Protesters in four-wheel-drive vehicles moved on after attempt to disrupt Tarkine ultra-marathon

Protesters in four-wheel drives have blockaded a 65km ultra-marathon through the Tarkine wilderness in Tasmania’s North-West.

PROTESTERS in four-wheel drives have blockaded a 65km ultra-marathon through the Tarkine wilderness in Tasmania’s North-West.

Runners who were being driven by bus to the start of the 6.30am race today were stopped from access by 12 vehicless and about 20 people, race organisers said.

The inaugural Takayna Ultra, which has attracted runners from across Australia and around the world, is raising money to save the Tarkine from logging, mining and off-road vehicle damage.

Event co-organiser Jenny Weber said it was scary for the runners to arrive to a protest in the pre-dawn hours.

“There would have been trepidation felt by the runners after experiencing that at 5am — but they were not deterred,” she said.

Organisers say today’s ultra-marathon is proceeding despite a pre-dawn blockade stopping two hired school buses from taking competitors from Marrawah Hall to the start near Temma. Picture: BOB BROWN FOUNDATION

The runners had been picked up about 5am in two hired school buses, taking the competitors from Marrawah Hall to the start near Temma.

When access to the start was blocked for the buses, the runners were instead conveyed to the Tarkine protected area in private vehicles.

As well as the blockade, Ms Weber said the finish marquee at West Bluff, south of Marrawah, had been slashed and its ropes cut.

Some course markings had also been removed, which were needed to guide runners through the off-road bush and beach sections.

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Ms Weber said about 50 volunteers had worked hard to rectify the problems so the race could go ahead.

The run has been organised by the Bob Brown Foundation and attracted partnership from Patagonia clothing company.

Patagonia marketing manager Naima Wilson said she had never known anything like it, although she had been involved with run event organising throughout Australia and Europe.

“I’ve had a fair bit of experience with races in the past — working in sports marketing and trail running specifically,” said Ms Wilson, who is based in Victoria.

“But this is the first time I’ve been involved in a run that is in support of conservation, and the first time I’ve seen a race being hindered by protesters.”

Organisers said the blockade was lifted when police arrived, and the school buses left Marrawah for the morning school run on time.

Campaigner Bob Brown said the action was a bad look for Tasmania’s North-West.

‘It is a pretty poor look for the North-West which so badly needs tourism and the jobs which come with it,” Dr Brown said.

“If the blockade was meant to stop the marathon, it failed. Our legal advice is that the buses are businesses and these vigilantes are in breach of the Hodgman Government’s new anti-protest laws. I presume the Premier will be calling for action,” he said.

Montgomery MLC Leonie Hiscutt said it was a bit rich for Dr Brown to be complaining about protesters “given it is usually his activist mates protesting to disrupt legitimate businesses and workers from earning a living”.

“However, we welcome Dr Brown’s new-found support for our protection from protesters laws and look forward to him supporting their passage through the Parliament,” she said in a statement.

A Tasmania Police spokeswoman confirmed there were about 20 protesters at the Marrawah Memorial Hall at 5.30 this morning, with one protester blocking access to the Tarkine in a vehicle.

“The protester moved the vehicle on direction from police and the matter was peacefully resolved,” the police spokeswoman said.

“No charges have been laid at this stage and investigations are continuing into the incident.”