[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Bay of Fires National Park Proposed_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

BAY OF FIRES NATIONAL PARK WOULD PROTECT NATURAL AND CULTURAL VALUES

As Government Fails to Respond to Certain Increased Pressures After
Lonely Planet Listing

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today called on Premier David Bartlett to protect
the natural and cultural values of the Bay of Fires area from
inappropriate development by declaring it as a National Park and
engaging with Tasmania's Aboriginal community over the future handback
of the land.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that the listing of the area as the
World's hottest travel destination by Lonely Planet would inevitably
increase the pressure on the area, and criticised the government for
failing to develop a plan to protect it from increased visitor numbers
and inappropriate development.

"This is a beautiful area with significant natural and Aboriginal
cultural values, but we need to be careful that we don't kill the goose
that can continue to lay golden eggs for North East Tasmania long into
the future."

"We simply cannot sit by and allow this area to de despoiled, and the
best way to ensure that this does not occur would be to declare it as a
National Park."

"All we've had from the government since the Lonely Planet listing are
self congratulations, but not one whisper about how it intends to ensure
that the natural and cultural values are protected."

"I believe that ultimately the Bay of Fires area should be handed back
to the Aboriginal community, along with assistance to manage it as a
National Park, but in the meantime its declaration would be the best and
quickest way to protect its natural cultural and values."

"Listing the area as a National Park would not only protect it from
inappropriate development and increased visitation, but would allow
infrastructure such as hygienic toilets to be provided for visitors."

"Break O'Day Mayor Robert Legg is quite right to want the area declared
as a National Park, as raised on the ABC's 7:30 Report last night."




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