TARKINE FACES NEW MINING THREATS

The Tarkine is facing a new threat from mining with three new mines proposed for development over the next 18 months. Tasmania Magnesite (Beacon Hill Resources) wants to establish an open cut magnesite mine within the Keith River area, Shree Minerals wants an open cut iron ore mine at Nelson Bay River, and Venture Minerals are planning open cut mining for tin and tungsten in the rainforest at Mount Lindsay. The TNC has significant concerns with all three projects, and have called on the Environment Minister Tony Burke to immediately apply a National Heritage Listing to the Tarkine.

Environment Minister Tony Burke plays delaying tactics on Tarkine National Heritage Listing, despite Australian Heritage Council recommendations.

In December 2010 the Environment Minister Tony Burke allowed the Emergency National Heritage Listing to lapse despite having received an assessment by the Australian Heritage Council recommending a National Heritage Listing. The report which was leaked to the public on 8th March 2011, confirmed the National Heritage values of the Tarkine, and recommended a 434,000 hectare permanent National Heritage Listing.

Minister Burke told the media and the TNC last December that the AHC would need 18 months to complete their assessment, despite clearly having had the completed assessment on his desk two months earlier!

What is apparent is that the interests of miners are being placed above the Minister's obligations to the environment. All three proposed mining projects will have secured Commonwealth environmental permits during that 18 month period, allowing them to avoid scrutiny against National Heritage criteria. They will also be allowed to continue exploration drilling and associated access roading without need for Commonwealth assessments.

Please email Minister Burke Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au and show your support for a Tarkine National Heritage Area.

Tarkine movie launched 16/3/2010:

Director Brent Melton's Tarkine: Saving the Last of Gondwana has been released today as a free webcast video. Brent has interviewed numerous players in the Tarkine stuggle, to explore the need for a Tarkine National Park. Be one of the first to see this outstanding film.

Welcome to the homepage of the Tarkine National Coalition.

The Tarkine is one of the world's great wild places. It is an expansive 447,000 hectare wilderness area of recognised World Heritage significance in the North-West corner of Tasmania, Australia's island state. The Tarkine contains remarkable natural and cultural values, including one of the world's most significant remaining tracts of temperate rainforest.

A relict from the ancient super-continent, Gondwanaland, the Tarkine contains Australia's largest tract of temperate rainforest, and is home to more than 60 species of rare, threatened and endangered species. These include such unique animals as the Giant Freshwater Lobster - the world's largest freshwater crustacean, and the Tasmanian Wedge Tailed Eagle - Australia's largest Eagle, and the famous Tasmanian Devil.

The Tarkine is also one of Australia's most important Aboriginal regions, and contains a diverse array of landscapes, from giant forests to huge sand-dunes, sweeping beaches, rugged mountains and pristine river systems.

However, many of the Tarkine's unique values are threatened by destructive activities such as logging, and illegal activities such as poaching and arson, and less than 5% of the Tarkine is protected as a National park. The Tarkine's future as a wild place hangs in the balance, and is dependent on the support and involvement of people like YOU. Please read more, and JOIN US, as we work to see the Tarkine, one of the world's great natural treasures, protected as a National Park and World Heritage listed area, for all people, for all time.

Help us get the Tarkine selected as a GetUp! campaign.

Click hereto vote for the Tarkine as a GetUp! campaign. Having GetUp! onboard will help us to reach and engage with the power of 440,000 activists and get our message loud and clear to Canberra.

Tasmanian forests break though

The Tarkine National Coalition is celebrating the historic Statement of Principles as a great leap forward for the Tarkine. As a result of this agreement, around 70,000 hectares of unreserved rainforest and tall eucalypt forest in the Tarkine will be protected by a moratorium. The future of the Tarkine today looks much brighter. Conflict over logging in the Tarkine can end with the implementation of the moratorium. With 72% of north west coasters polled supporting the creation of a Tarkine National Park, we believe we can now bring the community with us in a positive campaign towards this goal.

Tarkine Emergency National Heritage Listing Lapses

Minister for the Environment, and Heritage, Tony Burke opted to lapse the Tarkine Emergency National Heritage Listing granted by the previous Minister Peter Garrett. The Emergency Listing was granted in response to the original Tarkine Road proposal in 2009, which was dropped by the state government, however the 2004 lodged National heritage nomination is still being assessed by the Australian Heritage Council. The TNC beleives that the Emergency National Heritage Listing should stay in place untill the 2004 nomination recommendation is received.

Numerous threats to the Tarkine remain and the need for heritage protectionis as important as ever. Please email Minister Burke and ask him to urgently declare a National Heritage Listing for the Tarkine : Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au