The Tasmanian Greens today said that Forestry Tasmania should not receive its $11.5 million settlement payment, until it has fully complied with the provisions of the Forests Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) in relation to ceasing all logging activity in the designated 430, 000 hectares of Informal Reserve.
Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that the Deed between the Crown and Forestry Tasmania, which was publicly released on Tuesday, makes it clear that Forestry is required to, “set aside the Reserves from wood production and to do and facilitate all that it reasonably can to further the requirements of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement.” [1]
“The Settlement Date as specified in the Deed is this Friday the 23rd of September, and the Greens believe that if Forestry Tasmania has not ceased all logging and roading activity within the designated 430, 000 hectares under the IGA by that date, that none of the $11.5 million should be transferred to the GBE,” Mr Booth said.
“The Deed also specifically requires Forestry to create the required Informal Reserves pursuant to IGA clauses 25, and 28.”
“Further, the Deed states that Forestry is not to supply wood or allow wood production within the high conservation value forest area in accordance with the IGA’s clause 26. This specific clause of the IGA states that , ‘the Tasmanian Government will ensure that the 430, 000 hectares of State Forest identified […] is not accessed’.”
“If Forestry Tasmania have not exited the designated 430, 000 hectares by this Friday, then clearly they will not have complied with the provisions of this Deed of Release, and the settlement monies should be withheld until it is confirmed that they have done so,” Mr Booth said.
Reference:
[1] Deed of Release, the Crown and Forestry Tasmania, 15 September 2011, pg 4.
Satire: Karl Stevens
First published: 2011-09-21 12:14 PM
• THE MAPS: Where the coupes are:
Coupes PC015B in Picton, and AR002B in Arve (both near the Hartz Mountains)–both within HCV areas.
Images:
http://www.deuce4.net/web/PC015B.jpg
http://www.deuce4.net/web/AR002B.png
Searchable source maps at:
http://lynxgeos.com/HCVmap/#
http://lynxgeos.com/TasCoupeMap/#
(each based on varying FT three-year coupe data)
