Dr Roscoe Taylor yesterday addressed a forum, organised by community group Our Common Ground, in response to the St Helens water issue and claims that drinking water could be unsafe because of toxicity associated with Eucalyptus nitens plantations.

Dr Taylor said he had no control over catchment practices but admitted he had personal concerns about monoculture plantations and managed investment schemes.

Dr Wynne Russell, the author of the Environment Tasmania forestry white paper Levelling the Playing Field, said that there had been great improvements in the forestry industry but governance issues still needed to be addressed.

"It's not clear that forestry bodies have in any way failed ... but (the level of public concern) is indicative of when a sector has a history of being associated with bad governance," Dr Russell said.

Days after an expert independent panel was established to investigate the St Helens issue, Dr Taylor said that first test results showed that no eucalyptus compounds were found in the George River - St Helens' drinking water supply - either at the intake point or upstream of forestry activity.

Dr Taylor said that over the next 12 months there would be a full audit of all drinking water management plans.

Also yesterday, members of Launceston's Wilderness Action Group created an art- activist event in the Brisbane Street Mall to draw attention to water issues in the state.

A group of green statues represented different sections of society to express concern about the use of pesticides and large monoculture plantations.

The action group will also take part in an open-air water forum on Sunday in Launceston's Civic Square, starting at 1pm, with speakers including Lilydale Protection Group spokeswoman Margy Dockray and freshwater crayfish expert Todd Walsh.