Gordon River road begun

Press, 21 January 1983, Page 4

Gordon River road begun

NZPA Strahan. Tas. The Hydro-Electric Commission lias pushed the first rough construction track inland from one of the main Gordon River protest sites, it was confirmed vesterdav.

Protests were still being mounted against the two bulldozers now working • on the road to run through rain forest from Warner's Landing. where heavy equipment is taken ashore.’about 15km to the dam site.

An H.E.C. spokesman said the work on the road began this week and agreed with a Tasmanian Wilderness Society estimate that the rough track had progressed about half a kilometre into

the forest. He said the second bulldozer landed yesterday without interference from the blockaders.

Six people were to appear last evening in the Queenstown Magistrate’s Court after being arrested on the banks of the Gordon River, the police said. An organiser for the Tasmanian Wilderness Society. Ms Cathie Plowman, said about 100 people were now camping up river, about 200 were at Strahan, and more were expected to arrive in the next few days. The society planned a lowkey day for the arrival of the leader of the Federal Opposi-

tion. Mr Hayden, today, she said. Mr Hayden was expected to arrive from Hobart by helicopter and fly over some of the scenic areas of the south-west including Frenchmans Cap. Newlands Cascades. and the Gordon Splits. He would also see H.E.C. worksites and land at Sir John Falls before a trip to Strahan bv boat.

The director of the Wilderness Society. Dr Bob Brown, is expected to meet Mr Hayden.

Dr Brown put forward a suggestion yesterday that the money for’ the project be used to convert the Bell Bay oil-fired power station in

northern Tasmania to a coalfired station.

This would cost SAustl million, provide more power and more jobs than the dam. and the rest of the grant could be used in job-creation schemes.

An H.E.C. spokesman said the commission had proposed the conversion in 1979 but the state Government had rejected the idea because of pollution and cost. The Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, said on Wednesday that the Federal Government would consider providing the money for an alternative to its offer if one was put forward by the Tasmanian Government.