Media release – Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Parks, 9 August 2021
Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area tracks update
The Tasmanian Government has made the decision not to proceed with the submission of a Public Environment Report to re-open three tracks in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area (APCA) that were closed by the Labor-Green Government in 2012.
We recognise the importance of recreational off-road vehicle access to the Tasmanian community and will continue to work to develop further opportunities on the West Coast.
In consultation with stakeholders, we will invest $10 million into a program which will provide new and improved recreational driving opportunities across the West Coast, such as improvements to existing tracks at Sandy Cape, the Balfour Track as well as other key recreational vehicle routes and facilities.
The Liberal Government has worked hard to re-open tracks 501, 503 and 601 to recreational vehicles since 2014, with a plan that we believed would allow access while protecting the Aboriginal cultural heritage values in the area.
The assessment of this plan required the Government to submit a Public Environment Report to the Australian Government.
In preparation for the Public Environment Report, the Government received a cultural heritage report in relation to the three tracks which indicated that there is an unacceptable risk to Aboriginal cultural heritage, with no feasible mitigation measures to protect the values.
The Government’s priority has always been the need to protect the significant cultural and natural values within the APCA, while allowing Tasmanians to fish, camp, recreate and holiday within the landscape.
These activities will continue for generations to come, however, off-road vehicle use will not be permitted on tracks 501, 503 and 601.
We will now undertake a feasibility study into the identification of off-road vehicle opportunities on Tasmania’s West Coast and will consider the relevance of existing planning documents in relation to the APCA and the Western Tasmania Aboriginal Cultural Landscape (WTACL) to determine if a review of those documents is warranted.
The Government will also commit to increasing the management and enforcement of regulations in the APCA with an increase to the resourcing of the Parks and Wildlife Service at Arthur River, as well as undertaking a review of the legislative tools available to PWS staff to deal with behaviour which poses a risk to the area’s values.
More information about the APCA can be found on the DPIPWE website: https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/about-the-department/arthur-pieman-tracks.
Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader, 9 August 2021
Takayna Tracks Decision at Last
It has taken seven years, hundreds of thousands of wasted taxpayer dollars, and a damning Aboriginal heritage assessment for the Gutwein Government to find the courage to tell its Braddon constituency that it won’t be reopening three tracks through priceless heritage in Takayna/Tarkine.
This ‘policy’ was always going to fail because of the national heritage protections over the area, and the certainty that reopening the tracks would cause permanent damage to one of the world’s richest archaeological sites.
They were closed under the Labor-Green government in 2012 for good reason, based on advice from Aboriginal heritage experts and the Parks and Wildlife Service.
Regrettably, it suited the Liberals to whip up a frenzy over the issue in Braddon in 2014, and to make a promise they were never going to be able to keep.
Let’s hope this provides an opportunity for a genuine reset with Aboriginal Tasmanians and that their priceless heritage is never again kicked around like a political football for short term gain.
Media release – Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, 9 August 2021
ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL WELCOMES MINISTER PETRUSMA’S DECISION TO PRIORITISE ABORIGINAL CULTURE ABOVE 4 WHEEL DRIVES
Aboriginal people will feel a sense of relief that the Tasmanian government is no longer threatening to allow ORVs into the sensitive Arthur-Pieman area, Chairman Michael Mansell said today. ‘It is certainly a step towards reconciliation.’
Mr Mansell said, “Had it not been for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre taking legal action to ensure the federal protection of the Arthur-Pieman was preserved, there might not be much left to preserve. The decision by Minister Petrusma to abandon the opening of tracks 501, 503 and 601 is a good, sound government decision. There is currently 80 kilometres of off-road vehicle access on 94 tracks in the Arthur-Pieman, so no one can claim there is no way of driving into the area.
The government cultural assessment report recommended that the government now engage with Aboriginal people about future management of the Arthur-Pieman. We look forward to talks with Minister Petrusma about a joint government and Aboriginal administration as proposed by former Minister Mathew Groom in 2016. The Land Council is interested in Aboriginal people managing the whole area, resourced by the funds currently allocated to Parks and Wildlife, with an emphasis on protecting Aboriginal heritage as well as reviving material elements of our people’s history in the area.’
