*Pic: http://www.tarkine.org/off-road-vehicles/
Brett Whiteley MP
Yesterday ABC aired footage showing that 4wd vehicles are flouting a ban on their use in parts of the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area in the Tarkine and were damaging the ancient natural and Indigenous heritage. Previously the Member for Braddon, Brett Whiteley, had said anyone opposing the use of this area by recreational 4wd users are “fringe groups doing everything they can to sabotage the future of this region.”
Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson, said, “Brett Whiteley will resort to name-calling against anyone who wants to protect the precious heritage in the Tarkine but when people vandalise it he is silent.
“The ancient heritage values of the Tarkine are priceless and should be protected.”
“We all have an obligation to conserve the Tarkine for our history’s sake and for future generations.
“If this is the sort of damage that is being done while 4wd access is banned, imagine the level of damage that will occur when more access is given.
“Loud and aggressive 4wd activity risks the ancient and wild tourism experience for the area. It’s time the plan to open up these tracks again is dropped.
“The state government admits it doesn’t have the resources to properly police the area, so the Greens were right to suggest that the Federal Environment Minister should call in the proposal for a full EPBC assessment,” he concluded.
• Keith Antonysen, in Comments: What is occurring along the coastal fringe of the Tarkine amounts to cultural vandalism, and showing a complete disrespect for the environment. Some shack owners in the area are appalled by the lack of protection. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has been gutted by the Hodgman government and the negative results are becoming obvious. The area is full of a past Aboriginal culture extending back thousands of years; areas have had barriers put in place; yet, these barriers are ignored by riders of quad bikes and off road motorcycles. There is no conjecture here, it has been observed. It would appear that cultural history and aesthetics are expendable by governments that have squandered natural resources, and continue to do so.
• John Biggs, in Comments: The Hodgman government has consistently shown a complete disregard for cultural values higher than boganism and its AFL and V8s. Where Leo Schofield went wrong was to over-generalise: his target was surely the power brokers including the Liberal Government but in his excitement he buggered his pitch.
