Coroner & Legal
Save Mutual Valley demand immediate halt to all operations
Mutual Valley and Derby residents today met with Forestry Tasmania representatives to present documented evidence of breaches of buffer zones from roading operations at CC104B. Calling for an immediate halt of all operations while Forestry Tasmania staff investigate these breaches.
Mutual Valley resident Peter Coxhead conducted a survey over the weekend, documenting numerous issues including clearing of buffers up 10 metres beyond the prescribed zone, falling of trees over historic listed water races, and the death of myrtle trees on the boundaries of the road area.
“I walked through the proposed buffers with measuring tape and camera documenting these breaches, presenting them to Scottsdale Forestry Tasmania officers this morning. ”
“We are seeing areas which are supposed to be protected bulldozed and logged.”
“It is clear that Forestry Tasmania has a very lax approach to enforcing their own codes, which seem to be more ‘guidelines than rules.
“It’s not surprising that contractors are not adhering to basic codes and sustainability guidelines when even Forestry Tasmania admits the map provided to contractors via their Forest Practices Code (FPP) is just a broad outline. For CC104B it is literally marked in colour pencil and devoid of contour lines, and some watercourses in the area”
“While Forestry Tasmania staff seemed alarmed at the extent of damage shown, and committed to investigating these issues. We are still waiting on a concrete response to our demand that all operations stop in this area. We have requested confirmation of cessation of operations by close of business today.”
“It is clear why Forestry Tasmania are not getting FSC certification. Even at the early stages of their operations they cannot keep to basic codes of practice and their considerations of impact on community, local mountain bike businesses and our environment is a joke,” concluded Mr Coxhead.
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