I first went into the Tarkine looking at the potential for a good documentary story. What I also found was a life experience having been affected by the place, the people and the passions the Tarkine incites.
Since those first visits the first new mine in the Tarkine has broken ground and a federal court case challenging the approval of a second mine has been adjourned to February. The Tarkine is shaping up to become one of he most significant environmental campaigns of the decade.
The wild and unique Tarkine deserves the world's attention.
Julian Knysh





BATTLE FOR THE TARKINE

THE LAST STAND



The Tarkine is a 470 000 ha area in North West Tasmania. It is one of the last unprotected great wilderness areas and is the center of one of the most divided land use debates in Australia.

The primeval gondwanan rainforest is the second largest remaining unbroken tract of cool climate temperate rainforest in the world. The Tarkine is also home to button grass plains and old eucalypt forests being crucial habitat for over 60 endangered species. It is the last refuge of disease free Tasmanian devil populations. With a uniquely varied landscape it also has a globally significant Rock and cave karst system and pristine wild rivers.

The struggle to have this area protected as a National Park has gone on for over 30 years. 433 000 ha have been recommended for World Heritage nomination & listing and as a National Heritage area.
An emergency Heritage listing put in place to prevent the development of a road lapsed at the end of 2010. After the longest assessment period in Australian history, the Australian Heritage Council delivered their final report in February 2013 recommending listing. The Federal Minister for the Environment used his discretionary powers to ignore the recommendations for the natural heritage values of the region to be listed.

Underground, The region is rich in minerals with an abundance of iron ore, tungsten and one of the largest undeveloped tin deposits in the world.

56 minerals exploration ventures have been granted licenses and there are now nine open cut mine proposals proceeding through assessments. After conservationists won a case in the Federal Court which declared the approval of the first mine invalid, the new minister for the environment altered the conditions and re-approved it a few weeks later. This first mine is about to commence operations. A second mine’s approval is also being challenged in the Federal Court.

While the mining industry claims that development and environmental concerns can sit side by side, through the system of referrals and approvals, the first four mines cannot now be formally assessed against the Natural Heritage Values of the region.

As intense lobbying has not been able to shift political will, the environmental movement with Scott Jordan of Save the Tarkine and Dr Bob Brown at the centre of a growing national movement, is now preparing to mobilise Franklin Dam style blockades and one of the most significant environmental campaigns in 30 years.

North West Tasmania is one of the poorest regions with the highest rates of unemployment in Australia and economically the whole state has been languishing in recession for some time.
As people are desperate for jobs and tired of over 35 years of forest wars, there has developed a fierce backlash against the environmental movement and the community is painfully divided.

While following the events as they unfold, the feature length documentary film will explore the raw beauty of all the natural values of the Tarkine; the arguments of development vs conservation and how we define, relate to and value the idea of resources and how we define and value wilderness.. It will show the very human face and different perspectives that people have in this highly politicised and fiercely passionate struggle.






Battle for the Tarkine
Synopsis Oct 2013
Julian Knysh
Eutropia Films Pty Ltd

Image capture from remote sensing wildlife monitoring camera trap. Tasmanian Devil on proposed mine site

Very special thanks to our sponsors, supporters and friends

The challenges of creating a documentary like this are due to the sheer distances and remoteness of the locations. All equipment has to be brought in. The Crew will spend some time camping and trekking to film natural history and in a couple of cases will have to be helicopter dropped into some remote locations and picked up after that particular shooting.
Observational recording will continue over a prolonged period of time to build the story as events progress.
Key characters for interviews are spread between Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra and Perth as well as in the Tarkine & North West Tasmania.
We are also at the mercy of the Tarkine's wild weather. While the drama of this is to be captured on film it has its logistical challenges and associated expenses.
Production is required immediately. We have staggered funding requirements according to the specific short, mid and long term production goals. The sooner we receive higher amounts, the sooner we are able to bring in high end equipment to increase the production values to an International award winning standard.
The production is applying for broadcast and to Screen Australia through the National Documentary Program for funding as a matter of national interest and international importance. this is a long process expected to take a period of months.