South Sister - letter to FPB

South Sister St. Marys, Tasmania

Graham Wilkinson
Chief Forest Practices Officer
Forest Practices Board
30 Patrick St, Hobart
Hobart 7000
24 January, 2005

Dear Mr Wilkinson,

I write to ask you to revoke the certification of the Forest Practice Plan No. PWJ0010 for Coupe NI 114A, Nicholas Range, St Marys as the plan is deficient in the following:

Lack of assessment of the following natural and cultural values:
- Landslip risk
- Erosion risk
- Threatened species (Euphrasia collina ssp. deflexifolia, wedge-tailed eagle, spotted tailed quoll, swift parrot, blind velvet worm, giant velvet worm, eastern barred bandicoot)
- Line of parapatry between the blind and giant velvet worms
- Cultural heritage
- Water quantity and quality
The Plan has failed to follow the Forest Practice Code and the Bass District Forest Management Plan. Please see details as outlined in the Community Audit of Coupe NI114A which is attached.

In addition, the dates of the Plan are incorrect with the certifying officer dating the plan nearly two years before one of the contractors!

If logging goes ahead on this coupe there may be dire consequences. Landslips are highly likely, local residents will have their water threatened, various threatened species will be destroyed or disturbed and cultural heritage will be affected.

I urge you to reconsider the certification of this unprofessional and poorly put-together plan as soon as possible.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

[Responded 2005/02/25]