83-687: Southwest National Park is an Australian national park located in the south-west of Tasmania , bounded by the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park to the north and the Hartz Mountains National Park to the east. It is a part of a chain of national parks and state reserves that make up the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area . Covering an area of 6,183 km (2,387 sq mi), it
166-730: A candle-lit dinner serenaded by string quartet, ABC's classical music radio station featured a "Concert for the Franklin", and electronics entrepreneur Dick Smith committed to civil disobedience. Many people who had not previously considered conservation issues decided that wilderness was a vote-worthy issue, as evidenced by the following ballot paper write-in campaigns. In the federal Lowe by-election in Sydney, March 1982, volunteers at every polling booth encouraged voters to write "No Dams" on their ballot paper, and 9% did so. At that first 'Write-in' campaign, few people knew that they could write
249-608: A message on their federal ballot paper without invalidating their vote. In the ACT House of Assembly mid-1982 election, up to 40% of voters wrote "No Dams" on their ballot paper. In the federal Flinders by-election in Victoria in December 1982, 40% of voters wrote "No Dams" on their ballot papers. In November 1982, the conflict stepped up a notch when Brown announced that a blockade of the dam site would begin on 14 December. On
332-703: A preliminary report in May 1976, and a final report in August 1978. Following national and international concern over the fate of South West Tasmania, Commonwealth Government funded the survey with the States Grants (Nature Conservation Act) Act of 1974. Further funding was provided from the Environment (Financial Assistance) Act of 1977. The South West Tasmania Resources Survey produced 25 Discussion Papers, 22 Working Papers and 20 Occasional papers - including
415-404: A public interest campaign concerning the river. The photographs of Dombrovskis and his colleague, Olegas Truchanas , attracted significant attention. The campaign generated 30,000 letters of support in a fortnight. A film, The Last Wild River , was shown on Tasmania's two commercial television stations. In June 1980, an estimated 10,000 people marched through the streets of Hobart, demanding that
498-438: A significant number of vascular and non-vascular plant species and communities inhabiting the park, the main concerns to the vegetation within the park, based on carbon content in soils, written records and both current and past pollen spectra records, appears to be fire, which the area has been shown to have a significant record of, and more recently, the threat caused by the root rot fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi , particularly to
581-779: A significant threat to these flora species and or communities of the park. In an area that is rich in terms of ecological flora communities, the Southwest National Park is also a wilderness area that is uniquely rich in biodiversity in terms of the variety of fauna species that either have all of their Tasmanian population or a majority of their population inhabiting the park. Within this national park alone there are, as noted by Driessen and Mallick 2003, three species of terrestrial mammals, 10 terrestrial bird species, seven reptile species, three frog species, four freshwater fish and or marine fish that are endemic to this 600-thousand-hectare national park. However, more pertinently
664-715: A threat in terms of introduced species or pests such as feral cats, brown trout and starlings into the park which threaten particularly the herbivore mammals, birds, fish and reptiles that are endemic to the park. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services have attempted to address this threat through the Tasmania World Heritage Wilderness Plan, the Strategic Regional Plan for the root rot fungus and Port-Davey and Melaleuca Area Plan. The management strategies that have been enforced include inter alia , development and enforcement of
747-413: A vote of 4 to 3 in the federal government's favour. Judges Mason, Murphy, Brennan and Deane were in the majority and justices Wilson and Dawson with Chief Justice Gibbs were in the minority. This ruling gave the federal government the power to legislate on any issue if necessary to enforce an international treaty and has been the subject of controversy ever since. Justice Lionel Murphy wrote most broadly of
830-441: A weed management plan, undertake regular checks of boats and aircraft entering the park, cleaning stations located at several spots along the walking tracks of Port Davey and South Coast and regular inspections and reviews of the houses and walker's huts within the park. It is with these strategies that will hopefully ensure that the unique biodiversity of this World Heritage National Park is maintained. There are two ways to access
913-971: A week as there was nowhere else to hold him. In February, a Hobart rally against the dam drew approximately 20,000 people. On 1 March, the movement launched a day of action, which they labelled 'G-Day'. 231 people were arrested as a flotilla of boats took to the Gordon River. In Hobart, the Wilderness Society flag was flown above the HEC building. On 2 March the Wilderness Society backed the publication of what were then rare full-page colour advertisements in The Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne's The Age newspapers of what would soon become an iconic photograph: Morning Mist, Rock Island Bend, Franklin River by Peter Dombrovskis . It
