolve it.

“The Minister has said that recreational vehicle use of the Arthur Pieman will be managed in a sustainable way but he is yet to explain to us how thousands of vehicles driving over Aboriginal sites and disturbing nesting birds on beaches can be sustainable.

“Threatened species such as the little and fairy terns nest on the Arthur Pieman coastline and we know four wheel drives regularly disturb them while breeding.

“To be sustainable the Minister must make some hard decisions to close many tracks which are currently open, in order to protect the natural and cultural values of the Arthur Pieman.

“There are numerous beaches and tracks including the infamous Greenes Creek Track which must be closed. For the minister to do otherwise would not only be environmentally destructive it would leave the Parks and Wildlife Service open to criticism it condones actions which contravenes national and state environmental legislation.

“Four wheel drivers wanting permits to go to Sandy Cape or to drive along many of the beaches of the Arthur Pieman this summer cannot be confident the Parks and Wildlife Service has addressed questions about the legality of their actions. If I was in their position I wouldn’t be planning my summer holiday to the Arthur Pieman just yet.”

Earlier on Tasmanian Times: Tarkine National Heritage under threat

Paul O’Halloran:

MINISTER MUST INVOLVE ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER ARTHUR-PIEMAN
Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon

The Tasmanian Greens today called on Environment Minister David O’Byrne to involve all stakeholders in negotiations over the limiting the damaging use of recreational Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area (APCA), following revelations from an environmental group that it had been ‘shut-out’ of the negotiations between the Minister and groups representing ORV users in recent months.
Greens Member for Braddon, Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP, said ORVs are currently causing serious damage in the APCA and need to be regulated, and it is unacceptable for the Environment Minister to shut environmental representatives out of these negotiations while continuing to have contact with groups representing ORV users only.
Mr O’Halloran also noted it is critical that this issue is resolved quickly as the use of ORVs peaks during summer which is fast approaching.
“The Environment Minister needs to re-engage with environment groups over the future use of damaging off-road vehicles in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area, and he needs to resolve this issue before the high-use summer season arrives,” said Mr O’Halloran.
“Unregulated off-road vehicles are forging through ancient Aboriginal middens, destroying the eggs and nesting sites of birds and degrading the values of the unique APCA. Recreational four-wheel drive users are in the main responsible, and we cannot continue to ignore the destruction they are causing.”
“It is completely unacceptable for the Minister to shut one group of stakeholders out of the negotiations while continuing to negotiate with another group.”
“The Greens are calling on Environment Minister David O’Byrne to re-engage with all stakeholders in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, and to regulate the use of ORVs to minimise or prevent the often irreparable damage that they are currently causing,” said Mr O’Halloran.

Reference: “Environmentalists claim tougher action needed on four wheel drive access,” ABC News, 9 October 2010, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/09/3033841.htm