Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader and Spokesperson for Forests
The Greens welcome the passing of a motion by Break O’Day Council at its February meeting, committing their support for the protection of high conservation Future Potential Production Forests land within formal reserves. The Council’s public acknowledgement of the value of these extraordinary biodiverse forests will be well received by local communities and tourism organisations that have long campaigned to protect them.
These forests were intended to be formally protected over a decade ago, and north-eastern communities understood this had already occurred. They were shocked to learn in late 2024 that the Minister for Resources planned to open some of these FPPF areas to Forestry Tasmania for logging. Following the election last year, the Rockliff Government ultimately listened to community pressure and walked away from their plan to log the FPPF high conservation forests.
The Greens area committed to ensuring all the FPPF forests are formally protected for generations to come. We are glad to learn the Break O’Day Council also recognises that the diversity of wildlife within them, and the carbon they store, is of immeasurable value.
Tabatha Badger MP, Member for Lyons
This is a great local win for the North East community, who well know what can be achieved through people power and persistence. This community has saved precious forests at South Sister and Blue Tier and restored ecosystems at Sky Line Tier.
The successful passing of their motion to Council is a tremendously positive first step toward the proper protection of FPPF forests, which should have been gazetted as a reserve or National Park over a decade ago. This is a powerful community who won’t give up on these magnificent forests until they are truly protected for generations to come.
Break O’Day is in step with the Meander Valley Council who passed a motion to look at past poor logging operations at Quamby Bluff and the Central Coast Council voting to stop logging in the Dial Range. Local Governments are listening the the community, when will the Liberal Government?
