GREENS SUPPORT CAVE AND KARST MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE

Continued Support for North West Geo-Tourism and Environmental Protection

Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon
Monday, 9 May 2011

mps.tas.greens.org.au

The Tasmanian Greens recently attended the welcome barbecue at the Ulverstone Surf Life Saving Club as special guest attendees for the 19th Australasian Cave and Karst Management Conference to explore and discuss the amazing biodiversity and geo-tourism aspects of the North West coast.

Greens Member for Braddon, Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP, said it was an amazing opportunity to show the conference of national and international delegates the amazing rugged beauty the North West coast has to offer.

“Tasmania has been selected for the 19th Australasian Cave and Karst Management Conference to be held in Ulverstone. Delegates from all over Australia and overseas from New Zealand, to Italy through to the Slovak Republic,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“Internationally represented events, such as the ACKM Conference, are testimonials to the unique and amazing biodiversity of the North West coast through geo-tourism, of which the Greens have long been supporters.”

“Listening to experts discussing the cave and karst systems in Tasmania is inspirational, and reinforces the need to protect this unique part of the world.”

“The Greens will continue to push and support policy and legislation that will continue to protect and promote the biodiversity of the North West, adventure and geo-tourism, as well as protecting the Tarkine from destructive mining processes that will damage the rare karst systems in the rainforest.”

“The Greens have been strong advocates for the protection of Tasmania’s special places and unique assets, and have long pointed out that they attract international interest and visitors. By so doing, local small businesses get much needed patronage as places like unique karst systems get international attention.”

“It is so short sighted for Labor and Liberal to be calling for the open cut mining of one of these unique assets, like the globally significant magnesite karst systems of the Tarkine,” Mr O’Halloran said.
Greens Member for Braddon, Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP