TCT Achievements

The TCT has a long and distinguished history of excellent conservation outcomes in Tasmania.

Precipitous Bluff:

The TCT was instrumental in protecting Precipitous Bluff from mining in 1975. It is now in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Wellington Park:

The creation of the Wellington Park in 1993 – providing protection of the iconic Hobart landmark followed two decades of work by the TCT.

Environment legislation:

The TCT has played a crucial role in the creation of federal environment legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Tasmania’s Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and, recently, the Tasmanian Cat Management Act 2009. These acts continue to provide Tasmanians with opportunities to protect the environment.

Reservation of Crown land:

TCT played a crucial role in initiating the Crown Land Assessment and Classification Program which was completed in 2006 and to date has resulted in reservation of more than 50,000 hectares of Crown land.

Seafood Industry Council award:

The TCT’s Marine Campaigner Jon Bryan Won Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council 2011 Environment Award, in particular as recognition of his many years of involvement in advocating sustainable practices in numerous government fisheries management committees.

Tamar Valley Pulp Mill:

In 2011 the TCT took Gunns to court in an attempt to have the permit for the Tamar Valley Pulp Mill revoked. Although legislation in 2014 stopped this court case, the case undoubtedly deterred investors and was probably the final straw that broke the back of Gunns in 2012. While the TCT’s goal is to stop the mill rather than bring down a company, this certainly has deterred any other investor from coming forward.

Stopping land clearing at Ansons Bay:

In 2022 we were successful in a Supreme Court challenge that stopped the clearing of 1804 hectares of forest on private land near Ansons Bay. The TCT’s long interest in private land conservation and litigation in related areas means it had very strong grounds to take court cases such as this. Many other groups do not have such strong legal standing.

Rocky reef marine habitats:

Over the last decade the TCT has been a lone voice in highlighting the devastating loss of marine habitats on Tasmania’s east coast due to proliferation of the Centrostephanus sea urchin, which is related to over-fishing of rock lobster. The TCT’s public pressure contributed to DPIPWE establishing the Centrastephanus Working Group to investigate possible means of controlling the species.

Supertrawler:

The TCT provided vital leadership in the successful campaign to stop the supertrawler Margiris and have the previous Federal government institute a two year ban on similar ships. TCT’s vital technical knowledge of the fishery and long term relationship with recreational fishers was a critical element in the campaigns success and for ensuring this key alliance has continued to be effective as it seeks a permanent ban.

Tassie Eco Film Festival:

In 2015 the TCT held the Tassie Eco Film Festival, Tasmania’s first ever environmental film festival. TEFF is an apolitical entertaining four-day festival, held each year in November at the State Cinema that aims to engage with a broader public demographic on environmental issues.

Behind the scenes work: 

Just as valuable as some of these tangible achievements has been the back room work that the TCT has done for decades and continues today. These include participating in committees, making submissions to government, keeping watch on threats that emerge and being able to provide support to community groups. These are very important issues but not headline grabbers, and include management of wild fisheries, aquaculture, planning reform, biosecurity and cat management to name just a few current examples.