Not logging the Blue Derby forests…why keep them in the logging legislation?

The claim today that the Minister for Resources Guy Barnett has given his Bass colleague Sarah Courtney some assurance that logging won’t impact the Blue Derby bike trails (media release here: http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/enduro_world_series_a_chance_for_north-east_to_shine2) raises the question – why are they reversing its reserved status so that it can be logged?

Legislation to remove the protected status of 356,000 ha of high conservation value forest reserves, including the Blue Tier and Derby forests, will hit the Upper House next week, with Government claiming they need to be logged so that Forestry Tasmania can meet its contractual obligations to supply logs. Other areas targeted for logging include Wielangta, the takayna/Tarkine, the Lobster Forests, Ben Lomond and Bruny Island.

‘Government has removed the forest blocks around the 3 Capes Track from its logging legislation essentially to protect its own tourism business interest in the area,’ said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society. ‘Yet mountain bikers and the broader community have to rely on a personal commitment the Minister has given a Government backbencher?’

‘If Government have no intention to log in and around the Blue Derby trails, why are they removing its reserve status on the basis it needs to be logged?’

‘Premier Hodgman is Tourism Minister and should be asked to explain how legislation to reverse forest reserves in iconic tourist areas is a positive direction for Tasmania.’

‘Premier Hodgman is committing over a million dollars to upgrade the tourist road at Wielangta, but simultaneously wants to undo the reserve and log the forests through which it passes.’

‘And if it’s now OK not to log new tourism icons, why is it OK to log threatened species habitat like critical swift parrot forests on Bruny Island and the Lobster Forests, core habitat for the giant freshwater lobster?’

‘There are so many reasons why the Legislative Council should simply vote down Premier Hodgman’s backwards facing logging legislation. Some wishy washy commitment from Minister Barnett, put in bold in a backbencher’s media release does nothing to address the fundamental flaws associated with logging high conservation value forest reserves.’

Download Brief on the Blue Derby logging issues …

http://cdn-src.tasmaniantimes.com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/BLUEDERBY-Brief.pdf
Vica Bayley Tasmanian Campaign Manager The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc.