28th September 2005

Forestry locks in Weld activists locks out public

MEDIA ALERT

Forestry Tasmania has locked Eddy Rd in Tasmania's Weld Valley forests, blocking public access to the site of a newly established tree-sit village.

"The day after the launch of the Weld Valley tree-sit village, activists have been locked in the forest. The general community who has accessed this area for months are now prevented from seeing this wild place before it is potentially destroyed." Jenny Weber, spokesperson for the Huon Valley Environment Centre said.

A tree sit village has been established in Southern Tasmania's threatened Lower Weld Valley. The innovative protest is halting a proposed road that will provide access to a large area of high conservation value forest bordering the Tasmanian World Heritage Area.

"Forestry's destruction of the ancient, World Heritage valued forests of the Weld Valley has now been closed to public scrutiny," Jenny Weber said.

"Forestry Tasmania has locked out the public, and locked in the activists," Jenny Weber said.

For further comment: Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson, Jenny Weber 0427366929