South Nietta: How timber worker discovered human remains

Operations were suspended in a northwest Tasmania logging coupe after a worker discovered a human skull, leading to a police investigation.

A crime scene was declared in northwest Tasmania earlier this week after a forestry worker discovered a human skull, the Mercury has learnt.

The Mercury has seen an internal email, understood to have been distributed to organisations with logging interests in the area, which describes the skull’s discovery at a logging coupe near South Nietta, southwest of Devonport, on Monday afternoon.

“(Redacted) was windrowing harvest residues when he identified what appeared to be a human skull,” the email said.

“Initially thought it was a ‘white ball’, however, upon further inspection realised it was a ‘potential’ human skull.

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“(Redacted) contacted myself. Advised to immediately cease work and for him to contact Tas Police and await their instructions.

“Tas Police contacted and arrived on-site by (approximately) 6pm. Confirmed it was human remains.

“Requested that all operations (site prep and harvesting) on site be suspended (site now a crime scene) until further notice until they complete their investigations.”

It is not known to whom the coupe belonged. Sustainable Timber Tasmania were contacted, on account of its having several active coupes in the South Nietta area, but it confirmed the remains were not discovered on its land.

Tasmania Police issued a brief statement on the grisly find.

“Human remains were located near South Nietta earlier this week,” a spokeswoman said.

“There are no suspicious circumstances.

“It’s not appropriate for police to provide further comment.”

It is not known whether further remains were subsequently discovered by police.

It’s understood they belonged to a missing person “from a while ago”, and Tasmania Police is aware of who that person is, but the Mercury was unable to ascertain any information such as gender, age or former suburb of residence of the deceased.