The Tarkine National Heritage assessment
National Heritage Assessment
Australian Heritage Council
What would National Heritage listing mean for The Tarkine?
National Heritage listing would provide recognition and protection of any outstanding heritage values in The Tarkine. It is these values, and not the entire place, that are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. A person cannot take an action that has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on the National Heritage values of a listed place without the approval of the Australian Government Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
Some values, such as important geological features, are more robust than others and would only be impacted by major ground disturbance. Others, such as rainforests, and particular Indigenous cultural places, are more sensitive to disturbance. The Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities works with owners and managers of listed places to ensure that National Heritage Listed values are protected. The Australian Government may provide financial or other assistance for the identification, promotion, protection or conservation of National Heritage places. National Heritage listing of The Tarkine will help ensure heritage values are part of decision-making, so heritage protection is balanced with the social and economic aspirations of the Tasmanian community.
What would listing not mean for The Tarkine?
National Heritage listing does not change land ownership.
Management of National Heritage listed places remains with the current land owner or manager.
Any lawful existing uses of land and sea may continue. Existing forestry operations in accordance with the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement, for example, will not be affected by National Heritage listing. Other examples include mining and exploration activities that are currently permitted and activities currently permitted under state management planning, including recreation and cultural activities like fishing, camping or hiking.
What has happened to date?
On 11 December 2009, the Minister entered The Tarkine in the National Heritage List under the emergency listing provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This emergency listing lapsed in December 2010 to allow time for further assessment and consultation.
Following the consultation, the Australian Heritage Council has been asked to provide the Minister with an assessment of whether The Tarkine meets any of the National Heritage criteria.
Where is the assessment of The Tarkine up to?
The Australian Heritage Council has completed a preliminary assessment of The Tarkine and found that The Tarkine might have one or more National Heritage values.
As required by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, these findings are based only on the Australian Heritage Council's assessment of values - the Council is not allowed to take any other considerations into account - and no final decision has yet been taken by the Minister.
What happens next?
The area containing the "might have" values is now the basis for the formal consultation with owners, occupiers and Indigenous people with a right or interest as required by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Australian Heritage Council will take into account all comments received regarding the values in making its final recommendation to the Minister on which areas the Council considers should be added the National Heritage List. The deadline for assessment is December 2013.
The Minister must then decide whether The Tarkine, or areas within it, should be listed. The Minister will take into account the Australian Heritage Council's recommendations and all comments received from the owners, occupiers and Indigenous people (including those related to possible social and economic factors) in making a final decision on whether to include The Tarkine in the National Heritage List.
If you are an owner or occupier of land within the area that the Australian Heritage Council considers might have National Heritage values, or an Indigenous person with rights or interests in the area, and you wish to provide comment on whether The Tarkine should be included in the National Heritage List you may contact Council at ahc@environment.gov.au or at GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601.
Further information?
You can get further information on the National Heritage List by contacting the Department on (02) 6274 2182, or by email at ahc@environment.gov.au.
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- Fact sheet - The Tarkine fact sheet (PDF - 234 KB) | (Word - 796 KB)
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