VAN Diemen's Land Company is looking to build a devil-proof fence around its massive Woolnorth property to protect one of the last pockets of healthy Tasmanian devils in the state.
The company is in the process of converting beef pasture, clearing bush and increasing its dairy herd as part of a $180 million expansion.
Conservationists have raised concerns that endangered devils would be put at further risk as native vegetation was cleared to make more room for dairy pasture. Woolnorth, on the state's North-West Coast, is home about 600 devils.
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has criticised the company for electing to clear almost 2000ha of bush in line with its expansion plans, saying loss of habitat will cause devil and quoll numbers to drop.
But VDL chief executive Michael Guerin said Woolnorth boasted some of the biggest and healthiest devils in Tasmania and he was confident they could continue to co-exist with farming.
"We have been working for more than five years with the Save the Devil Program, including the possible construction of a devil-proof fence to prevent the spread of the facial tumour disease to Woolnorth," Mr Guerin said.
The devil tumour disease has now afflicted about 85 per cent of Tasmania's wild devil population.
VDL said 4297ha, or 70 per cent, of the property's native vegetation would be formally and informally protected under its new environmental plan.
When the expansion is complete, Woolnorth will boast 23 dairy farms. Each will stock about 1100 cows.
"Tasmania can be a leader in the development of the dairy industry in Australia in terms of volume produced, animal welfare and innovation," Mr Guerin said.VDL today released its draft application to seek permission from both the state and federal governments to expand the Woolnorth farm and make it a 100 per cent dairy operation.
The approval is expected to take about six months.
Mr Guerin said the company was still in talks with domestic and international equity partners to fund the expansion.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Devil-proof fence plan floated
Dengan url
http://kembangtrotoar.blogspot.com/2012/11/devil-proof-fence-plan-floated.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Devil-proof fence plan floated
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Devil-proof fence plan floated
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar