Frances Daily, St Marys
South Sister, a local icon, tourist destination, recreation area for local residents and source of water for domestic and agricultural/horticultural use, is about to be logged for woodchips.
South Sister forms part of the Nicholas Range on the east coast of Tasmania, near St Marys, and is one of two volcanic plugs, standing 831m above sea level.
Local residents have been battling to save this mountain from logging for the past 18 months. Various experts commissioned by Save our Sisters (SOS) concluded that the risk of landslides in this active landslip region is high, and recommended further assessment before any harvesting activities occurred.
A prominent Tasmanian geohydrologist indicated that road construction and harvesting activities will reduce the water quantity available for use both for local residents and also the township of St Marys. Despite Forestry Tasmania asking for submissions and comments during a public meeting in January, it issued a media release before the 20 submissions from scientists and other experts even arrived on its desk.
Despite overwhelming evidence in these reports that environmental harm was very likely, none were taken seriously. The consultation process was then prematurely terminated when road building contractors arrived on February 21, prior to any formal response from either Forestry Tasmania or the Forest Practices Board (the so-called independent watchdog of Forestry Tasmania).
An application was made to the Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal on February 24 seeking a temporary order to stop road construction and harvesting. Despite the March 4 tribunal hearing being "satisfied that there is a prima facie case established by the evidence tendered on behalf of the applicants", three temporary orders were refused. The third refusal was because "no undertaking is to be offered" — Forestry Tasmania expected the applicants to pay an undertaking of $50,000 per week for nine to ten weeks.
The final hearing will take place on June 6-8. Applicants have requested that attorney-general Judy Jackson seek a temporary order on their behalf, as she would not be required to give an undertaking. They also asked both the Break O'Day Council and the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment to issue an environmental protection notice, but both refused.
Ralph Rallings, an engineer with 40 years' experience wrote to forests minister Bryan Green, arguing that failure to assess the slopes south of the coupe for landslide risk is "imprudent and borders on negligence". He recommended that no logging activities occur on the entire Nicholas Range until slope stability issues have been appropriately investigated. He has not yet received acknowledgement of his letter.
SOS put the contractor, Taslog, on notice and placed a public notice in the Hobart Mercury informing all insurance companies that Taslog had been notified about the risk of landslides and water problems should logging proceed.
A vigil began on February 20 at the entrance to the coupe on South Sister Road. Two tree-sits are in place and further action is planned pending the decision by Forestry Tasmania on whether harvesting will start before the final hearing.
SOS is calling for financial support to assist with its mounting legal costs. Visit <http://www.southsister.org>.
[Frances Daily is a spokesperson for the Save Our Sisters campaign.]
From Green Left Weekly, March 23, 2005.
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