A federal Labor government would join a state Labor government to stump up a total of nearly $3 million to protect and manage the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area.
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The announcement, made by Opposition Leader Rebecca White and Labor Member for Braddon Justine Keay on Saturday, follows the fall-out of the state government’s plan to re-open three Tarkine tracks in the conservation area for recreational use.
The opposition did not commit to opening the three tracks but said they would wait for the outcome of the federal Environmental Department’s review into the state government’s plan to open the tracks.
Liberal Members for Braddon Adam Brooks and Joan Rylah said the opposition’s plan was a “hollow promise” and “meaningless”.
Ms Keay said funding would be broken down to allocate $250,000 to establish a new cultural management plan and a local management committee, as well as $100,000 per year for four years to the implementation of management plan.
“Federal Labor also notes that a Rebecca White majority Labor government will respect any decision made following the Tasmanian government’s submission to reopen three tracks south of Sandy Cape,” she said.
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A further $200,000 would be put to the construction of new tourism infrastructure, while a federal Labor government would allocate up to $1.44 million over four years to hire four indigenous rangers.
Ms White said an elected Labor state government would contribute $600,000 to the conservation plan.
“This is about bringing the community along and it is more than about tracks in the region,” she said.
However Mrs Rylah said Environment Minister Matthew Groom had assured her the local management committee would be re-established “as soon as possible”.
"I also note that two-thirds of the funds from today's announcement are from federal Labor, and given a federal election is still two years away, it means this is a hollow promise which can't be delivered,” she said.