In January 2001, Forestry Tasmania began a series of slick, guided bus tours of their proposed Southwood woodchip mill site. A few weeks later, an alternative Southwood tour, hosted by the Native Forest Network took place. There was such a great response that 5 or 6 cars had to take those who couldn’t get on the bus!

UNLIKE Forestry Tasmania’s tour, this alternative journey took in not only the proposed Southwood site, but also clearfelling operations around the Southern forests. Forestry Tasmania know that if their passengers saw the carnage of our old growth forests witnessed by passengers on the alternative tour, then no amount of smooth, spin doctoring would remove the sense of disgust and anger that inevitably takes place when one sees a clearfell site. It’s indefensible!

The tour started at the Tahune Bridge West of Geeveston and proceeded through some clearfelled land on the way to the Blakes 1A coup, which contains massive mature eucalypts and rainforests. This awesome forest is listed for clearfelling at any time.

The looks on the faces when the clearfelling was witnessed told the whole story. People just stood quietly with their mouths open, aghast at the blind, destructive stupidity of Labor and Liberal governments. 10 minutes later we were in the massive forests of Blakes 1A, and while tempered by thoughts of its imminent destruction, the people’s countenances reflected the joy that only a forest can give.

The tour found its way through the grotesque landscape and destruction of ancient forests in the Legerwood road area, on its way to Bermuda road, Southwest of Judbury. Again, people’s faces were rendered blank with dismay at the horrific clearfelling of old growth forests for the woodchipping industry. Tears came to the eyes as we watched a pair of wedgetailed eagles soaring over the decimated valley. That giant sentinel of the Southwest wilderness, Mt Anne, was in the distance and it seemed as if the logging was heading right to its doorstep.

Bermuda

Bermuda

Mt Anne

Our journey ended at the large bridge across the upper Huon River, near the proposed Southwood site. The mighty Huon River is reduced to a trickle because of the continual dry weather that global warming and watershed forest destruction is contributing to.
One wonders how much emptier this river will become if Southwood becomes a reality and 5 million litres a day are robbed from its bounty to power the giant woodchip mill.

It was a sobering tour but one which inspired participants to keep fighting for our Island, its natural heritage and against the old men who see Tasmania as their exclusive industrial forestry zone