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#1732764695181996-550: Is climate change . Changing temperature and rainfall patterns has caused drought, an increase in dry lightning induced fires, decreased vegetation growth and subsequent food supply for endangered species such as the Orange-bellied Parrot. Consequently, as a result of a decrease in food supply, particularly amongst the Buttongrass moorlands, the volunteers under the state program provide supplementary feeds for
1079-442: Is Tasmania's largest national park. The park is well known for its pristine wilderness, remoteness and unpredictable severe weather. The area is largely unaffected by humans. Although evidence shows Aboriginal Tasmanians have visited the area for at least 25,000 years, and European settlers have made occasional forays into the park area since the 19th century, there has been very little permanent habitation and only minimal impact on
1162-453: Is potentially a relatively large number of undescribed or undiscovered fish species that are endemic to the park. With such potential for discovery of new species, that alone would indicate that it remains a significant area for increased biodiversity amongst the marine life and warrants conservation. However, of those fish species discovered such as the cusk-eel ( Microbrotula sp.) and maugean skate ( Zearaja maugeana ) which are endemic to
1245-502: Is the freshwater community, particularly the fish. As noted by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife, the aquatic system in the park has had no introduced fish species recorded, which gives it high conservation value as there are few systems in Australia where this has occurred. Although fish are relatively well studied within the park, that is, 37 percent of species have been discovered once, the numbers and research undertaken suggests that there
1328-633: The Australian Labor Party won the federal election with a large swing. The new prime minister , Bob Hawke , had vowed to stop the dam from being built, and the anti-dam vote increased Hawke's majority - some federal Victorian seats were notable for having a strong interest in the issue. However, in Tasmania, the vote went against the national trend and the Liberals held all five seats. Hawke's government first passed regulations under
1411-690: The Bassian Plain flooded 8,000 years ago. Tools, bones and fireplaces found in caves in what is now the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park date aboriginal occupation in south-west Tasmania back to at least 34,000 BP. The South West nation was one of nine across the state, and contained four known clans the Mimegin, Lowreenne , Ninene and Needwonne. They were nomadic hunter gatherers, with staple foods including shellfish, crayfish, seals, penguins along
1494-449: The King's lomatia ( Lomatia tasmanica ) which has been listed as endangered while others such as the blown grass ( Agrostis aequata ), Spring peppercress ( Lepidium flexicaule ) and dune buttercup ( Ranunculus acaulis ) are rare. The park is also home to several vascular species of plant that are endemic and/or endangered, yet even with the research undertaken, very little is known about
1577-685: The Lake Pedder earthworm and Pedder galaxias . Lake Pedder was famous among bushwalkers for its majesty and unique pink quartz sand. Dr Peter Hay reflected, "Had it still existed, it would have the same sort of status in Australian mythology as other landscape icons like Uluru and Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef." In 1968 the Tasmanian Government expanded the area to 1,916 km (740 sq mi), renaming it
1660-574: The South West Cape , and Federation Peak . Many of these latter routes are not recommended for inexperienced walkers, or for people traveling alone. Sea access to the region is best gained via Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour . South West Tasmania South West Tasmania is a region in Tasmania that has evoked curiosity and wonder during the period of European presence on the island. Initially relatively unexplored by Europeans, in
1743-406: The 1980s to protect the species. Alongside the now extinct Thylacine in Tasmania, this case is indicative of ensuring that conservation measures are taken to protect species that are endemic to a particular area and have high conservation value, such as the Southwest National Park. Alongside a number of bird and mammal species, there are several reptile and frog species that are uniquely endemic to
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#17327646951811826-487: The Bureau of Meteorology Port Davey station records from 1946 to 2000), often very strong to cyclonic westerly or south-westerly winds, low temperatures, frosts and high incidence of cloud cover. Although the climatic conditions of South-West National Park have been considered as rather inhospitable, or too unpredictable or capricious for humans to inhabit, as indicated by only the relatively small township on Strathgordon near
1909-655: The Buttongrass moorlands. To assist in protecting the national park from such threats, the Parks and Wildlife Service of Tasmania, in conjunction with the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, developed the Melaleuca – Port Davey Area Plan and Strategic Regional Plan for Phytophthora cinnamomi to ensure that inter alia regular monitoring and regular hygiene checks of visitors occurred. The hygiene checks were designed to prevent root rot from becoming
