Guy Barnett,Minister for Resources
Cassy O’Connor is wrong yet again.
As I have consistently said, Sustainable Timber Tasmania does not harvest Giant Trees and has no immediate plans to harvest any coupe adjacent to the Styx Rd, or close the road.
Despite the false claims being thrown around today, I am advised the email the Greens are referring to was based on a contingency plan to thin a hard wood plantation.
In no way does this equate to the harvesting of giant native trees and it is simply wrong to claim otherwise.
It speaks volumes that rather than check with STT and get the facts, the Greens are choosing to knowingly spread misinformation to suit their anti-forestry, anti-jobs agenda.
The decision to not proceed with this plantation thinning operation was also made prior to the Greens raising this as an issue.
Should harvesting take place in this area at some point in the future, STT is committed to proactively working with neighbouring land managers to provide alternative access for the Big Tree Reserve, and will work to minimise any impact on local tourism operators.
STT advise that they routinely work with local tourism operators prior to harvesting operations to minimise impacts on regional businesses.
