Blue Derby Wild protesters had sought an end to logging in Krushka’s forest and other Blue Tier areas. A Supreme Court has ruled a contentious logging operation near a popular mountain biking town in Tasmania’s north-east can resume after a legal challenge from environmentalists was dismissed. Native forest logging can recommence in two coupes in Tasmania’s north-east after a legal challenge was dismissed
In the Supreme Court in Launceston, Justice Robert Pearce dismissed environmental group Blue Derby Wild’s case against the Forest Practices Authority and government-owned forestry body Sustainable Timbers Tasmania (STT).
Blue Derby Wild describes itself as a group of "local residents, mountain bike riders, bushwalkers, nature-based tourism operators, united in calling for the end of native forest logging in north-east Tasmania".
It had argued that it was unlawful that STT employees were also given independent oversight responsibilities of forest management plans and, therefore, had a conflict of interest in approving native forest logging. In Tasmania’s north eastern forests, the mountain-biking hub of Derby is caught between its past and its future, as logging machinery rolls into town. Read more The decision was handed down in less than five minutes, dismissing both the case and an injunction that was in place to prohibit logging in two coupes in the Kushka’s forest near the town of Derby and the popular mountain biking tracks.
That injunction had been granted in April and was followed by a trial in May.
Blue Derby Wild coordinator Louise Morris said the result was disappointing but unsurprising.
"What the court […]
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