save the Blue Tier
press release, 12 December, 2003
Tasmanian Axemen's Council Unanimous In Call For Public Land Use Inquiry
Blue Tier Should Stay Forever As A Community Resource
The Friends of the Blue Tier today applauded the Tasmanian Axemen's Council decision at a special statewide phone linkup on Wednesday evening, to unanimously support the Break O'Day Council in requesting a Public Land Use Inquiry into the Blue Tier in the state’s north east.
Friends of the Blue Tier spokesperson Lesley Nicklason said that it showed the deep cultural links that ran between the community and the Blue Tier region and was a demonstration of the type of traditional, community forestry that is an integral part of life in the north east and the rest of Tasmania.
“Peter Williams from Forestry Tasmania Scottsdale, contacted me last Friday to let our group know that the Axemen were to be given access to the Anchor Road coupe,” Ms Nicklason said.
“It may surprise a few people to know that the Friends of the Blue Tier actively support this type of traditional, community forestry; however the tragedy of the situation is that the same coupe which could be traditionally, selectively harvested forever by the Axemen is scheduled for clearfelling in January,” Ms Nicklason said.
“This is why a Public Land Use Inquiry is so important for the Blue Tier. Axemen have harvested logs from the Tier for 100 years and there is no reason why they could not use the Blue Tier forests in perpetuity but there must be an inquiry in order to allow us to consider these kind of exciting, community driven outcomes.”
“Woodchopping started here in Tasmania, we have world champions in every discipline and the north east Axemen have raised money for charities like St Giles for over 40 years.”
“The voice of the Axemen's Council deserves to be respected and we await the response from the government,” Ms Nicklason said.
President Michael Tucker available for comment on 6376 1182
For further information contact Lesley Nicklason 6373 6195 or 0400 557 418