1992-605: The Derwent River, to the east. Conflict between the aboriginals and Europeans soon followed, cumulating in the Black War and the near-destruction of Aboriginal Tasmanians. The South West of Tasmania was first seen by Europeans in 1642 by Abel Tasman , but it was not known to be an island until Matthew Flinders and George Bass circumnavigated it 156 years later. The far south west was first surveyed from land by James Sprent in 1854 when he reached Port Davey, becoming
2075-698: The Franklin Dam decision's broader environmental and social implications in terms of the UNESCO Convention's common heritage of humanity principle, stating that "The preservation of the world's heritage must not be looked at in isolation but as part of the co-operation between nations which is calculated to achieve intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind and so reinforce the bonds between people which promote peace and displace those of narrow nationalism and alienation which promote war...[t]he encouragement of people to think internationally, to regard
2158-547: The Gordon river nearby. During the campaign against the dam, both areas were listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Area register. The campaign that followed led to the consolidation of the small green movement that had been born out of a campaign against the building of three dams on Lake Pedder in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Over the five years between the announcement of the dam proposal in 1978 and
2241-523: The Melaleuca – Port Davey Area Plan (Tasmania Parks and Wildlife 2003, p 2). This was followed by a World Heritage listing in 1982 which was then expanded to its current size. The climate of the Southwest National Park is renowned for its adverse, often inhospitable conditions across all seasons of the year. As noted by the Melaleuca- Port Davey Area Plan the climate is characterised by high annual rainfall of over 2000mm (as per
2324-476: The South Coast Track. In addition to the environmental threats posed by climate change and root rot fungus, there are several other impacts, posed mainly by humans, that threatened the park. Of most concern from humans are the impacts posed from fishing, tourism and introduced pests such as feral cats and starlings into in the park. Due to the uniqueness of the freshwater and estuarine systems within
2407-510: The Southwest National Park. However, it was actually as scenic reserve, with protections removed so that the area could form a catchment of the Tasmanian Hydro Electric Commissions (HEC) Upper Gordon River hydro-electric generation scheme. The aim was to increase Tasmania's capacity to generate hydro-electricity, and attract secondary industry with the incentive of cheap renewable energy. The original Lake Pedder
2490-772: The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, which covered both the Franklin and Gordon Rivers. However, Tasmania itself was still divided, with a pro-dam rally in Hobart also attracting around 2,500 people. While the blockade was ongoing, Norm Sanders resigned from the Tasmanian House of Assembly to contest a seat in the Australian Senate . He was replaced in the Assembly by Bob Brown , who had only been released from jail
2573-558: The World Heritage Wilderness Plan 1999 the banning of camp fires and declaring the parks Fuel Stove Only Areas, to minimise the impact caused through walkers using the tracks and other eco-tourist ventures that utilise the park, particularly during the warmer months of October through to March. Alongside the threat posed by humans through fishing, walking and other eco-tourist ventures, particularly in terms of threats from fire and litter, these ventures also posed
Southwest National Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
2656-429: The axing of the plans in 1983, there was vigorous debate between the pro- and anti-dam lobbies, with large protests from both sides. In December 1982, the dam site was occupied by protesters, leading to widespread arrests and greater publicity. The dispute became a federal issue the following March, when a campaign in the national print media, assisted by the pictures of photographer Peter Dombrovskis , helped bring down
2739-447: The blockade. Protesters impeded machinery and occupied sites associated with the construction work. Nearly 500 people were imprisoned for breaking the terms of their bail. This caused an overflow of prisons in the region. British botanist David Bellamy was jailed, which gave the dispute international attention. The author John Marsden , after being arrested at the blockade, was placed in the maximum security division of Risdon Prison for
2822-833: The breakup of the region into river catchments: Ten years after the South West Resources survey the Australia Heritage Commission published an inventory for the South West. Franklin River Dam The Gordon-below-Franklin Dam (or simply Franklin Dam ) project was a proposed dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania , Australia , that was never constructed. The movement that eventually led to
2905-576: The breeding success, in particular, the egg fertility and genetic diversity, as noted in the National Recovery Plan, is lower in the captive population than the wild population. As such it has been seen as critically imperative to ensure that the remaining numbers in the wild and quality habitat is retained, particularly in regards to the breeding program. Fortunately, through regular monitoring, supplementary feeding, artificial nest boxes and protection of their nesting and foraging habitat in
