24th Feb 2010

The Tarkine Rainforest Track

As some of you are aware we have been looking for a new rainforest track due to mining interests on the current track. We have now been told that our proposed new track is not available (also due to mining interests). We have been told that we can keep using the existing rainforest track until the mining activity renders it untenable. We hope to operate for at least another season on the current track.

11th Dec 2009

The Tarkine receives emergency National Heritage listing

The Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett has determined that the Tarkine loop road proposal will need to be assessed under national environment law.

“I have determined that this proposal may impact on nationally protected matters and therefore must undergo assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

“In particular, building a road through the Tarkine could impact on nationally listed threatened species including the Tasmanian devil, the spotted-tail quoll and the wedgetailed eagle.

“The proposal also has the potential to impact on the area’s national heritage values. “I announced last week the emergency heritage listing of the Tarkine, in recognition of the fact that the area is already under assessment for inclusion in the National Heritage List by the Australian Heritage Council.

“That emergency listing has allowed me to consider the proposal’s potential impacts on those national heritage values in making this decision.

“I have determined that the proposal will be assessed by Environmental Impact Statement, which I believe is an appropriate assessment method to provide the level of detail necessary for a project in this important location.

“This method will allow for a rigorous and transparent assessment which should not unduly delay the project, should it ultimately be approved.

“It will also give the public further opportunity to have input into the assessment process.”

The Federal Environment Department will now develop draft guidelines for the proponent to use when preparing the Environmental Impact Statement. Public comment will be sought on these draft guidelines.

The guidelines outline the environmental matters that must be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement, which forms the basis of the assessment.
Details of the proposal can be found on the department’s website.

Sept 29th, 2009

The latest on Tarkine Drive and the Tarkine Rainforest Track

We will shortly have more information about proposed road and open cut magnesite mine in the vicinity of the Tarkine Rainforest Track.