[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_NE Highlands National Park A Winner_K Booth MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

NORTH EAST HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK A WINNER

Greens Fully Support Win-Win Proposal for the NE

Kim Booth MP
Greens Member for Bass

Thursday, 23 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today hailed the relaunching of the North East
Highlands National Park proposal by the Friends of the Blue Tier as a
win-win solution, saying that it would result in job generation, tourism
promotion, protection of water sources, biodiversity conservation and
the last chance to create a true wilderness heart in north east
Tasmania.

Greens Member for Bass Kim Booth MP said that the north east was sitting
on an eco-tourism goldmine in the shape of a relaunched north east
highlands national park and with the recent closure of the Gunns Ltd
Tonganah Mill it was critical that fresh ideas such as the National Park
proposal were considered seriously by the government and Forestry
Tasmania as they provided so many benefits and opportunities.

"North East Tasmania has done it particularly tough over the past few
years but this fantastic north east national park proposal holds within
it the opportunity for job generation, eco-tourism promotion, water
resource protection and the promotion of one of Tasmania's best kept
secrets which are the stunningly beautiful forests of Mt Victoria, the
Rattler Range and the Blue Tier," Mr Booth said.

"Remember these last remaining forests of the north east highlands are
just a stone's throw from the Bay of Fires beaches which were voted the
number one tourism destination in the world by Lonely Planet only a few
days ago."

"Lesley Nicklason has mapped and promoted a multi day walk that runs
from  Mt Victoria near Ringarooma all the way to the Blue Tier forests
and this would be a huge generator of eco-tourism ventures if the
landscape it runs through could finally be linked and fully protected."

"No one is saying the forests are untouched but one of the great
attractions of the north east is the rich cultural history which has
been highlighted by the Trail of the Tin Dragon project."

"The Friends of the Blue Tier are on a winner here as this national park
would provide a wilderness destination linking Launceston with the East
Coast and generate the multi day visitor stays that the north east is
crying out for."

"The losses declared by Forestry Tasmania today show that managing these
stunning forests for woodchipping isn't even breaking even anymore so
the time has come for everyone to realise that these forest should be
left to do their real work which is as the tourism generators, water
catchment protectors and carbon sinks of tomorrow."

"I sincerely hope that Premier Bartlett and Tourism Minister Michelle
O'Byrne look at this proposal afresh and see the opportunities for the
north east contained within it and throw their support behind a
fantastic project for north east Tasmania," Mr Booth said.




Any opinions expressed in this e-mail are those of the individual and not necessarily the Parliament of Tasmania. This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or person responsible for delivering to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, advise the sender immediately by using the reply facility in your e-mail software.


Warning: Computer viruses may be transmitted or downloaded onto any computer system via e-mail communication. It is the recipient's responsibility to take appropriate action to prevent computer viruses being transmitted In this way. Accordingly the Parliament of Tasmania disclaim all responsibility which arises directly or indirectly from such transmission of computer viruses.