Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | November 1, 1971 |
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| Parent agency | Tasmanian Government |
| Website | www.parks.tas.gov.au |
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service is the Tasmanian Government body responsible for the care and administration of Tasmania's National Parks and reserves (including historic sites). Historically it has also had responsibility for managing wildlife, including game.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service was set up on November 1, 1971 after controversy surrounding the proposal to flood Lake Pedder and the unsuccessful attempts to prevent the project going ahead. A Select Committee formed from the interested parties recommended the establishment of a professional park service to properly manage the natural environment in Tasmania. The service initially had a staff of 59. The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 had made provisions for the conservation of fauna and flora and the establishment and management of national parks. Mount William, Maria Island and Narawntapu National Parks were set up and Macquarie Island designated as a nature reserve.
The creation of an Archaeology Section within the service followed the 1975 Aboriginal Relics Act. In the following year Precipitous Bluff was incorporated into the Southwest National Park. Controversy in 1979 over the proposed Lower Gordon hydro-electric power scheme, which would have meant flooding the Franklin River led to the creation of the Franklin-Lower Gordon Wild Rivers National Park in 1981 (construction of the dam was stopped by a court ruling in 1983).
In 1987 the service was merged with the Department of Lands to form the Department of Lands, Parks and Wildlife and relocated to new premises.
In 1989 the Department of Lands, Parks and Wildlife became the Department of Environment and Planning and Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage, managing Crown land as well as the reserves, and with duties to conserve wildlife and historic heritage sites. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority also became part of the Department.
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