Queenstown or Mars?
This is Queenstown Tasmania. It is on the way to Tasmania's west coast. It is one of the saddest and happiest places I have been. Let me explain.On the road to QT(Queenstown) you travel through one of Tasmania's World Heritage Area. Beautiful rainforests, Gum forests, Button grass meadows with majestic mountains in the backdrop. Suddenly the greenery vanishes before your eyes. The hillside turns barren. It looks very similar to MARS! Welcome to Queenstown the road sign reads.
QT is a mining town. In the mining hayday the smelters working full tilt killed off the thick rainforest that grew there leaving only grey and orange rock. It is really quite a site to behold. So little vegitation for as far as the eye can see. At the top of the hill is a small monument which reads; Queenstown is unashamedly a mining town. Below that statement the story of the mismanagement of the enviroment is told.
These people love their town. They love their lifestyle. Without a doubt they continue to mine but with new regulations. The mistakes of the past have been recognized. The town has taken step to change. There are signs of vegitation comming back now. There is optimism for the future. That's what made me smile.
posted by WendyAs at 6:28 PM
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