The Tasmanian Government has today released a draft of the updated Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan.
The draft plan is about achieving balanced outcomes that are
genuinely respectful of cultural and natural values, while at the same time
recognising that the TWWHA is an area to be used, celebrated and shared with
the world.
Through the plan, the Tasmanian Government is seeking to facilitate sensible
and appropriate recreational experiences including new tourism oportunities
through the EOI process. This plan is all about managing the area properly
while ensuring we can use it to generate tourism and jobs.
This recognises the important role tourism plays in contributing to the
economic wellbeing of the Tasmanian community.
A new feature of the draft plan is an increased recognition of the cultural
heritage and a greater emphasis on cooperation with Tasmanian Aboriginal people
in the management of the TWWHA in order to properly recognise, preserve and
celebrate its globallly significant cultural heritage.
This new approach represents an opportunity for fresh engagement with the
Aboriginal Community in relation to cultural heritage and is a quantum shift
from the approach adopted under previous plans.
The new draft is contemporary in its approach and reflects current
understanding of effective management practices.
The draft plan also opens the discussion about dual naming of the TWWHA. The area will remain known as the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, and the Government is also exploring the potential for dual naming in consultation with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community. This, like all aspects of the plan, is open for public discussion through the consultation period.
Selective special species timber harvesting was already permitted in a small number of zones within the area.
The Tasmanian Government acknowledges and encourages the continued widespread
community interest in the way the TWWHA is managed. We are particularly keen to
make sure that anyone who wants to have a say can do so, which is why we have
doubled the minimum statutory consultation period.
The formal public consultation period will commence on Monday 19 January and will
conclude on Sunday 22 March 2015.
The draft plan will be available from this afternoon from www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/twwha
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