In a climate-biodiversity crisis, it beggars belief that Mineral Resources Tasmania are advertising archaic exploration leases for coal and leases in precious Takayna forests.
A site has been advertised for exploration of category 2 minerals at Tower Hill — a category which includes coal. This site was held until recently by Cornwall Coal.
The Tasmanian community has already won over two failed coal mining exercises in recent years, and this latest lease release won’t see a social license either.
All coal should be kept in the ground, not dug up and burnt, to protect the Tasmanian community and environment from a changing climate. It’s time the Liberals proved they understand the severity of the climate-biodiversity crisis by ruling out any new coal exploration or mining in Tasmania.
Another site advertised for exploration is the Meredith Range, part of Takayna and home to an ancient Huon pine stand.
Takayna is a globally significant area of enormous cultural importance and rich biodiversity, including the Tasmanian masked owl, giant freshwater crayfish, Tasmanian devils, and quolls. Takayna should be protected as a natural state asset, not opened to further destruction from mining.
It’s time to recognise the global significance of Takayna by putting a stop to any new mining activity in this region of Outstanding Universal value. Takyana deserves World Heritage listing – preventing further unnecessary destruction is the very least the state Government should be doing.
