News

The Tasmania National Parks Association promotes the protection of Tasmania's unique national parks through a range of media. Our newsletters, media and press releases are available online.

TNPA's comments on the government's New Bay of Fires National Park proposal
The TNPA are deeply concerned about the lack of justification from the government for creating a National Park in this area, and the proposed boundaries.

The TNPA urges the Government to:
1. re-assess its current proposal on a professional and scientific basis in line with the requirements for creating new National Parks under the Nature Conservation Act 2002;
2. to consider the boundaries put forward by the North East Bioregional Network (May 2009);
3. to have the revised detailed proposal assessed by an independent appropriately qualified body, for example the Tasmanian Planning Commission;
4. to undertake further public consultation which is informed by the above.

See full details of the TNPA's comments on the Bay of Fires National Park proposal (PDF 193 Kb)

Policy for the Tasmanian Reserved Land System
The Tasmanian National Parks Association has released its Policy for the Tasmanian Reserved Land System for the 2010 Tasmanian Election.

With almost 40% of Tasmania reserved primarily for its high conservation value, conservation estate is a critical resource for present day and future Tasmanians in a variety of ways; and these extensive conservation reserves, rare at a global level, are of untold value for our planet.

Active conservation management is therefore essential to maintain the health of Tasmania's conservation estate.

In recent years the ability to actively manage Tasmania's conservation estate has been significantly compromised by decreased resources for management, by political decisions that have failed to acknowledge the importance and sensitivity of the conservation estate, and by poor governance.

The Policy for the Tasmanian Reserved Land System, while acknowledging current State resourcing issues and other pressures, is aimed at redressing the currently disastrous state of reserved land management in Tasmania, and at putting it back on track.

Read the policy (PDF 1.6 MB)

Submission to the World Heritage Mission
The Tasmanian National Parks Association (TNPA) made a formal submission to the World Heritage Mission to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) in March 2008. 

The purpose in making this written submission was to both support the submissions of the other environmental organisations, in particular that of the Tasmanian Wilderness Society, and to make comment on a small number of additional matters that we also believe are of critical importance in the ongoing conservation of the TWWHA and its value of outstanding universal significance.

Download the submission (PDF 2610 Kb)

Three Capes Track Propsal and Feasibility Study
Changes are proposed to the Tasman National Park Management Plan primarily to facilitate the development of the government's proposed Three Capes Walk. This walk cannot be developed under the present (2001) management plan.

The TNPA is opposed to the management plan amendments on a number of grounds. The TNPA's view is that for environmental, economic, social equity and logistic reasons the amendments to facilitate the Three Capes Walk proposal in its current form should not be accepted. We argue that the walk should be scaled back to a Two Capes Walk which will avoid phytophthora high risk areas, eliminate sections dependent on commercial boat operations, provide tent platforms, but no huts at the designated camping areas and will be significantly lower cost to establish.

See the TNPA's Perspective (March 2008) on the Amendments to Tasman National Park and Reserves Management Plan – Draft Management Plan 2008

See a summary of the TNPA's position on the proposal.

Download a a flier on the proposal and details of how to provide comment.

Download images of the proposed track and proposed overnight nodes (courtesy PWS, 2007 Three Capes Track Feasibility Study)

See full details of the TNPA's comment on the proposal to the Tasman National Park Management Plan which will allow for the development of the Three Capes Track.

Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan Review

The TNPA notes with some concern that many of the significant issues it has raised concerning the review of the management plan are yet to be acted upon, which may result in activities related to some of these issues continuing to impact in a detrimental manner on WHA values. Of particular concern is the issue relating to accommodation within the WHA - an issue which the TNPA has raised on a number of occasions in previous submissions.

See details of the submission (PDF 56 Kb)

News Archive
The "latest" news of previous months can be found in our news archive.

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ABN: 38 875 435 295
For all enquiries please contact us at admin@tnpa.asn.au; via mail at GPO Box 2188 Hobart, TASMANIA 7001; or phone 0427 854 684. The Tasmania National Parks Association Inc. seeks to preserve Tasmania's national parks and reserves through management committed to the conservation of their natural and cultural values.