Ansons Bay clearing bound for court

•   A map showing the area earmarked for clearing at Ansons Bay. 

March 23, 2022

An Ansons Bay landowner’s permission to clear more than 1,800 hectares of native forest and convert it to pasture will be challenged by the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) in court. 

The TCT will be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) and are challenging the validity of a Forest Practices Plan (FPP) that authorised the clearing, including 491 hectares of critically endangered forest community.

The case before the Supreme Court is against the Forest Practices Authority, and the current landowner, Mr John Ewart Tucker MP, the Liberal Member for Lyons.

It’s proposed that once cleared the land would be converted into grazing land
for cattle.  

TCT’s application is seeking the Supreme Court declare the FPP invalid, arguing it was issued in error, in 2015.

TCT CEO Peter McGlone said they are determined to stop the destruction of the native forest at Ansons Bay.

“This plan would allow clearing of 1,804 hectares of native forest for conversion to pasture. That is greater than all the permitted clearing under the Forest Practices Act 1985 state-wide for the last three years combined,” he said.

“If the clearing proceeds, it will be the largest clearing to occur on private land in Tasmania for over ten years.

“Clearing of this kind has been steadily declining in Tasmania, and TCT is determined to prevent a reversal of that trend.”

Mr McGlone said the Eucalyptus ovata forest on the property is perhaps the largest concentration of this endangered community on non-protected land in Tasmania. 

This tree species is known habitat for the threatened spotted-tailed quolls, New Holland Mouse and Tasmanian devil, endangered swift parrot and eight state and nationally listed threatened plant species.

EDO managing lawyer Claire Bookless said when the case goes to the Supreme Court they will be arguing the plan to clear the land should not have been certified by the FPA. 

“We are taking action to prevent an alleged error seven years ago which has the potential to result in the destruction of critically endangered forest and 1,804 hectares of habitat,” she said.

“The purpose of our environmental laws and policies should be to protect biodiversity and ensure critically endangered ecosystems like this survive. In this case we will argue the Forest Practices Authority failed to properly apply the law in its decision to allow the clearing of 1,804 hectares of forest.   

“Amid climate and biodiversity crises it is essential we protect habitat such as this and ensure that the laws and correct processes are followed.”

The court case is listed for hearing on May 2-3, 2022.