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 9 August 2021
Bob Brown Foundation welcomes Tarkine decision
Bob Brown Foundation congratulates the Tasmanian Government on confirming that the rich Aboriginal heritage on the takayna / Tarkine coast, south of Sandy Cape, will be kept safe from future destruction by off road vehicles.
“The wider Tasmanian public will welcome this outcome. Most of all, saving this heritage is due to a long, defiant campaign by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. Their pride in country has won out,” said Bob Brown.
“Premier Gutwein’s government should match the $10 million they are investing in ‘new and improved recreational driving opportunities across the west coast,’ and give $10 million to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre to help manage and protect the takayna coast south of Sandy Cape. If the government is going to compensate the off-road vehicle community then so to should the Aboriginal people be given funding to look after the globally significant takayna coast,” Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.
Facebook post – 4WD Tasmania, 9 August 2021
UPDATE ON ARTHUR PIEMAN TRACKS
On Tuesday afternoon, 3rd August 2021, members of the 4WD Tasmania Executive met with the Tasmanian Minister for Parks, The Hon Jacquie Petrusma and two of the Minister’s advisers, to discuss the situation with regard to the tracks south of Sandy Cape in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area.
These tracks, which were closed in 2012 by the previous Labor-Green Government, were the subject of a recent assessment report which recommended keeping the tracks closed.
This report was prepared in response to efforts made by the present State Government since 2014 to re-open the tracks in accordance with an election pledge. It was a requirement of the Federal Environment Minister to prepare the assessment report as part of a decision-making process as to whether or not the closed tracks can re-open. The matter had been referred to the Federal Environment Department in response to a decision by the Federal Court.
4WD Tasmania explained to the Minister that its’ position remains the same, that the tracks should re-open. We also put our viewpoint that the assessment report was skewed in favour of closure and did not give due weight to the measures that would be in place to protect Aboriginal heritage sites from damage.
Minister Petrusma listened to our concerns, indicating to us that the Tasmanian Government’s position was that it would still like to re-open the tracks in accordance with the election pledge made in 2014.
However, the assessment report’s recommendation that the tracks remain closed means that the onus is now on the State Government to satisfy the Federal Government that re-opening the tracks will not damage or degrade Aboriginal heritage sites, which means in effect that a further and more detailed report, called a Public Environmental Report will be required.
The Minister stated that the Tasmanian Government is now considering what its’ next move should be with respect to the tracks in the light of the current assessment report’s recommendation.
The Minister could not put a firm date on when a decision would be made and announced, except to say that it would be “soon”.
4WD Tasmania also took the opportunity to raise with Minister Petrusma a number of other issues related to recreational 4WD usage throughout Tasmania. These included:
Track closures generally.
Track Maintenance (prevention of further deterioration and restoration of damage)
Facilities (campgrounds, toilets, etc.)
Apparent lack of resourcing and support for recreational 4WDing when compared to other activities (eg. mountain bike riding, wilderness walks etc.)
The Minister acknowledged our concerns and stated that her Government views recreational 4WDing as a legitimate pastime, and also acknowledged that recreational 4WD use (by both Tasmanians and interstate visitors) makes a significant contribution to the state economy.
The Minister is willing to consider any proposals for maintenance of tracks, new or improved facilities, etc.
One of the Minister’s advisers reiterated the Minister’s statements and stressed that the emphasis for the present must be on keeping existing tracks open. It was further stated that there may be scope for additional tracks to be made available for recreational 4WD use in places that are less ‘controversial’ than the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area.
The meeting closed on the note that the Government will announce as soon as possible its’ decision on what action to take with respect the tracks south of Sandy Cape.
Also noted that 4WD Tasmania would stay in contact with the Minister’s office and bring forward any suggestions, and ideas to improve recreational 4WD tracks and facilities within Tasmania.
We will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
