By Amanda Sully and Mat Hines
HOBART — The environment movement has deplored the rafting company Peregrine Adventures' use of the Mt McCall track in Tasmania's west. Contradicting the world heritage management plan, the federal government has announced that the track will not be closed or the land rehabilitated.
The track is an 18-kilometre scar cut into the south-west of the heritage area. It is a legacy of the Franklin Dam works that would have flooded the area had a mass movement not defeated that plan in the early 1980s.
A world heritage management plan was approved in 1992. It stated, "The most effective means of enhancing wilderness quality is to remove redundant structures and close and rehabilitate vehicle tracks that are highly visible that penetrate into otherwise remote, natural country".
The plan specifically mentioned the closure of the Mt McCall road and its rehabilitation by September 1997.
The track risks the further spread of invasive weeds and feral animals and increases the risk of fire. It is infested with Phytophthora cinnamoni (root rot fungus).
As state environment minister, John Cleary reneged on the government's commitment to close the track and instructed staff to stop rehabilitation work. He claimed that local "residents and other commercial rafting operators have asked that the road remain open".
On March 14, after pressure from commercial interests, federal environment minister Senator Robert Hill announced the track would remain open.
Peregrine Adventures actively lobbied to keep the track open. Peregrine claims to represent other rafting companies, four-wheel drive enthusiasts and beekeepers. It publicly joined forces with the timber industry lobby group, the Forest Protection Society, and current state environment minister Peter Hodgman in the "fight to keep Mt McCall open".
Wilderness rafting on the Franklin River is possible without using the track. In Tasmania, there is an abundance of magnificent rivers suitable for rafting, such as the Arthur and the Huon.
World Expeditions, another trekking company, has refused to use the Mt McCall track for its 12-day expedition along the Franklin because of the environmental and ethical hazards. Wild magazine refuses to advertise rafting trips that use the Mt McCall track.
The Wilderness Society asked Peregrine to provide a 150-word statement which it would publish unedited in Wilderness News. The company's response was: "Peregrine Adventures Tasmania will continue to legally operate 5- and 7-day rafting tours of the Franklin River". The company's Melbourne head office added: "Peregrine supports the protection of World Heritage Areas and the appropriate, existing access to them".
Protest letters can be sent to Michael Roche, marketing director, Peregrine Adventures, 258 Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000 and to Senator Robert Hill, Minister for the Environment, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, 2600.