The West Coast of Tasmania deals with bushfires, oil spills and the threat of a key industry shutting down

Tassie’s West Coast had bushfires burn through almost 100,000 hectares, a popular lake close due to an oil spill, and a key industry threatened to be shut down. But it also brought out the best in the community. SPECIAL READ

The Tasmanian Fire Service's Remote Area Team continue to control and contain bushfires on the state's West Coast. Picture: Warren Frey

Bushfires, an oil spill on a major lake, and the threat of a key industry to the region disappearing ... Tasmania’s West Coast had a rough summer, to say the least.

One West Coast accommodation provider told the Mercury it had lost around three weeks’ worth of business during those three months.

In February, bushfires burned about 98,500 hectares after dry lightning struck the region following a statewide heatwave.

In January, Lake Rosebery at Tullah was closed to the public after an oil spill contaminated the body of water.

Following a clean-up effort, the lake was partially reopened to the public on February 21.

But what lingered the longest was the threat that salmon farming on Macquarie Harbour near Strahan would be shut down.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek was asked to review a 2012 decision to expand farming operations in the waterway.

That approval, made under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, was based on the understanding that the industry’s expansion would not adversely impact the Maugean skate – an endangered species whose numbers subsequently crashed.

However, last month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he would introduce new legislation to the federal parliament guaranteeing the future of fish farming in Macquarie Harbour.

Corinna Wilderness Village co-owner Ken Boundy. Picture: Supplied.

Ken Boundy is one of the co-owners of Corinna Wilderness Village, which was surrounded by bushfires over summer.

“Matt Coxan, who is the general manager there who’s been there for seven years and his offsider Peter were under pressure all the time,” Mr Boundy said.

“They were ferrying, on the barge, emergency vehicles to and from. There was smoke all around.

“There were some really graphic and frightening scenes, and we didn’t know what was going to happen.”

However, the fire did not reach the Wilderness Village, and there was no damage.

Mr Boundy said they were “very lucky in that respect”.

“But we were unlucky because the access were closed in and out, and we lost three weeks of trading at a peak time.”

While the southern road into Corinna is closed, the northern one is open — and the wilderness village is operating as usual.

West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt visited Parliament House, calling for government help to boost the economy in the region. Picture: Linda Higginson

Despite the difficulties the region has faced, West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt said his community was a resilient one.

“The West Coast is a big, beautiful, remote and wild region, and that’s why we all love living here,” Mr Pitt said.

“But of course, a region like ours does face its own unique challenges from time to time, and we’ve fronted a number of those lately, that’s for sure.

“As a small and relatively remote community, we always come together and help each other no matter what.”

Mr Pitt said there was no better example than the bushfires.

“We had one family offer their safe vacant land to anyone who had to flee their home and might want to put their caravan or RV there,” he said.

“I’ve got to tell you, the Saturday before last I was fist pumping the air for two reasons – the skies had opened, rain was falling, and the fires were finally retreating, and then I also got a long-awaited, hard-fought-for call to tell us that Macquarie Harbour salmon jobs would be saved.”

Oil on the shore of Lake Rosebery. Picture: Supplied

Destination West Coast chair and publican at the Empire Hotel at Queenstown, David Newall, said the community had helped one another during the tough times of the last few months.

“The West Coast pulled together when they had to evacuate Zeehan during the bushfires,” Mr Newall said.

“All West Coast operators pulled together to help Zeehan out, and anyone put out by the bushfires — and banded together to help.”

Mr Newall said it was a scary few days when the bushfires were approaching townships.

“The whole of Queenstown and the West Coast suffered. The smoke and everything affected everyone’s health.

“But apart from that, everyone was just more supportive of the firefighters doing their job.”

Originally published as The West Coast of Tasmania deals with bushfires, oil spills and the threat of a key industry shutting down