The 1999 & draft 2014 management plans – a stark contrast

The 1999 Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan was much-lauded and developed with wide consultation; it was not perfect but a good compromise.

The 2014 draft Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan was extremely regressive, with protection of the area’s values taking a back seat to the relaxation of controls on tourism developments and a disregard for the wilderness character of the area that was so fundamental to the campaigns which led to its creation.

A subsequent public campaign resulted in more than 7000 submissions, the vast majority opposed to the plan’s proposals, as well as a visit from a UNESCO/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring Mission. While improved, the final 2016 TWWHA Management Plan still contains many failings and deficiencies which will be the subject on ongoing campaigns (see here)

Development of 2016 management plan

1999 management plan & associated issues

Early TNPA positions re tourist development proposals

 

Arthur Range, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Photo: Grant Dixon
Arthur Range, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Photo: Grant Dixon

“… the Southwest Tasmanian wilderness is exceptional in size, quality and diversity in the Australian context and in the temperate regions of the world. As such it is of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science and conservation. The specific features of world heritage value which it contains only serve to enhance its value as an item of world heritage.”

PETER HITCHCOCK, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE LEMONTHYME AND SOUTHERN FORESTS, 1988