Today at 11am, members of the Hobart community, upset by further mining in the Tarkine, are holding a ‘Funeral the Tarkine should never have to have’ to express concern for the area. An estimated 50 ‘mourners’ will march from Mathers Place to Franklin square dressed in funeral attire.
Federal Environment Minister, Mark Butler, controversially approved Venture Minerals’ iron ore mine at Riley Creek and re-approved the Shree Minerals mine at Nelson Bay River earlier in the month. This week work at Nelson Bay commenced, and in response, activists have been holding a vigil since Monday.
Organiser Zoe Kean says,
“By holding this funeral we want to highlight the threat that these mines pose to the area, and ensure that our mourning the loss of the Tarkine represented today does not become a reality.”
“This action sends a message to Mark Butler that people around the state will be holding him to account over the decision to let the Shree Minerals project go ahead.”
“The Tarkine is the last refuge for the Tasmanian devil, being a place free of the facial tumour disease (TDFD). The construction of new mines will disrupt devil habitat, whilst new roads will act as highways for disease,” she says. “The devil is a Tassie icon, and once lost, lost forever.”
“The commencement of mining at Nelson Bay River holds great significance, and sets a worrying precedent for further mining the area.”
“Many Tasmanians feel connected to their environment and will continue to campaign to make sure the Tarkine lives on for generations beyond they own.”
Zoe Kean, Devils Advocates
