The Tasmanian Greens has called on the Minister for the Environment and Parks to take action to halt the destruction of threatened species habitat and vandalism to Aboriginal Cultural sites in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area (APCA) by off-road vehicles.
Greens Member for Braddon Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP said that more needs to be done to prevent official hoons from being able to joy-ride in unregistered vehicles around amazing and protected conservation areas such as the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area when it clearly results in damaged habitat and Aboriginal Cultural sites.
“After spending the weekend walking in the area, it was distressing to witness the destruction these irresponsible users were doing in their off-road driving in a Conservation Area, and the Minister needs to take swift, remedial action ,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“Illegal tracks in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area must be closed and rehabilitated.”
“It cannot be a case of “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” for this significant corner of the north-west coast.”
“Better reasoning to protect and maintain both the Aboriginal and environmental values must be prioritised,” Mr O’Halloran said.
Earlier on Tasmanian Times:
Minister O’Byrne favouring 4-wheel drivers
Tarkine national heritage under threat
LACK OF CONSULTATION REGARDING ARTHUR PIEMAN CONSERVATION AREA
Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon
The Tasmanian Greens today demanded that the Minister for Parks and Heritage, Brian Wightman, confirm whether Parks Service explicitly and purposely, instructed inter-state consultants to not consult with the Aboriginal community, which is not only greatly offensive to the Aboriginal community, but also has legal connotations.
Greens Member for Braddon Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP said that the Greens have information that indicates that the Parks Service has told the consultants not to consult with the Aboriginal community, and Minister Wightman needs to use this information to find out the state of play.
Mr O’Halloran also said that should Minister Wightman confirm that such advice was given to consultants, then he should refer the matter to the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner for investigation.
“The Arthur Pieman Conservation Area (APCA) is internationally recognized for its rich Aboriginal cultural heritage, and if these claims are confirmed, swift action must be taken by the Minister,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“It is unforgivable that consultation has been effectively blocked, especially given the Aboriginal communities have social values based on thousands of years of connection with the Area.”
“New South Wales consultants Planning For People has been contracted by the Department to work with stakeholder groups in relation to an Arthur Pieman Conservation Area Social Values project, and we need immediate clarification as to the instructions they received from the Department or any body purporting to represent the Department.”
“If it is true, and the consultants have been advised to not consult with the Aboriginal community, then this raises serious racial concerns, this must be addressed with the utmost haste and seriousness,” Mr O’Halloran said.
Endangered species need urgent protection
Cassy O’Connor MP
Greens Environment spokesperson
The Tasmanian Greens today called on Environment Minister, Brian Wightman, to implement as a matter of priority an updated Recovery Plan for the endemic and endangered Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle.
Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said the Threatened Eagles Recovery Plan: 2006 – 2010 had now expired and that any review of the plan should also take into consideration current data on the population of the endangered Eagle, and to provide for protection and preservation of existing habitat.
“As Minister responsible for the Threatened Species Protection Act, Minister Wightman is responsible for the fate of the magnificent, iconic Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle and he should implement a recovery plan as a matter of priority,” Ms O’Connor said.
“The Auditor General made recommendations in his 2009 report that recovery plans be prepared and implemented urgently for the highest priority of our threatened species; and the Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle is believed to be less than 100 breeding pairs left in the wild.”
“Any recovery plan should include current data about the state of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle population and should adequately provide for necessary protection of existing habitat,” Ms O’Connor said.
