The Funeral the Tarkine Should Never Have to Have

Yesterday members of the Hobart community, upset by further mining in the Tarkine, staged the ‘Funeral the Tarkine should never have to have’ to express concern for the area. ‘Mourners’ walked in procession from Mathers Place to Franklin square dressed in funeral attire.

Early this month Federal Environment Minister, Mark Butler, approved Venture Minerals’ iron ore mine at Riley Creek and re-approved the Shree Minerals mine at Nelson Bay River. This week work at Nelson Bay commenced, and in response, activists have been holding a vigil outside the site since Monday.

Organiser of yesterdays event Zoe Kean says,

“By holding this funeral we wanted 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.”

Devils Advocates
zoecitizen@yahoo.com.au

Zoe Kean, Devils Advocates