From The Mercury:

Protesters in new blockade

7th November 2006

ENVIRONMENTALISTS in a southern Tasmanian forest have established a second blockade to try to prevent logging in the area.
Six anti-logging protesters yesterday used a vehicle decorated like a giant bee to block access to a leatherwood-rich coupe in the Lower Weld Valley.

Forestry Tasmania says the protesters are ignoring the fact that 82 per cent of the valley is protected.

Protest spokesman Warrick Jordan said the coupe, used regularly by beekeepers, bordered the world heritage-listed Upper Weld and contained globally significant forest.

Mr Jordan has called for a moratorium on logging in the Weld Valley while it is reassessed for world heritage listing.

"We'll be staying for as long as it takes to get it protected or until we're forcibly removed," he said.

"Camp Weld" has been established for 14 months and more than 20 people are currently protesting at two sites within the Weld Valley.

Mr Jordan said Forestry Tasmania had not yet attended the site but logging had been due to begin in the next few days.

Forestry Tasmania general manager of operations and sales Kim Creak said 82 per cent of the Weld Valley was protected -- a fact activists continued to ignore.

"The state and federal parliaments have determined that this area of formal reserves is sufficient to protect the valley's conservation status," Mr Creak said.

He added the world heritage area included buffers to ensure their values were conserved during harvesting and replanting in nearby coupes.

Comments posted on The Mercury site:

While Forestry Tasmania seeks to dismiss the conservation values of the lower Weld Valley they are currently extending tourism faccilites in the area to capitalize on the unique values such as spectacular viewfields, waterfalls and giant eucalypts. Can Forestry Tasmania please explain why they dismiss these values as being unworthy of protection whilst at the same time promoting them for commercial gain.
Posted by: Michael Higgins of 2:02pm today

Forestry Tasmania's claim that 82 per cent of the Weld Valley is protected only enhances conservationists argument that this world-heritage valued area should be adequately reserved. If the rest of the Weld Valley deserves protection, why has this portion been left out? It would seem that it has been left out because it contains stands of accessible timber which the woodchip industry would like to keep for themselves.
Posted by: Will Mooney of 21 Lucas Rd. Lucaston, 7109 9:22am today

What generous employers these people have to allow time off to protest. If these protesters are unemployed how do they "actively seek work" and report on it to Centrelink while they are camping out for long periods?
Posted by: kate gardner of launceston 6:53am today