Media release – Protect Our North West Forests, 19 November 2024
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At their November 18 meeting, Central Coast Council passed a motion, eight votes to one, requesting Forestry Tasmania pause all logging in the Dial Range, including coupes DL011A and DL011C, until they can establish an evidence-based formal position.
Link to agenda and recording: https://www.centralcoast.tas.gov.au/council/meetings/agendas-minutes/
Background
The Dial Range extends from Penguin to Gunns Plain, connecting the coast to the alpine ecosystems of the highlands. It is critical habitat for an array of threatened species including Tasmanian devils, spotted-tail quolls and Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles, and boasts a plethora of walking trails and mountain bike tracks that sustain local communities.
Forestry Tasmania have earmarked two coupes totalling 45 hectares for harvesting in 2024. Earlier in the year a Notice of Intent was issued for forest coupe DL011C which stated harvesting operations were expected to commence in April/May 2024. These activities have yet to materialise after strong community pushback.
The federal government and Central Coast Council have just begun a $9 million road upgrade to Ironcliffe Road and the Dial Range carpark. Equally, the recent state budget included $1.6 million to ‘enhance the visitor experience’ in the Dial Range by upgrading and creating new trails.
Forest coupe DL011A, located at the base of Mt Duncan, will directly impact users of the Dial Range and their visitor experience. It intersects with approximately 200m of the Mt Duncan East Face Track and will be highly visible along large stretches of the trail as well as along Hales Spur Track and Ironcliffe Road.
A community campaign has seen hundreds of locals directly decry these plans and call for better management of the Dial Range, while a petition calling for the removal of these coupes has over 17,800 signatures.
Ashley Bulgarelli, Protect Our North West Forests:
“This is a historic day. Forestry Tasmania’s preposterous plan to scalp 45 hectares from the Dial Range is surely now dead in the water.
In passing this motion eight votes to one, councillors have unequivocally voiced their concern that clearfelling their iconic range just doesn’t stack up. Forestry Tasmania have ignored hundreds of concerned locals by forging ahead with these disastrous plans – will they now ignore local government?
The absurdity of the state-owned logging agency clearfelling over the Mt Duncan East Face trail and woodchipping critical habitat for threatened species is dumbfounding against the backdrop of investment from all levels of government to promote the Dial Range’s natural and recreational values.
An intact Dial Range is critical to the health and wellbeing of north west communities and is a significant economic asset for these regional towns.
The chorus of dissent that has followed these plans reflects how shockingly out of touch Forestry Tasmania are with community expectations. It is time for Forestry Tasmania to remove coupes DL011A and DL011C from the chopping block and abandon all future plans to log the Dial Range.
Like a gnomon’s shadow approaching dusk, the sun is setting on logging in the Dial Range.”
Chris Fletcher, President of Cradle Coast Mountain Bike Club:
“This position by Central Coast Council is consistent with its long-held belief that the Dial Range is a very special ‘natural systems’ corridor that lends itself better to nature-based recreation and tourism, than forestry production for short term gain.
Our council has invested for its community, in mountain bike trails in the Dial since 2018 because it recognised the physical, social, economic and mental benefits that a well-developed trail system offers our community.
Consistent with its modus operandi over the past decade, the Council prefers to let well founded research and rigorous public consultation guide planning and developments in the Central Coast. Our elected members are convinced that the Dial Range is a place so special, so unique, that money invested will increasingly attract recreational visitors to the region and sustain local interest. The club commends its position.”
Lyndon O’Neil, Healthy Country Services:
“Congratulations to the Central Coast Council who has raised the bar for local governments.
The Dial Range is a remnant of what was once the lush, rich, and beautiful landscape of the forested north west coast of Tasmania. Over the past 200 years it has steadily been reduced to now only a small slither of remaining corridor of natural forests connecting the coast to the highlands.
This announcement, to support the community voice, is a first step to reverse the demise of the ancient forests and landscapes of Tasmania since colonial interference. It is an important and historic step towards a sustainable future, and to ensure that for generations to come, there are places such as the Dial range and greater Leven River catchment.
Thank you to the Central Coast Council and to our Mayor Cheryl Fuller for their thoughtful leadership. Together we can begin to stand taller and stronger and speak louder when our home is under threat. Together, we can decide what happens in our region and can ensure the protection of natural and cultural values in the region and of the island.”
A ‘pause’ to the destruction will allow conversations to be had, and a suitable alternative can be reached.”
Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 19 November 2024
Dial Back Logging Plans for the Dial Ranges
In an 8 – 1 decision last night the Central Coast Council supported a motion 8 votes to 1 asking Forestry Tasmania to rethink plans to log the Dial Range, south of Penguin.
The Dial Range is a marvel of the Central Coast with stunning myrtle rainforest, majestic views from several peaks, streams and waterfalls. To send in the loggers would be a travesty.
The Dial Range isn’t just a beautiful place, it’s a treasured community asset. A myriad of walking tracks wend their way through the peaks and more recently the Dial has become a mecca for mountain bikers coming from near and far.
The Dial Range is a natural forested island in a sea of farmland, a refuge for endangered and threatened wildlife. In 2024 we should be protecting natural spaces like the Dial Range to preserve the biodiversity of the area and for community amenity.
The Greens’ applaud the community groups that have united and lobbied both the Central Coast Council and Forestry Tasmania to stop the machines. The Council has listened, will the Rockliff government and Forestry Tasmania listen?
