• Federal and State Labor responding to community calls for improved management
• Commonwealth and State partnership will give greater protections
• Local community will have greater involvement after being ignored by Liberals
Elected Labor Governments would deliver a package totalling almost $3 million to deliver greater protection and management for the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area on the state’s far north west and west coasts.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said a Shorten Labor Government and a Majority Tasmanian Labor Government would share in providing the funding over four years to deliver a new cultural management plan, tourism infrastructure and additional indigenous rangers.
“Labor has listened to the local community which, as well as better management of the area and increased protection for the area, wants to be involved in that management and protection,” Ms White said.
“As part of the package, a Federal Labor Government would provide $2.29 million for the development and implementation of the plan as well as tourism infrastructure including signage on indigenous sites and funding for up to four new indigenous rangers.
“State Labor will commit an additional $600,000 as its share of the costs, including the costs to reinstate a local management committee that will include all key stakeholders.
“The reinstatement of a local management committee to oversee the new cultural management plan is of critical importance to the local community which feels abandoned by the Hodgman Liberal Government which shot down the previous committee.
“Input from the Circular Head community has been abandoned by the Liberals which refuses to consult with locals.
“The local community has been ignored and Labor is absolutely committed to re-establishing that important involvement as part of the plan to ensure this pristine and culturally significant area is afforded the protection and management it requires.
“I’m particularly proud that both Federal and State Labor have made the further commitment to employ additional indigenous rangers under the Parks and Wildlife Service.
“This is about bringing the community along and it is more than about tracks in the region.
“It’s about doing everything we can to ensure we get management and protection of Arthur Pieman right.”
Rebecca White MP Labor Leader