The Tasmanian Greens today called on Environment Minister, Brian Wightman, to confirm that cattle are currently adjisted into an area of the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area which has listed threatened species, and a biodiversity hotspot.
Greens Member for Braddon Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP said not only are these cattle trampling over a nationally recognised environmental area, as well as culturally significant aboriginal heritage sites, and the Minister continues to charge a rate 1/15 of the going commercial rate.
“This practice is not good resource management as adjistment arrangements in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area continues to trample nationally recognised biodiversity, and put up to 20 listed threatened species at risk,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“Not only is this bad resource management, but as it continues, the Minister only charges 1/15 of the going commercial rates for adjistment.”
“If the Minister refuses to stop this process and continue using the Arthur Pieman in this way, the very least he could do is adjust the rate to one more economically viable given the current commercial rate.”
“Minister Wightman could not give one good reason based in science to why this process should be allowed to continue.”
“Given the ongoing neglectful approach to the environmental concerns, as well as threatened species, the Minister needs to call for an end to this process in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area,” Mr O’Halloran said.
Earlier on Tasmanian Times:
Arthur Pieman – Minister O’Byrne favouring four-wheel drivers
Tarkine National Heritage under threat
