Conservationists say Weld Valley protest to go ahead
Saturday, 17 February 2007.
Conservationists say a protest tomorrow in the Weld Valley in southern
Tasmania will go ahead despite attempts in the Supreme Court to have it
stopped.
Forestry Tasmania withdrew its application to seek an injunction to
stop conservationists doing a planned "walk-in" after the Chief Justice
Peter Underwood ruled that evidence based on an Internet site was
inadmissible.
Adam Burling from the Huon Valley Environment Centre says the protest will go ahead.
"We will be looking at all non-violent protest means to defend these forests," he said.
Both Forestry Tasmania and environmentalists have accused each other of acting illegally.
The head of Forest Industries Tasmania, Terry Edwards, says he is disappointed the rally is going ahead.
"They have an obligation, like everyone else, to obey the law of the land," he said.
"The area in question has been set up as an exclusion zone for reasons
of safety and for that reason they should remain outside that exclusion
zone.
"By all means, have a peaceful protest within the meaning of the law,
the same as everybody else must, but do not break the law in order to
make a point."
Forestry Tasmania has appealed to environmentalists to call off the protest.
News menu
From ABC Online