Mans Webs across the Wilderness

The marching sentinels across the wilderness

Driving from my little haven Tullah, in the heart of the rainforest wilderness of Western Tasmania, one passes through a very diverse change in landscapes on the way to Launceston. Much of the first half of the journey is in land almost untouched by the modern world. Till only recently this journey was not possible, with a detour via the North West Coast adding almost an our and a half to the journey.

Cradle Mountain and Little Horn over Middlesex Plains

In the 80’s Cradle Mountain was connected to the West Coast by the “Link” road in the name of progress. But for who? Now a thick dark grey tarmac ribbon pushes through the ancient forests of Godwanan Antarctic Myrtle and Celery Topy pine and peat bogs with its ancient Jurrasic roots. With the road comes the high voltage powerlines that gave Tullah a new lease of life from the 70’s from its hydro schemes. This link festoons the land with a criss-cross of human spider webs. This tarmac road and human “cobweb” pierce right through the land forever alienating one half from the other. Through this corridor now pass many man made objects and machines, but even more deadly are the diseases and invaders that piggyback with them.

Introduced feral animals, plants, viruses, bacteria and fungi can now readily enter the heart of this wilderness often completely unnoticed till its to late. Tasmania has been separated from Australia since the last Ice Age 9000 years ago and by many millions of years from the rest of the world. From this arterial entry these invaders can radiate into a pristine and almost untouched environment.

Man Cobwebs across the wilderness

Seeds of foreign plants and aggressive fungi can come in and invade in seemingly harmless loads of gravel and soil. The summer bloom of thistles in purple in places flags the invader. In places close to the edge of the road “Myrtle wilt” can be noticed. This is caused by disturbance to the roots of the Antarctic beech causing a deadly dieback. Even more worrying are fungal spores that can be carried in on car tyres on road tracks penetrating further into the wilderness for exploitation of its untapped timber and mineral resources bringing deadly cinnamon fungus.

Feral cats and now foxes have been confirmed to have been found in Tasmania will this be yet another invader to further push the Tasmanian Devil already under siege into extinction? This delicate spider web of roads and wires is sadly the very fine thin edge of a very thick wedge.

"Die Back" - Dead Eucalyptus paucifloras in the Tasmanian Highlands