Tarkine tracks protest push

KEEN off-roaders frustrated by the government’s position on its promise of reopening four-wheel-driving tracks in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area are talking of organising a protest drive and ride.

But other supporters are voicing caution that such a show of force could backfire.

Last week, the government said it was walking away from its contentious plans to reopen the tracks – a position that garnered loud support at a rally in Smithton in the lead-up to the 2014 election.

A poster on the Stop the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area Track Closures Facebook page called for those who want to return to the area to stand together and stage a protest ride/drive into the Interview River, south of Sandy Cape, in November to hold the state Liberals to their promise.

Others said they were “all for protesting” but didn’t think 500-plus bikes, four-wheel drives and buggies descending on the area would do the environment – or their cause – any good. Instead, they recommended a show of united force be held in Tasmania’s cities.

Chair of the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area committee, Locky Avery, said he understood the frustration driving thoughts of mass protests.

“While I am a big fan of a protest, I don’t want to play into the hands of those who want to keep the area locked up,” Mr Avery said.

“I don’t want to see the place trashed.

“There are only 10 per cent of people who love the area and getting out into it, who are the idiot rednecks we are all painted to be.

“What we need to do is open the tracks back up and manage the area properly. Conditions have improved a lot north of Sandy Cape since it was better policed.

“If we manage the area properly it will drive the idiots out. We can do that through education, peer group pressure and putting up deterrents to those doing the wrong thing.”

Mr Avery said the committee and others in the community were still scratching their heads over the report into protecting Aboriginal heritage, which was released last week.

“It appears to be outside the scope of what we thought it was meant to do – recommend how we can manage the environment and Aboriginal heritage, and provide access to the community at the same time.

“What has happened instead is the community has been divided on the issue again.”