Lesley Nicklason Friends of the Blue Tier
North-East Highlands National Park proposal launch …
THURSDAY 15TH NOVEMBER – ARTS ALIVE, OPPOSITE PRINCES SQUARE…….12.30
Northeast community members will launch their proposal for a National Park tomorrow as serious concerns are held for the areas future water supply, future tourism opportunities and viability of many species of native wildlife.
This proposal highlights the need for National Park status for the area including Mt. Victoria and Blue Tier in north east Tasmania. This proposal is part of a greater reserve proposal to protect high conservation value areas across Tasmania.
This reserve proposal will seek to:
• delineate an area for immediate full reservation.
• maximize the area of high quality habitat in reserves.
• recognise the inadequate reserve outcomes for the area from the RFA and TCFA.
• preserve biodiversity.
• stop fragmentation of native forest.
• safeguard the water catchments of the 14 rivers which have their headwaters within the boundary of the reserve proposal.
• recognise the significance of glacial refugia.
• recognise the role of intact native forest as a carbon sink and the role it plays in producing clean air and water.
• conserve valuable historical and culturally significant sites.
• acknowledge original custodians and recognise that the current process of clearfalling a forest prior to assessment of Aboriginal heritage must be stopped immediately immediately.
• provide jobs rich tourism growth to the north east and support the concept of the Trail of the rail Tin Dragon and proposed multi-day bush walk.
• protect the native wildlife and their habitat
