The Liberal Government is delivering on our commitment to reverse the Labor-Green lock-ups of the Arthur-Pieman area to recreational off-road vehicle drivers.
By Christmas this year, recreational off-road vehicle drivers will be able to access the full length of the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area from the Arthur River in the north to the Pieman River in the south.
In line with our election commitment, this reverses the former Labor-Green government’s decision to cut access to an area long enjoyed by Tasmanian families.
The reopening of a 90 kilometre route along the remote, spectacular and wild West Coast will deliver one of the truly great off-road experiences on offer in Australia.
The opening of the track south of Sandy Cape through to the Pieman River will also provide significant opportunities for traditional recreational users and potential commercial operators.
It will help the Liberal Government reach our target of attracting 1.5 million visitors to Tasmania every year by 2020, which the industry says would create 8,000 new jobs.
Our investment of $300,000 will ensure recreational off-road vehicle users will once again be able to enjoy one of Australia’s iconic off-road vehicle experiences, while the unique natural and cultural values in the Arthur-Pieman are appropriately managed and protected.
This decision is about striking a better balance between providing access to this area that the Tasmanian community has enjoyed for generations, while also ensuring that the globally significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values are protected.
The funding we are providing will facilitate the re-routing of some tracks to ensure natural and cultural values are protected.
Access to this remote area will be subject to a range of conditions aimed at protecting the environmental and cultural values of the area. Conditions will include obtaining a special permit, adherence to strict rules around driver behaviour, and access only during the non-winter months. For visitor safety and to assist with compliance, GPS vehicle tracking units will be trialled.
The Liberal Government is committed to facilitating sensible and appropriate access to our natural areas for all Tasmanians.
Adam Brooks, Liberal Member for Braddon
Mike Adams
November 7, 2014 at 22:49
Bogans rule and vote, especially where the candidate spends enough to buy the seat.
chris arthur
November 8, 2014 at 11:12
Well after 15 years of community engagemet management plans, hundreds of thousands of dollars the old catch cry of we were not consulted has appeared again “consultation does not mean agreement” so the costal track which effectively damages thousands of years of indigenous landscape is now vulnerable to ATVs, dirt bikes, 4wds the arguments all centred around vehicular access being pre eminent not any other values they were always discounted.
Chris Arthur OAM
Doug Nichols
November 12, 2014 at 23:55
Sorry Mr Brooks, but the decision to re-open the track from the Interview River south to the Pieman is the wrong decision. Please reconsider. When I walked that track about 5 years ago it was a mess. There were vehicle tracks cut in circles on marsupial lawns for absolutely no reason, there were beer bottles quite literally piled up under bushes all the way along the 10km. There was significant widening (up to 50m wide in places) to get through wet parts. There were (still are) quad bike tracks up and over aboriginal middens. Responsible drivers would do none of the above.
After a couple of years of closure the track is showing good signs of recovery. It needs it. Please don’t reopen it unconditionally.
If you could prove that users would:
1) stick to the track and not go around obstacles and do more damage;
2) not drop litter;
3) respect the aboriginal heritage;
4) simply avoid the area when it is too wet to drive easily along the track;
then it might be OK to open it.
Can you be sure of all those things?