2988-421: The coast of South-East Australia over winter following a route along the west coast of Tasmania and King Island . This breeding ground remains significant as there are currently only 50 Orange-bellied Parrots remaining in the wild with another 320 in captivity. Additionally, although the numbers in captivity appear to suggest the program is working, despite efforts made in undertaking the captive breeding program,
3071-488: The coast, and wallabies, wombats and birds along the buttongrass plains. There is some evidence to suggest that repeated burning of buttongrass moorlands by the South West Nation has caused it to propagate more widely than is natural. This was done to increase areas where wallabies and wombats can forage for hunting purposes. European sealers hunted in Tasmania from 1798, shortly followed by settlements around
3154-478: The country raising support for the anti-dam campaign, attempting to convince Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser to intervene and override the state legislation allowing the dam's construction. British botanist and TV presenter Professor David Bellamy addressed 5,000 people at a Melbourne rally. By the end of 1982, any perception that "greenies" equated with hippies had been greatly challenged, for example in Sydney, Bob Brown and Bellamy addressed 500 people at
3237-519: The culture of their own country as part of world culture, to conceive a physical, spiritual and intellectual world heritage, is important in the endeavour to avoid the destruction of humanity." The High Court ruling ended the dam's construction, and the plans have never been revived. On 5 July 1983, a Huon Pine known as the Lea Tree , over 2000 years old and about 9 feet (3 metres) across was chainsawed and set alight. Three people who are thought to be
3320-510: The dam was not built. The conservative-dominated Legislative Council then blocked the Labor government's 'Gordon-above-Olga' compromise, instead insisting that they proceed with the original proposal. The two parties could not agree on a solution, which led to a deadlock between the two houses of parliament. In 1981, Australian Democrats Senator Don Chipp initiated a Senate inquiry into "the natural values of south-west Tasmania to Australia and
3403-637: The dam. However, the protest movement which had gathered to fight the construction of the Lake Pedder Dam earlier in the 1970s began to reassemble in response to the announcement. The Tasmanian Wilderness Society which had formed from the anti-Lake Pedder Dam and South West Tasmania action groups, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust , and the Australian Conservation Foundation began to mount
Southwest National Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
3486-634: The dam. In April 1983 the Australian Government sent a Mirage jet and later an RF-111 , from the Royal Australian Air Force, to undertake a reconnaissance mission over the dam to gather evidence that the Tasmanian Government was not complying with Federal legislation to stop work. The issue was brought before the High Court with the first day of hearings on 31 May 1983. The government of Tasmania claimed that
3569-486: The dam. The original proposal was for two dams: The idea polarised the Tasmanian community. It gained support from some sections of the community for generating jobs in an area of the state that was struggling economically. It was suggested that the construction of the dam would assist in bringing industry to Tasmania, on top of the jobs that it would create directly. The initial opinion polls showed around 70% support for
3652-416: The endangered Orange-bellied Parrots. The other major environmental threat is the root rot fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi , which has been found at Scotts Peak and Melaleuca. This disease particularly threatens the Buttongrass moorlands that cover a significant part of the park and provide both habitat and feeding grounds for a number of endemic species including birds and amphibians. To assist in preventing
3735-502: The existing National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, and then passed the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983, which prohibited Franklin River dam-related clearing, excavation and building activities that had been authorised by Tasmanian state legislation. However, the Tasmanian government ignored both the federal regulations and legislation and continued to order work on
3818-465: The federal government from intervening by threatening to secede from the Commonwealth if they did so. The federal government initially declined to intervene in the dispute. During 1982, active membership of anti-dam organisations increased a hundredfold in mainland states. The iconic "No Dams" triangle sticker was printed. Rallies and events were held in cities around Australia. Bob Brown toured
3901-533: The federal government had no powers under the Constitution to pass either the regulations or the legislation. They claimed that as the right to legislate for the environment was not named in the Constitution, and was thus a residual power held by the states, that the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983 was unconstitutional. The federal government, however, claimed (successfully) that they had
