THE Tasmanian wine industry is worried its 2011 vintage may go “up in smoke” because of forest burns in winegrowing regions before the grapes are harvested.
The statutory fire permit period ended on March 5 earlier than usual and a mild summer means the grape harvest is late, having only just commenced.
Peak industry body Wine Tasmania wants Forestry Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife and private landowners to postpone burn-offs until all the grapes have been harvested in a few weeks.
Growers fear smoke will damage their grapes.
“Of great concern to us grape growers and winemakers around harvest time is the sight of smoke,” Freycinet Vineyards winemaker Claudio Radenti said yesterday.
“Vineyards exposed to smoke for prolonged periods can absorb the smoke and impart a dreadful smoke taint in the wines which is near impossible to remove, making the wines unpalatable and therefore unsaleable.”
Wine Tasmania chief executive Sheralee Davies said she had talked to representatives of Forestry Tasmania and the Parks and Wildlife Service about the issue.
Forestry Tasmania had made a formal agreement with Wine Tasmania early last month to take the effect of smoke on unharvested grapes into consideration, she said.
More than 300 burns are listed on this year’s Forestry Tasmania schedule, with more than 15 already completed.
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Burns by the forestry industry are posted at www.plannedburnstas. com.au and, within national parks, at www.parks. tas.gov.au
Earlier on Tasmanian Times: The Burning Question, HERE
HEALTH MUST ESTABLISH FORESTRY BURNS PUBLIC HOTLINE
Forestry Burns Impact on Air Quality
Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Health spokesperson
The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Minister for Health, Michelle O’Byrne, to establish a community hotline and website to advise people suffering from respiratory distress, which they believe to be related to the annual forestry burns, which are set to happen once again, across 300 forest coupes covering five districts.
Greens Health spokesperson Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP said that the Greens receive many complaints from people suffering from respiratory problems, such as asthma, who have no option in some cases but to pack up and leave home during the forest burns season.
Mr O’Halloran also called on the Minister for Forests, Bryan Green, to explain why this practice is still used given the known health impacts these actions can cause on the community.
“Minister O’Byrne admitted that there has previously been public-health alerts issued when there is potential for fine particles that can adversely affect someone’s health, such as people with asthma, but the Greens believe a help hotline and website should be established, to assist members of the public concerned about health impacts relating to the smoke pollution burns,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“Currently people can only get advice from Forestry Tasmania, and it undermines the faith people have in the information they receive due to the obvious conflict of interest about the burns, and they also need to access reliable independent health advice on impacts of the burns, as well as to register complaints.”
“The Minister now needs to work with the Director of Public Health, establish a community hotline and website, as well as a forestry burn-off database, which should record the nature of complaints and their related health impacts,” Mr O’Halloran said.
max
March 16, 2011 at 11:12
Good luck with that one wine growers. Smoke is a known contributor to bad health and death, that is why there is a world wide campaign to stop cigarette smoking. It is now accepted that wood smoke is 40 times more dangerous to our health than cigarette smoke. Why does Forestry Tasmania have these fires when it has been proven that regeneration burns are not necessary? They do these burns because they are making no money, in fact they are costing us the tax payers money to subsidize them and burning is the cheapest way to clean up. If they will not stop burns that are effecting our health and that of their families what hope for a few grapes.
Dave Groves
March 16, 2011 at 11:52
“Growers fear smoke will damage their grapes”…..
Maybe says FT, but lungs are not a problem…all the smoke goes up, up and away….perhaps into outer space or to a planet made entirely from trout, which we be able to harvest in the future…..a “win win” for Tasmania……
Pete Godfrey
March 16, 2011 at 12:54
Sorry the answer is FAT CHANCE.
Why would Forestry Tasmania take a few grape growers into consideration, they don’t give a tinkers cuss about the rest of Tasmania.
They don’t care about Bee Keepers, Timber Workers, the long term sustainability of the forests in Tasmania, the soil, the water, the animals so why are they going to care about grapes.
May as well find a friendly brick wall to talk to.
Mark
March 16, 2011 at 19:59
Some time back I raised the same concerns as expressed to me personally by winery owners in WA. It was at the same time Gunns purchased Tamar Ridge winery and I speculated as to the reason. FT and the government best tread very carefully.
Clive Stott
March 16, 2011 at 23:40
Well done Basil O’Halloran, Greens MP.
Keep up the pressure, but remember when you are dealing with Michelle O’Byrne (who is meant to be looking after our health) you are dealing with the same person that was previously meant to be protecting our environment health and didn’t.
Go to http://www.cleanairtas.com to read how she failed miserably.
What other Minister has had a member of the public set off a smoke flare in their electoral office as a direct result of statewide pernicious forestry smoke?
None to my knowledge, only Michelle O’Byrne.
Shirley Brandie
March 17, 2011 at 14:49
When the Forestry shows lack of respect for human health it’s pretty apparent that they won’t care at all about grapes.
There needs to be a major change in the forestry that would see the whole lot of those in control taken out of their positions and replaced with people who care about humanity.
Are these people elected or hired by people with the same mentality when it comes to filling the air with smoke?
To see what they have done to Tasmania is incredibly sickening. They need to go!