Bicheno land sale halted

Aboriginal demands

TASMANIA’S Aboriginal community is calling for a parcel of coastal land at Bicheno to be handed back to its original owners now the State Government has announced it will buy the property to keep it in public hands.

The Government’s decision to acquire the land from the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council came on the eve of a community protest picnic at Lennys Point today.

The picnic will still go ahead but will now celebrate the fact the sale has been halted and the site will remain reserved as a public surfing and recreational asset.

Earth Ocean Network spokesman Quentin Smith said: “We welcome the Government’s intervention and the announcement it will step in and save Lennys Point and will be seeking a similar commitment from Opposition Leader Rebecca White to protect the community’s interest and preserve this public land.”

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre yesterday called for Lennys Point to be handed back.

“Yet again, local councils and governments are talking about land acquisition for every other purpose except the purpose of protecting Aboriginal heritage and land justice,” Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre CEO Heather Sculthorpe said.

“Such long use by the original owners demands consideration of our prior ownership,” she said.

“This is a real opportunity for the Hodgman Government to start to address its appalling Aboriginal affairs record by returning this small but important land area. ”

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said the Government had decided to buy the land to preserve it for community use. “The Government will negotiate the transfer with the council and we will work with them and the local community to establish an ongoing framework for the management of Lennys Point.”