3984-529: The federal legislation was supported by the constitutional powers of a federal government to pass laws about corporations and about the people of any race (in this case the aboriginal race, whose sacred caves along the Franklin would have been inundated). The resulting court case became known as Commonwealth v Tasmania . On 1 July 1983, in a landmark decision, the High Court on circuit in Brisbane ruled by
4067-535: The first European to notice Federation Peak which he dubbed "the Obelisk". He later published this work as 'Map of Tasmania and Adjacent Islands'. The core of the national park, an area of 239 km (92 sq mi) surrounding Lake Pedder was first created in 1955, and called the Lake Pedder National Park . It was a glacial outwash lake, which hosted numerous endemic species including
4150-476: The government not proceed with construction. This was the largest rally in the history of the state. The Labor state government, under premier Doug Lowe , backed down from the original proposal, and agreed to place the Franklin River in a new Wild Rivers National Park . Instead of the original 'Gordon below Franklin' proposal, Lowe now backed an alternative, the 'Gordon above Olga' scheme. While this
4233-493: The government of Malcolm Fraser at the 1983 election . The new government, under Bob Hawke , had promised to stop the dam from being built. A legal battle between the federal government and Tasmanian Government followed, resulting in a landmark High Court ruling in the federal government's favour. In 1978, the Tasmanian Hydro Electric Commission (HEC) announced intentions to construct
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#17327646951814316-432: The informal vote, but some were later recounted as formal as they also included a valid vote for one of the two dam options. The ongoing crisis resulted in the replacement of Lowe as premier by Harry Holgate , a Labor politician who was markedly more supportive of the dam proposals. In response, both Lowe and Mary Willey , another Labor MP, resigned from the party and sat in the parliament as independents. This resulted in
4399-552: The loss of a Labor majority in the lower house. Norm Sanders , an Australian Democrats MP and anti-dam campaigner, moved a no-confidence motion, and a state election was called for 15 May. In May 1982 the Holgate Labor government was defeated by the strongly pro-dam Liberal Party under Robin Gray . The new Premier immediately ordered the original plan to go ahead and passed the necessary legislation. Gray attempted to dissuade
4482-479: The mid-twentieth century the area was considered for its potential resources for development. Much of the area is now protected within the Southwest National Park and as part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area . The most notable controversy occurring in the region was the flooding of Lake Pedder as part of a hydro-electric development, in 1972. This was followed, further north, by
4565-592: The natural environment. Within the area there is only one road, to the hydroelectricity township of Strathgordon . The southern and western reaches of the park are far removed from any vehicular access. The only access is by foot, boat, or light aircraft. The tiny locality of Melaleuca in the extreme south-west provides an airstrip and some very basic facilities, mainly managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service . South West Tasmania has been inhabited for approximately 40,000 years, and isolated from mainland Australia since
4648-420: The non-vascular or bryophyte species such as mosses, hornworts etcetera. To date up to 128 species have been recorded which again represents 20 percent of the total bryophyte population in Tasmania. Of these six are endemic to the national park, and as noted by Parks and Wildlife Tasmania, eight have also been listed for conservation assessment (that is, whether they are vulnerable, endangered etcetera). With such
4731-589: The north-east and runs generally north-west until it reaches the north-western boundary, where it exits to Queenstown. Route B61 ( Gordon River Road ) enters from Maydena in the east and runs generally west through Strathgordon to the Gordon Dam , where it ends. Route C607 ( Scotts Peak Dam Road ) starts at an intersection with B61 and runs south and west to Scotts Peak Dam , where it ends. Members were Sir George B Cartland , G. J. Foot and A. G. Ogilvie . Submissions were received on its subject area. It made
4814-646: The northern boundary of the park, it paradoxically is a major centre of biodiversity, with a number of species endemic to the park itself. This is not so more evident than with the flora that inhabits the national park. In a rugged landscape dominated by buttongrass moorland, wet Eucalypt forest, coastal and scrub vegetation, the national park is home to 375 species of vascular flora from 84 families which represents up to 20 percent of Tasmania's flora. Of these, as noted by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (2003, p 19), approximately 118 are endemic to Tasmania alone, with six of them listed as rare or endangered. This includes
4897-502: The other west from Cockle Creek along Tasmania's south-coast to Melaleuca . The walks are generally for more experienced walkers, taking approximately ten to fourteen days to complete the full route. Alternatively, a flight to or from Melaleuca may be arranged to split the walk, or for tourist access for day trips. Several more difficult walks also exist, encompassing the Eastern and Western Arthur Ranges , Precipitous Bluff, Mount Anne
