Environment groups engaged in the campaign to protect the Freycinet National Park from an expansion of the RACT’s lease area and lodge have today supported the call for a Special General Meeting (SGM) of RACT members. The groups will encourage their own members and supporters who are RACT members to sign onto the SGM petition and get involved with calling on the RACT to withdraw the expansion proposal.
Long time RACT members Sophie Underwood and Distinguished Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick have announced they are collecting the names of the 50 RACT members required to call a SGM. In response the RACT has said that ‘…the Board will further consider the development at its June or July meeting’.
Wilderness Society Tasmanian Campaign Manager Vica Bayley said it appeared there was significant crossover between the Society’s and the RACT’s membership. “We’ve had plenty of contact from RACT members concerned at the lodge expansion into the national park and keen to help stop it,” said Mr Bayley. “We’ll encourage members and supporters to sign onto the meeting petition and get active in calling on the RACT to drop its development plans.”
BirdLife Tasmania’s Convenor, Dr Eric Woehler said that BirdLife Tasmania supported the call for a SGM to discuss the RACT proposal.
“Tasmania’s National Parks were proclaimed to protect Tasmania’s remarkable and often unique wildlife, such as our Swift Parrot and Wedge-tailed Eagle, for future generations. National Parks are not for commercial and inappropriate developments, where commercial interests take precedence over conservation,” he said.
“It is obvious that Freycinet National Park already has serious problems with overcrowding which are impacting both the natural environment and the experience of visitors,” said Nick Sawyer, spokesperson for the Tasmanian National Parks Association.
“The first priority should be a proper review of the management plan to address the overcrowding in a manner acceptable to all stakeholders, not a sham review solely to facilitate the expansion of commercial accommodation within the park.”
“Despite repeated requests the RACT board has declined to meet conservation groups to hear our concerns,” said Tasmanian Conservation Trust director Peter McGlone.
“Taking the unprecedented step of convening a member’s meeting may be the only way to get to talk directly with those who can decide to stop the expansion of the Freycinet lodge into the national park.”
Vica Bayley – The Wilderness Society,
Peter McGlone – Tasmanian Conservation Trust,
Eric Woehler – BirdLife Tasmania,
Nick Sawyer – Tasmanian National Parks Association.
Vica Bayley, Peter McGlone, Eric Woehler, Nick Sawyer
