Yesterday's Federal Court injunction stopping the Hodgman government's order to reopen destructive off-road vehicle tracks on the Tarkine coast underscores the failure of the Minister for the Environment, Parks and Heritage to show basic responsibility for the area's internationally-recognised Aboriginal cultural values, Bob Brown said today.

Read the full media release here.

Read about the joint call for the halt to opening the 4wd tracks here, and the threats to rock art here.

Save the Tarkine has welcomed Justice Estcourt’s ruling in it’s Judicial Review case against the Nelson Bay River mine approval amendments. The amendments by the Director of the Environment Protection Authority allowed the mine to store twenty times as much acid producing waste rock in an above ground storage facility that the original EPA Board assessment rejected as unsafe.

A joint Statement from Aboriginal and environment group representatives re the expansion of destructive 4WD tracks on the National Heritage listed Tarkine coast.         

• Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
• Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania
• Interim Aboriginal Heritage Council
• Tasmanian Conservation Trust
• The Wilderness Society
• Bob Brown Foundation
• Environment Tasmania
• Save the Tarkine      

An unprecedented collective of Aboriginal representatives and environment groups have jointly called for federal intervention to halt to the planned expansion of destructive 4WD tracks on the Tarkine coast. Legal advice confirms that Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has a responsibility to assess the expansion plans under federal law and should not allow the tracks to open.

Photo: Graeme Gardner, Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania

International call to protect nation's heritage

The recent announcement by the Tasmanian State Government to reopen the most sensitive off-road 4WD recreational tracks along the Tarkine Coast is not only reprehensible: it is in violation of the obligations on the State and Australian governments to adequately protect the values of the Natural Heritage Listed Western Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural Landscape.

Riding for the Tarkine - One man, one bike and one mighty big forest to save!

The Tarkine in North-West Tasmania is the second largest temperate rainforest in the world, and is threatened due to destructive activities such mining, logging, poaching and even arson!

Brodie Jeavons is a 22 year old from Victoria, recently spent time volunteering for 'Tarkine Trails' in preparation for the upcoming season and this is when his journey began.

Adam Thompson and Ashley Murray from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, economist Richard Dennis from The Australia Institute, Bob Brown, and Scott Jordan from Save the Tarkine spoke at "Developing the Tarkine’s Future – Why minding is better than mining" yesterday in Wynyard.

“The Tarkine is one of the world’s most desirable wild places. The big problem for the Tarkine will be managing the thousands of people who want to visit it. Our first task is to protect it”, said Dr Brown.

For the full story - see the media release.

An article by Ted Mead in The Tasmanian Times

tasmaniantimes.com

Home to the largest single tract of temperate rainforest in the nation, the destined Tarkine National Park will soon become an economic natural goldmine for Tasmania’s northwest.

In the late 1980’s the Tarkine region bounded by the Arthur and Pieman rivers was identified by conservationists and scientists as a significant area that warranted secure protection. Renowned for its magnificent tracts of pristine rainforest, wild rivers, and windswept coastline rich in cultural heritage and history, the Tarkine is certain to be proclaimed as a National Park in the next decade.

Amid reports that Shree Minerals’ Nelson Bay River mine is under investigation for breaching its federal environmental permit, Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne says the Abbott government must not proceed with plans to hand protection powers over to the state.

It’s believed the Tasmanian Government amended its permit to allow the Nelson Bay River Mine to produce 20 times more acid-producing waste rock than originally planned, but the Federal Environment Department was not notified or given a chance to model the impacts on threatened species.

Saving the Tarkine

The Tarkine wilderness ought to be part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Instead it is being logged, mined and smashed by 4WD tracks dissecting its heritage coast.

Hand-in-hand with the Tarkine National Coalition (TNC) our foundation aims to protect the 430,000 hectares of the recommended Tarkine National Heritage Area including its wildlife, rainforests, button-grass, wild coast and pristine streams.

TNC has until 25 July to find $15,000 surety so it can proceed with a crucial legal appeal to the full bench of the Federal Court against Venture Minerals' proposed strip-mine at Rileys Creek in the Tarkine's south. Members of our board have personally offered to put forward $3,000. These donations are not tax deductible.

If you can help us find all or part of the remaining $12,000 you can make a donation here.  Or if you would like more information, let me know and I will gladly talk it over with you. If we win, the money is returned: if we don't it isn't! A further $20,000 will be required in coming months to have TNC bring its very good case before the court.

Besides this court challenge, we aim to join TNC in a long, strong and successful campaign for the Tarkine. This campaign, donations to which are tax deductible, will boost the Tarkine's national and global profile as well as promote its economic and employment prospects for Tasmania. It will involve films and public meetings, internet and political action, as well as the humble posters, bumper stickers, and chaperoned VIP visits which are the bread-and-butter of our successful campaigns for wild places.

Please join this campaign to save the Tarkine. We will keep you informed. Your donation, besides being tax-deductible, will be used wisely to bring forward the day the Tarkine is protected.

Best wishes,


Bob Brown


OPTION 1:  I will make a donation towards court surety for the Tarkine appeal.

OPTION 2:  I would like to make a tax deductible donation for the foundation's wider campaign to save the Tarkine. 

This television ad was produced by the Bob Brown Foundation for the 2013 federal election campaign to remind voters that if they want to see the Tarkine protected, they would have to vote accordingly.