News & Media Releases
Current or topical items related to our ongoing campaigns.
Latest wildfires in Tasmanian wilderness
Lightning-initiated wildfires have again burnt extensive tracts of wild country and likely destroyed still more areas of irreplaceable fire-sensitive vegetation. The fires continue to burn and may not be fully controlled for months.
Bushwalker accidents and rescues
Upgraded authoritative pre-trip information, ideally provided by the Parks and Wildlife Service, could reduce the chances of some avoidable rescues occurring when walkers get into difficulty because they have not anticipated the challenges of their planned bushwalk.
Cradle Mountain cableway funding
A budget estimates committee of the Tasmanian parliament has been advised that the state wants the federal government to provide most of the estimated $190 million total cost of the proposed Cradle Mountain cableway. The proposed cableway is a sop to the local tourism industry with serious environmental and social impacts rather than a serious proposal to meet an identified need.
Reform of PWS Reserve Activity Assessment process
An overwhelming majority of submissions opposed the Tasmanian Government’s proposal for a statutory Reserve Activity Assessment (RAA) process, the assessment process for developing reserved land and management planning for that land. Now it is proposing that “submissions received will be used to inform a RAA Reform options paper taking feedback into account to determine next steps”. We call for a commitment to releasing the options paper for public comment.
Roaming pigs in northwest Tasmania
A herd of 150 pigs is running wild at Gunns Plains, northwest Tasmania. While these pigs are not officially classed as feral, it makes little difference to the damage they are currently causing and their potential to become a major environmental as well as agricultural threat. The minister has advised the TNPA that there is no apparent feral pig issue, that the roaming pigs are being monitored and that legislative changes will be considered. While it's good that there is some action at state level, we hope the local council will receive the assistance it requires to stop the pigs in their tracks.
Feral deer control
The PWS Report on the 2024 component of the 2023-24 TWWHA deer control project is now available. 306 deer were shot in 2024, and 1017 deer over the two-year program. A properly resourced ongoing culling program is required to prevent feral deer from establishing a permanent population within the TWWHA.
Our Journal
Our journal, TNPA News, is published twice a year. It aims to provide informative articles on issues related to national parks and other reserves, as well as updates on our activities and campaigns. Below are links to recent issues.
TNPA News No 37 – Winter 2024
This issue of TNPA News contains articles analysing a number of significant issues, including proposed "reform" of the approval process for developments within our parks and reserves, and the lack of up-to-date management plans for most of Tasmania's reserve estate.
TNPA News No 36 – Spring 2023
This issue of TNPA News contains two articles on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area, one positive, one rather less so. Another reflects on the increasing commercial orientation of some of Tasmania’s best-known tracks.
TNPA News No 35 – Autumn 2023
This issue of TNPA News contains a photo feature on Tasmania's 'forgotten wilderness', the 139,000 hectare Spero - Wanderer region left out of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area south of Macquarie Harbour.
Reports & Submissions
We make formal and informal representations on a range of issues concerning national park and reserve management and also prepare periodic reports on related subjects. Below are links to some recent reports and submissions.
Tyndalls ‘Next Iconic Walk’ project update and EIS submission
The EIS for PWS's 'Next Iconic Walk' project was released in spring 2025, and completion of construction is currently planned for 2029. Most of our original fundamental problems with the project remain, plus some new concerns have recently come to light.
Mountain biking in Australia’s protected areas
The National Parks Australia Council has developed a position statement on mountain biking in response to increasing demands for access to protected areas for this activity, and with the purpose of informing the decision-making process regarding mountain bike trail development and activities in a way that aims to ensure the conservation integrity of protected areas.
kunanyi (Mt Wellington) zipline proposal
The TNPA opposes a proposed zipline from The Springs to a location near Strickland Falls (upper Strickland Avenue) because it is another example of a private commercial development on protected public land which impacts on both the natural and cultural (Aboriginal and historical) values of Wellington Park and the appreciation of those values by current visitors.
Future of kunanyi / Mt Wellington
The key natural and cultural values of The Mountain need to be preserved, protected and enhanced. The answer is not to construct additional infrastructure to facilitate even more visitors.
Proposed Development Assessment Panels
The TNPA urges the State Government to abandon its proposed ‘independent’ Development Assessment Panels for contentious planning matters, in favour of maintaining the current legislation.
Review of State Coastal Policy
The Tasmanian Government has released a Position Paper on its review of the State Costal Policy. The paper raises many issues of public administration, law and earth science. The TNPA opposes the introduction of an Interim State Policy to give immediate effect to the proposals outlined in the Position Paper.