The News Review:
- Time for clear goalposts on Gunns plan
- Tasmania’s first nickel mine passes financing milestone
- Smith may walk away from eco-lodge plan
- Call for more support for farmers
Time for clear goalposts on Gunns plan
The Age – Sep 20, 2007
Manybiologists point out that animals aren’t as flexible with wherethey live and what they eat as we would like them to be andrelocating the whole population to the largely untouched reservesmay not be an option. So how should these arguments be tested? Some insight can begained from examining the results of a study we conducted withForestry Tasmania that assessed forestry activities in thenorth-east of the state. Funded by Forestry Tasmania and theCommonwealth Government the research aimed to quantify the impactof various forest management scenarios on the viability of 11forest-dependent species including mammals birds plants andinvertebrates. The study showed that all 11 species were at least partlysensitive to forestry. Some listed threatened species includingthe spotted-tailed quoll were predicted to decline substantiallywhile others were relatively resilient. ne species the Tasmanianwedge-tailed eagle clearly suffers an increased risk of localextinction under current practices. Considering that the studysampled only 11 species out of the roughly 10000 to 50000 speciesthat exist in these forests it is likely that other species are atsimilar risk… The study showed that all 11 species were at least partlysensitive to forestry. Some listed threatened species includingthe spotted-tailed quoll were predicted to decline substantiallywhile others were relatively resilient. ne species the Tasmanianwedge-tailed eagle clearly suffers an increased risk of localextinction under current practices. Considering that the studysampled only 11 species out of the roughly 10000 to 50000 speciesthat exist in these forests it is likely that other species are atsimilar risk. While the results of this study are worrying more problematicis the lack of an adequate response from Forestry Tasmania. Whenthe results of the research emerged the researchers involved mayhave anticipated changes to the management plans. No substantialshift in management occurred.
Tasmania’s first nickel mine passes financing milestone
Mineweb – Sep 20, 2007
Author: Ross LoutheanPosted: Thursday20 Sep 2007PERTH РAllegiance Mining announced today that formaldocumentation has been executed with Societ̬ Generale and the Australian &New Zealand Banking Group for a project financing facility totalling $A73million. This takes in a project finance facility of $US45 Mplus a cost overrun for a further $A7. 46 M) and an EnvironmentalBond Facility of $A2 M ($US1.
Smith may walk away from eco-lodge plan
The Age – Sep 20, 2007
Mr Smith said his daughter Hayley Baillie and her husband Jameswere invited by a leading Tasmanian architect to develop theeco-lodge and described it as a state instigated proposal. “I am confident the lodge would attract a whole new market ofdiscerning visitors to Tasmania who want to experience the finesthospitality Tasmania has to offer in one of its most spectacularlocations. “It would also perfectly compliment the Tasmanian Government’sproposed new Three Capes Walk as well as existing tourismexperiences on the Tasman Peninsula. Mr Smith said he believed Tasmania’s future rests with itscapacity to provide new visitor and tourism attractions andexperiences to compliment the state’s unique naturalenvironment. Tasmania’s Tourism Minister Paula Wriedt would not be drawn onthe possibility of the government purchasing the land. “It is disappointing to hear that Dick Smith is putting his landat safety Cove up for sale” she said. “The Tasman Tourism Development Strategy has as its number onepriority to increase the amount of high-quality accommodation.
Call for more support for farmers
ABC nline – ABC nline – Sep 20, 2007
He claims the Federal Government has demonstrated the only significant financial support for Tasmanian farmers after giving interim Exceptional Circumstances drought support to all agricultural areas of the state. Senator Colbeck says Tasmania is one of the only states that does not provide extra benefits such as fodder and transport subsidies. “In Victoria you have things like mental health services or community support programs and in Queensland there’s rate rebates. “In Tasmania the only thing they do is come up with a proportion of the interest rate subsidy once full exceptional circumstances kicks in but there’s still a lot of pain out there. Tags: government-and-politics federal-state-issues rural agricultural-policy programs-and-initiatives australia tasSearch for news.