Backers on march as Tarkine trail blazed

ABORIGINAL community leaders have thrown their weight behind the Bob Brown Foundation’s plans to develop a 100km walking track in the Tarkine wilderness.

The 10-day Trans-Tarkine Track has been surveyed and the proposed walk would traverse from southwest of Burnie, along Mt Bertha, the Norfolk Range and the Tarkine coastline before finishing with a cruise along the Pieman River to Corinna.

Aboriginal leaders, tourism operators, business owners and conservationists discussed the next steps in developing the track at a roundtable yesterday.

Former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown urged the government elected next month to seize the opportunity ahead of a business case being prepared.

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Clyde Mansell said it was an opportunity to showcase Aboriginal interpretation of the area.

“I think it’s ... an oppor- tunity to take people into this area and allow them to understand what the country is and what it brings in stories and experience,” he said.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre heritage adviser Sharnie Everett welcomed the plan and said it would be a major boost for employment and training.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the Aboriginal community to showcase the unique and beautiful heritage that lies within that landscape,” she said.

Dr Brown hoped it would match the Overland (65km) and South Coast (85km) tracks to enable thousands of people to see the Tarkine.

“All we need is for a government which is going to seize the opportunity for this great project,” he said.