This will be an information night presented by the Wilderness Society about the ‘Spero Wilderness’ area. Staff and special guests will be discussing the uniqueness of this region, how it is under threat, and what we can do to protect it.
At the event there will be slides and stories from a team of photographers, geographers, campaigners, and outdoor-enthusiasts that recently travelled deep into ‘the Spero’ area. This will be an opportunity to share a glimpse of their time spent on free-flowing Spero river and along the island's most rugged and remote coastline.
The ‘Spero Wilderness’ area is a unique, remote and frequently overlooked 130,000ha area located along the highly remote south-western coastline of lutruwita/Tasmania, south of Macquarie Harbour. Also known as the Southwest Conservation Area, this incredible, wild and rugged region is home to some of the most vast and remote landscapes outside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Despite these incredible natural values, mining exploration drilling and licences cover most of the region. Mining activity is creeping up. We want to stop it before it starts.
Areas adjacent to this spectacular area have been listed as World Heritage for their beaches, headlands, cliffs, islets, coves, lagoons and estuaries. Similarly impressive features characterise the rest of the south-west coast outside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, where geomorphic and biological processes continue relatively undisturbed, in an environment with some of the highest wave-energies on earth. This region of the island is free from modern human intervention and development and is exceptionally remote, with very strong wilderness/remoteness values. The ‘Spero’ is of unquestionably high conservation value, consistent with those of the neighbouring Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area - the highest rated World Heritage area on earth.
Speakers from the trip include (avid bushwalkers):
- Geoff Law, World Heritage Consultant.
- Grant Dixon, Earth scientist, Photographer & Wilderness Researcher.
- Tabatha Badger, Campaigner &Photographer.
- Jon Marsden-Smedley, Geographer & Leader of SPRATS Program.
- Jimmy Cordwell, Wilderness Campaigner for Wilderness Society Tasmania.
This event will take place on the sovereign and unceded lands of the Palawa people, the rightful owners of lutruwita / Tasmania.
Parking & Public Access: Street-parking is available although it is minimal. Public transport is available to within 100 metres of the venue, both on Macquarie and Davies Streets. The event will be held downstairs at the venue, which is wheelchair accessible.
