Northern Prison

The petition of the undersigned residents of Tasmania draws to the attention of the House:

The Crown Land on Birralee Road near Westbury, Certificate of Title 14862 Folio 1, is an inappropriate site for the Northern Prison due to the presence of rare, vulnerable and endangered species including the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle, Masked Owl, Grey Goshawk and Green and Gold Frog.

The parcel of land, known as the Westbury Reserve, is a haven for migratory birds that breed in Tasmania, and endemics, i.e. species found nowhere else on Earth.

The clearing of at least 16.2 hectares of habitat and ongoing impact of a prison's 24-hour lights and noise, including sirens, on the site's flora and fauna is of considerable concern.

Your Petitioners therefore ask the House to:

1. Preserve this biodiverse bushland patch, that was originally acquired by the government for its conservation values;

2. List the parcel of land known as the Westbury Reserve as a Conservation Area under the Nature Conservation Act; and

3. Abandon plans to destroy its natural values by building a maximum - security prison on the site.