Why did Tasmania’s environmental movement begin campaigning against dam construction in the 1970s?

In the early 1970s, Tasmania’s environmental movement began campaigning against hydroelectric dam construction primarily to prevent the further flooding of natural wilderness areas, most notably the original Lake Pedder in the state's southwest.12

Environmentalists were deeply concerned about the ecological impact of these projects on the region's pristine landscapes. While the initial campaign to save Lake Pedder was unsuccessful, it served as a catalyst for the formation of the United Tasmania Group, which is widely considered the world’s first Green Party.12

This movement gained momentum as activists shifted their focus to the lower Gordon River, protesting the potential destruction of wilderness areas caused by future dam developments. These efforts eventually led to a major conservation controversy, culminating in 1983 when the national government intervened to halt the construction of a dam on the Gordon River at a site below its junction with the Franklin River. This area is now protected within the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, a key component of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage site.1