4980-514: The park alone. These include three reptiles, the Tasmanian tree skink , ocellated skink and she-oak skink , and amongst the frogs, the Tasmanian tree frog , Tasmanian froglet and recently discovered moss froglet . Even with such unique biodiversity amongst both the flora and fauna, there still exists environmental problems that threatened the conservation of that biodiversity within the park. Of primary concern, like many conservation areas,
5063-749: The park by land: the Gordon River Road to the hydroelectricity township of Strathgordon and the Cockle Creek route via the Huon Highway . The southern and western reaches of the park are far removed from any vehicular access. The only access is by foot, boat, or light aircraft. Two main walking tracks cross the park: the Port Davey Track , south from Lake Pedder and the South Coast Track , east from Cockle Creek,
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#17327646951815146-401: The park is an important habitat to several species, including the orange-bellied parrot ( Neophema Chrysogaste r) and freshwater fish Pedder galaxias ( Galaxias pedderensi s), that are listed as critically endangered and extinct in the wild respectively under both Australian Commonwealth and Tasmanian legislation. Of the threatened, endangered and the eight species that are simply endemic to
5229-410: The park, and wanting to prevent the introduction of pests such as the brown trout, fishing has been banned from the known estuarine and freshwater systems of the park such as Bathurst Harbour, Port Davey and Melaleuca. To coincide with the threat of fire posed by increased lightning strikes from storms through climate change, the park has alongside all other national parks in Tasmania, introduced through
5312-795: The park, such as the fairy tern , wedge-tail eagle , green rosella and dusky robin respectively, the species that adds to the park's cultural and conservation uniqueness is the Neophema Chrysogaster, or more simply the Orange-bellied Parrot. As noted under the Commonwealth's National Recovery Plan 2016 listed as Critically Endangered under Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , Endangered under New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 , South Australia's National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 , Tasmania's Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and Threatened under Victoria's Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 . At an international level
5395-537: The park, there is one species of fish, known as the freshwater fish Pedder galaxias ( Galaxias pedderensis ) that has been listed both at a Tasmanian and Commonwealth level as endangered in 1995 and extinct in the wild in 2009 respectively. Once endemic to Lake Pedder within the national park, the Pedder galaxias is unfortunately no longer found within the park with the population only found at two translocations which were part of conservation management program undertaken in
5478-564: The park, this appears to be occurring despite the existing potential threats posed by fire, climate change and damage to habitat. With the number of mammal species that inhabit the park, the only one that appears threatened is the New Zealand fur seal , which as noted by the Melaleuca-Port Davey Plan, only regularly visits the offshore Maatsuyker Island during the breeding season. Another unique aspect to this park
5561-467: The perpetrators were photographed with the tree in the background. This photograph also shows graffiti containing expletives , which appears to be directed against environmentists on the tree. This was likely done by people who were angry that the project was cancelled. However, dam-building by the Hydro was not finished. The corporation was still able to construct a 'compromise' power development scheme on
5644-460: The previous day after spending nineteen days behind bars for his role in the blockade. Throughout January 1983 around fifty people arrived at the blockade each day. The state government made things difficult for the protesters, passing several laws and enforcing special bail conditions for those arrested. Bulldozers were unloaded at the site from a barge under the protection of police. A total of 1,217 arrests were made, many simply for being present at
5727-412: The project's cancellation became one of the most significant environmental campaigns in Australian history. The dam was proposed for the purpose of generating hydroelectricity . The resulting new electricity generation capacity would have been 180 megawatts (240,000 hp). The proposed construction would have subsequently impacted upon the environmentally sensitive Franklin River , which joins with
5810-491: The proposed damming of the Franklin River in the early 1980s, which did not proceed. Southwest is a locality that covers most of the region. The locality (and therefore the region) is in the local government areas of Derwent Valley (29%), Huon Valley (20%), Central Highlands (7%) and West Coast (44%). Its central point, near the encircled locality of Strathgordon , is about 116 kilometres (72 mi) west of
5893-465: The right to do so, under the 'external affairs' provision of the Constitution as, by passing legislation blocking the dam's construction, they were fulfilling their responsibilities under an international treaty (the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage , Australia having signed and ratified that convention and the Franklin River having been listed on it). The Commonwealth government also argued (successfully) that
