Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 10 February 2021
Major Tasmanian tourism event under threat from state forestry agency
An iconic north west Tasmanian tourism event is currently under threat due to refusal by the state forestry body, Sustainable Timbers Tasmania, to give permission to access public land. takayna Trail, a 51 km ultra marathon, is in its 3rd year. It is a major event for the north west region, bringing runners from around the world to visit this incredibly beautiful place. Today Sustainable Timbers Tasmania has refused access for the event to use public lands, which puts takayna Trail at risk of being cancelled.
takayna Trail has become a world renowned event. Runners from all round Australia, and indeed from across the globe, travel to Tasmania to run through some of the most beautiful landscape on the planet. 75% of runners come from out of the state, with over 100 signed up for this year’s event. The ultra marathon puts well over $150,000 into the Tasmanian economy over the weekend with local accommodation and local contractors and suppliers, not including other expenditure from participants during their stay in Tasmania.
For forestry to deny this event access public land is an outrage. It puts this event at risk of being cancelled. Forestry’s vengeful political stance in banning the event from public land should worry all Tasmanians. This is a low impact, environmentally friendly event, which brings much needed income into the North West. No reason has been given for the ban,” said Jo Edwards, Bob Brown Foundation Event Manager.
“Sustainable Timber Tasmania has an obligation under government legislation to ‘allow access to permanent timber production zone land for such purposes as are not incompatible with the management of permanent timber production zone land’. This blocking of a iconic tourism event appears to be bloody minded revenge for the Foundation’s call for an end to native forest logging,” said Jo Edwards.
“If it genuinely supports the concept of ‘mulitple use forests’ that it so often publicly promotes, Sustainable Timber Tasmania should grant permission for this sporting event to take place on public land, as required by the law.”
Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader, 10 February 2021
Takayna Trail 2021 Must Go Ahead for NW Economy
Forestry Tasmania are working against the interests of the North West community by denying organisers of the takayna Trail 2021 ultra marathon access to the public lands they manage.
The North West needs the economic boost the ultra marathon has brought in the past, especially as the region recovers from the devastating impact of the pandemic.
The North West needs to be able showcase the takayna and generate revenue from the wilderness on their doorstep. This should be beyond politics and petty officialdom.
Runners from across the country have registered for the ultra marathon. FT’s unexplained and unilateral decision will have damaging consequences for the region.
It begs the question, are the Liberals letting down the regional economy in Braddon simply because the Bob Brown Foundation is organising this national sporting event?
Premier Gutwein and his Resources Minister, Guy Barnett need to step in so the ultra marathon can go ahead for the benefit of the regional economy.
