First, let me apologise for the long period since the last newsletter. We have had a few changes here at the TCT, most significant being the departure last December of long serving TCT officer manager Trish McKeown. Those who knew Trish would know she didn’t want a great fuss being made about her, but I do feel it necessary to say thank you to her publically on behalf of all TCT members, councillors and staff, past and present.
We hope this bumper edition makes up for the delay. We now plan produce a newsletter twice a year, continuing in the format of a journal with in depth articles, supplemented with more frequent email bulletins.
In this this issue, we are particularly pleased to have several invited contributors writing in depth about matters that are not adequately covered in the media. Former PWS fire planner Adrian Pyrke brings us a timely feature ‘Fire in the and Wilderness’, and anglers Geoffrey Swan and Richard Dax have written about their long struggle to protect the Russell River from the impacts of a freshwater fish farm.
We are also please to include two articles featuring community people doing great things for the environment: Claire Edwards, a progressive firewood merchant; and Penny Milburn, a wildlife-conscious cat owner.
Next time we hope to follow Adrian’s article with one about the state government’s fuel-reduction burning program. We have heard from several sources that some burns are having a negative impact on biodiversity values, as a result of a rush to burn large areas without proper safeguards.
One issue that we cannot cover in appropriate detail in this issue is the Statewide Planning Scheme. As we go to print, the TCT is in the process of finalising its submission and we will alert members to this when it is completed.
Wherever you look at the moment, reserved land is under threat from tourism developments; this issue includes updates on tourism threats to Rosny Hill Nature Recreation Area, Freycinet National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. There is much good news in regard to management of the TWWHA but, tourism may still be the biggest threat.
Peter McGlone