The Tasmanian Conservation Trust cautiously welcomed the announcement today by the Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage, Brian Wightman, to establish a new Parks and Reserves Authority to manage Tasmania’s public reserves.
‘While not going as far as the TCT wanted the changes announced today have the potential to improve on-ground management and protection of our public reserves’, said TCT Director Peter McGlone.
‘With the public reserves estate set to increase to close to 50% of Tasmania the creation of an independent management Authority is a fitting recognition of the importance of the reserve estate to Tasmania’.
‘These changes should ensure that reserve management is given greater attention and importance by the government of the day which has been gravely missing.’
‘The establishment of a new Parks and Reserves Board to give greater focus on management planning and a more strategic approach to protection and use of the entire reserve system should deliver gains for conservation while delivering more appropriate opportunities for recreation and commercial use.’
‘One concern the TCT has regarding the minister’s announcement is that the powerful Parks and Reserves Board may end up with a majority of its proposed five members with interests other than natural and cultural heritage conservation and this should be fixed.’
‘Reserves are created for the purpose of conserving natural and cultural values and the Board must reflect this’.
‘We undoubtedly have a world class reserve system and now we have a chance of creating a truly world class parks and reserves management agency to look after it.’
‘The TCT looks forward to working with the state government on developing the legislative changes required to establish the new Authority,’ Mr McGlone concluded.
Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc
Ph: 03 62 343552
2nd fl, 191-193 Liverpool St, Hobart 7000
Email : [email protected]
Fax: 03 62 312491
Web: www.tct.org.au
Tasmanian Conservation Trust Director Peter McGlone
