Alderman Helen Burnet, Greens candidate for Lord Mayor of Hobart City Council, has slammed the Tasmanian State Government’s plans to establish a wood chip export facility at Hobart’s Macquarie Wharf.
“This is an appalling, retrograde step that would do immense damage to Hobart’s reputation,” said Alderman Burnet. “At a time when Hobart should be building on its reputation as a scientific hub and world-class tourist destination, it is very lame indeed to propose storing woodchips in the middle of our waterfront.”
“We need to ask what first impression we’d be giving to tourists arriving on cruise ships, the Sydney-Hobart yacht race crew, and visitors heading upriver to MONA if one of the first things they see is woodchips on the wharf. This is not an image of Hobart we want to impress on visitors.”
Alderman Burnet questioned the logic of the proposal. “The transport hub has moved up to Brighton, and yet this backward move brings the wrong type of wharf activity to the capital city. Minister Harriss wants to have more log trucks rolling through our city streets. This is not the type of economic activity I wish for our beautiful city.”
Alderman Burnet has also criticised the lack of consultation with Hobart City Council in the State Government’s proposal. “It is a slap in the face to Hobart City Council that we were not mentioned as stakeholders in Minister Harriss’ statement. This is a move that has the potential to cause great damage to Hobart’s brand, and we deserve to be included in the discussion.”
Alderman Helen Burnet, Greens candidate for Lord Mayor of Hobart City Council
