THE Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has taken the state government to court over the reopening of four-wheel-drive tracks on the North-West.
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Documents have today been filed in the Federal Court in Hobart against the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment and Parks and Wildlife Services heads.
The state government has announced that a 40-kilometre stretch of off-road track situated close to Aboriginal heritage sites will be reopened before Christmas.
About 90 kilometres of tracks in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area are due to reopen this month.
The tracks were closed by the previous government to protect their Aboriginal and environmental heritage.
The Aboriginal community has alleged that no consultation had been sought by the government before the announcement.
The group has taken court action to determine if a proper assessment of the sites has been undertaken.
Braddon Liberal MHR Brett Whiteley said the state government’s decision to reopen the tracks ''went to a state election, was backed by the local aboriginal community and was backed by the Federal Minister for the Environment''.
''TAC should immediately cease its court action, listen to the local aboriginal community and let the state government get on with implementing the policies it took to the state election,'' Mr Whiteley said.
