PREMIER Will Hodgman has refused a last-ditch appeal by the Forests of Lapoinya Action Group to prevent roadworks and logging of 49 hectares of forest due to begin this week.
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Group convener Stewart Hoyt wrote to the Premier in December and again in early January to request his intervention in Forestry Tasmania’s plan to perform roadworks and subsequently clear-fell part of the Lapoinya coupe.
Mr Hodgman replied on January 15 to inform the group of his support for the decision made by Resources Minister Paul Harriss not to intervene in the issue.
Mr Hoyt said it was his understanding that Forestry Tasmania would begin to move roadworks equipment into the area on Monday in preparation for logging to begin.
The group intends to hold a ‘‘legal, safe and sanctioned’’ protest near the site on Tuesday.
Mr Hoyt said it was possible that action would be taken inside the coupe, despite his concerns that the government’s decision to log at Lapoinya could be related to a desire to prosecute under their anti-protest laws.
‘‘The Lapoinya Forest has tragically been chosen by the current state government as a test case in a cynical exercise of political power over a small Tasmanian community,’’ he said. ‘‘This community who, through science, economics and social research, has proven its little local native forest contains extraordinary high conservation habitats for rare, threatened and endangered Tasmanian species.’’
Braddon Liberal MHA Joan Rylah said the inclusion of the area within the permanent timber production zone was agreed to by all parties of the Tasmanian Forest Agreement in 2012.
‘‘Harvesting this regrowth production forest was supported by all sides of politics in the Tasmanian Forestry Agreement and Forestry Tasmania has taken special efforts to address community concerns by halving the size of the coupe and incorporating many buffer zones,’’ she said.
‘‘Tasmanians are sick and tired of this sort of proposed job-destroying activity which is why both houses of Parliament have since passed the toughest workplace protection laws in the country.’’
LAPOINYA FOREST
■The Lapoinya area is home to threatened species such as the Tasmanian devil, spotted quoll and giant freshwater crayfish.
■Braddon Liberal MHA Joan Rylah said Forestry Tasmania has confirmed there would be a ‘‘positive net return’’ from harvesting the coupe, but did not provide specific details when asked.
■The area has previously been selectively logged, but never clear-felled.
