MEDIA RELEASE

23RD January 2006

Community Locked Out, Camp Weld Locked In

Members of the community and forest activists are today protesting the proposed closure of Eddy Road gate, in the Lower Weld Valley, Southern Tasmania.

Campers at the tree-sit village - erected to protect the forests of the Weld Valley - fear that they will be trapped behind the locked gate, whichprovides access into the threatened area. A tree sit has been erected above the Eddy rd gate to prevent Forestry Tasmania from locking the gate.

Camp Weld has been halting proposed roading operations into the World Heritage nominated forests of the Lower Weld Valley for the past 4 months. Camp Weld and members of the community that are living there will be 20 kms behind a locked gate.

"We are concerned for our safety and we are asking that Forestry Tasmania does not lock the gate, thus preventing members of the community from visiting the World Heritage nominated forests in the lower Weld Valley," spokesperson Jess McLachlan said.

"Forestry Tasmania are locking out the community who have been visiting the forest surrounding Camp Weld. We have had up to 1000 visitors in recent months. We are especially concerned about our safety; last time the gates were locked we were victims of harrassment," Jess McLachlan said.

"We are calling for small gates on operations on Eddy Rd, to ensure the safety of the local community members who are camped in the forest to prevent further destruction of World Heritage Nominated Forests."

Contact Jess McLachlan 0420 100 550
Or Jenny Weber