Tassal’s contempt for due process

Community groups, Shooters and Fishers, Independents and tourism operators unite against Tassal’s contempt for due process

Representatives from across the political spectrum will unite today to demand that Premier Will Hodgman intervene to prevent Tassal putting fish in Okehampton Bay. At the very least, the premier must prevent Tassal proceeding with Okehampton Bay 6 months early and without planning approvals, ignoring the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s recent decision to throw out the company’s controversial land based fish processing development application.

“A day after Tassal announced they will break the law for eight months in Macquarie Harbour, the media has discovered that Tassal intend to proceed with their industrial development of Okehampton Bay six months early, before they have full planning approval,” says Ken Orr, Vice Chair of the Shooters and Fishers Party Tasmania. “This government cannot allow Tassal to ignore the law, no one wants to see another Gunns in Tasmania,” Mr Orr says.

Federal Independent Andrew Wilkie is calling for a moratorium on salmon farming expansion, including at Okehampton Bay, until the communities concerns about the industries impact on the environment and tourism are properly addressed.

“The salmon industry has enormous potential but the community needs to have confidence that it is genuinely sustainable. Clearly there is significant community concern about expanding salmon farming in Okehampton Bay and the fact that it will be in a delicate ecosystem in a world-famous tourism region.

“That’s why I and many others have been calling for a moratorium on salmon farming expansion until these concerns are addressed,” Mr Wilkie says.

Duncan Sinclair, owner of iconic Wineglass Bay cruises, says the damage Tassal’s industrial salmon farm will do to the east coast brand will travel beyond Okehampton Bay.

“The environmental and brand damage will flow on beyond Okehampton Bay,” Mr Sinclair says, “and once Tassal have a base, there is nothing to stop them spreading further up the east coast.”

Jim Playsted, former Liberal candidate for Lyons and Vice-President of east coast local group, Marine Protection Tasmania, says Tassal does not have a social licence to industrialise the east coast. The group supports Mr Wilke’s call for a moratorium on expansion, until court proceedings regarding the EPA’s management of Macquarie Harbour are decided and the community has some confidence that the industry is being effectively regulated.

“This government has said Tassal’s plans cannot go ahead without a social licence. We are here today to tell the Government that Tassal does not have a licence to industrialise the east coast,” Mr Playsted says. “Tassal have lied to the community about their start date for Okehampton Bay and bypassed due planning processes to do it, damaging their reputation with the east coast community beyond repair,” Mr Playsted says.

President of Rec Fish Tasmania, Mr Don Paton, is calling on Government to listen to the local community, referring to results of a recent Rec Fish Tasmania survey of 1400 locals which found that 87.35 per cent of the community are against industrial salmon farming at Okehampton Bay.

“The majority of the community don’t want Tassal’s industrial salmon farm,” Mr Paton says. “It will damage prime fishing and tourism country and government needs to listen to the community instead of bending over for Tassal.”

The state’s peak environment group says there are just as many jobs for locals if the development is moved further offshore.

“There are just as many jobs in oceanic operations, Tassal just refuse to put their hand in their pocket to cover the costs,” says Laura Kelly, Environment Tasmania. “Our second largest producer, Huon Aquaculture, is already expanding its land based and oceanic operations. Tassal’s refusal to move with the industry will only damage the east coast’s pristine brand and raise doubts in the minds of consumers, who don’t want fish from farms that inflame community conflict and damage the environment and fish health,” Ms Kelly said.
Laura Kelly, Strategy Director, Environment Tasmania