Mining plan prompts new Emergency National Heritage bid for Tarkine

The Tarkine National Coalition has expressed concern at the proposed Nelson Bay River mine in the former Tarkine Emergency National Heritage Listing.

This area was covered by the Tarkine Emergency National Heritage Listing until December 2011 when federal Environment Minister Tony Burke allowed the Tarkine Emergency National Heritage Listing to lapse citing the removal of the immediate threat of the original Tarkine Road.

“The lapsing of the National Heritage Listing has proven a green light to further destruction of this wild and unique place,” said Tarkine National Coalition spokesperson Scott Jordan.

“We will be lodging a new application for Tarkine Emergency National Heritage Listing of the Tarkine, as this proposal clearly demonstrates a ‘likely and imminent threat’ to the acknowledged National Heritage values as required by the EPBC Act.”

In June 2010 the Australian Heritage Council released preliminary mapping that actually extended the area beyond the nominated boundary, and Tarkine National Coalition cannot see any valid justification for the listing to have lapsed.

“We are calling on the Minister to re-invoke the Tarkine Emergency National Heritage Listing to ensure that this and any future developments are required to be assessed against the National Heritage criteria.”

The company has acknowledged that at least 6 Commonwealth listed threatened species are known to be in the proposed site, including Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii, Azure kingfisher Ceyx azurea subsp. diemenensis, Wedge-tailed eagle Aquila audax subsp. fleayi, Spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus subsp. maculates, Satin flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca, and Prasophyllum pulchellum pretty leek orchid.

First published: 2011-02-22 08:50 AM

TARKINE DESERVES NATIONAL PARK STATUS
Support for Emergency Heritage Listing Move
Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon

The Tasmanian Greens today repeated their calls for the Tarkine region to be declared a National Park, saying that the north-west would benefit from having its own recognised natural icon area.

Greens Member for Braddon, Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP, said that a Tarkine National Park will help strengthen and diversify the north-west and west coast local economies, as well as protect world-class Aboriginal, European and natural heritage values.

Mr O’Halloran also said that the Greens support the Tarkine National Coalition’s application to the Federal Environment Minister for an emergency heritage listing of the Tarkine.

“The Greens believe that a Tarkine National Park is a win-win opportunity for the north-west and west coast areas, by protecting this unique area we are investing in a long term asset that will benefit local business and employment opportunities from Strahan to Smithton and beyond,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“The north-west deserves to have its unique natural and cultural heritage area of the Tarkine formally recognised as a world class iconic area, just as the north-east has Ben Lomond and the South has the South West Wilderness.”

“We will continue to work with stakeholders, such as the TNC, and others to progress a viable Tarkine National Park.”

“The fact that Shree Minerals intend to progress their minerals exploration lease in the Nelson Bay River area, highlights the urgent need for a coherent management strategy that prioritises the cultural and heritage qualities of this unique region, which is what a National Park would do,” Mr O’Halloran said.