5976-513: The same day, the UNESCO committee in Paris was due to list the Tasmanian wild rivers as a World Heritage site. The blockade, at "Warners Landing" ( 42°34′7″S 145°41′24″E / 42.56861°S 145.69000°E / -42.56861; 145.69000 ) drew an estimated 2,500 people, from not only Tasmania, but also from interstate and overseas. This resulted in the subsequent proclamation of
6059-422: The species has also been listed as Critically Endangered under International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List (IUCN). What makes the area unique is that this National Park, or more specifically within 10 kilometres of Melaleuca Lagoon, remains the only known significant breeding ground of this parrot. This occurs primarily between November and March with the birds migrating back to
6142-542: The spread of this disease, the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment are working closely with Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife to ensure that no soil with the disease enters the park. This involves measures such as hygiene checks of people's boots and clothing, and planes and boats that enter the park. This is done at established stations along the Port Davey Track and
6225-583: The state government held a referendum , the Power Referendum 1981 , in an attempt to break the deadlock. The referendum gave voters only two choices, one for each dam proposal. In rounded figures, 47% voted in favour of the original Gordon below Franklin scheme, 8% for the compromise Gordon above Olga scheme, and 45% voted informally. There had been a significant campaign for voters to write "No Dams" on their ballot papers, and in total more than 33% of voters did this; these were initially all counted in
6308-570: The state, Sir James O'Grady , and its intention was a search for geological information. The Southern Ocean forms the western and southern boundaries. The locality encircles Strathgordon, and is adjoined by the localities of Macquarie Heads , Strahan , West Coast , Queenstown , Gormanston , Lake St Clair , Derwent Bridge , Butlers Gorge , Tarraleah , Wayatinah , Florentine , Maydena , Styx, Lonnavale, Geeveston , Raminea , Strathblane , Hastings , Lune River , and Recherche . The A10 route ( Lyell Highway ) enters from Derwent Bridge in
6391-481: The then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser , because ...we were trying to direct the attention of politicians to the area...' . It was renamed Kutikina in mid-1982, as suggested by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre . Kiernan and a group of cavers ( speleologists ) found over 100 caves in the region. Concerns also began to be raised about habitat loss for endangered species. On 12 December 1981,
6474-483: The town of New Norfolk , the administrative centre for the Derwent Valley Council. The 2016 census has a population of 15 for the state suburb of Southwest. Most early walks through the region were for discovery, or in the case of Thomas Bather Moore was to establish tracks for access. In 1927, a walk through the area between Cox Bight and Bathurst Harbour even included the then governor of
6557-578: The world" and "the federal responsibility in assisting Tasmania to preserve its wilderness areas of national and international importance". From early 1981, archaeologists uncovered evidence of human habitation dating from about 15,000 years before present in caves which would be flooded if the dam were to be built. The most significant cave had been rediscovered by geomorphology student Kevin Kieran in January 1977, and he first named it Fraser Cave after
6640-523: Was a biosphere reserve under the United Nations Biosphere Program from 1977 until its withdrawal from the program in 2002. Its designation as a biosphere reserve was due to the important world heritage values and human use values it contained. Some of these values included being a key breeding zone for the critically endangered Orange-bellied parrot , remnants of Aboriginal occupation and other historic heritage sites such as
6723-439: Was above the Gordon's junction with the Franklin, it still would have intruded into wilderness quality areas. This compromise did not appease the environmental groups, who maintained a policy of no dams in southwest Tasmania. In July, both the pro-dam and anti-dam groups (the former of which also included the union movement) initiated an advertising blitz in Tasmania. The HEC claimed that up to 10,000 potential jobs would be lost if
6806-671: Was accompanied by the caption "Could you vote for a party that will destroy this?". Folk rock singer Shane Howard from the band Goanna wrote " Let the Franklin Flow ", and released it in April 1983. It was performed by members of his band and members of folk band Redgum under the pseudonym, Gordon Franklin & the Wilderness Ensemble. It was released as a single with a B-side, "Franklin River – World Heritage", written and recorded by Bob Brown. On 5 March 1983,
6889-638: Was controversially flooded in 1972, with the issue attracting attention of environmentalist groups around the state as they unsuccessfully opposed the dam. They later reformed, and successfully halted the Franklin River Dam , the first success of the greens movement in Australia. In 1976 the national park was extended towards southwest and incorporated most of the Port Davey State Reserve, and continued to expand until it reached its present size in 2000. The Southwest National Park
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