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Hydroelectric Development and Wilderness Conflict in South-West Tasmania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Andrew K. Dragun
Andrew K. Dragun
Affiliation:
Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University, Post Office Box 4, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia.
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Extract

The hydroelectric developments portended in South-West Tasmania would inundate tracts having major wilderness and archaeological values as well as threaten a much larger area of wilderness. The development of the region is ‘justified’ by the construction authority, in terms of an expected high rate of electricity demand towards the year 2000. However, a range of independent demand analyses suggest that the demand for electricity in Tasmania will not approach the Hydro-Electric Commission's expectations. Thus a lag in demand may be identified which should provide time for a rigorous evaluation of the wilderness value of the region together with an appraisal of the alternative electricity-generation options.

Currently, it appears that a cost advantage exists for the favoured ‘Gordon-below-Franklin’ project. However, the opportunity-cost differential of this project relative to several less-damaging alternatives is slight, at least when the growth in wilderness and electricity demands are considered. The opportunity-cost tradeoff appears quite trivial when current tourist and recreational impacts are accounted for.

Type
Main Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , Autumn 1983 , pp. 197 - 204
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1983

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