Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington has slammed the Queensland Premier over his government?s decision to close some tracks across the state to horses and their riders.

Mr Wellington made the remarks during a historic re-enactment he attended near Maleny last Sunday.    At the event a group of 30 riders led by Postman Wally Breton travelled along part of the historic Postman?s Track to the forest?s edge at Bellthorpe, in order to hand deliver a historic letter to the MP at its Booroobin summit.
?I have received letters, emails and phone calls from people right throughout Queensland objecting to the trails being closed,? he said.    ?I call on the Premier to listen to the majority of Queenslanders and abandon his draconian legislation.     Horses helped to pioneer this great state of ours and if he closes the historic trails he alone will be responsible for their demise.?
Mr Wellington, who read out the letter to a group of around 100 people, said the delivery was a re-enactment of the time when mail was carried by pack horses from D?Aguilar to Conondale over 100 years ago.     It was staged to highlight the importance of the forest trails to the heritage of the region.

CAPTION:                       Peter Wellington receives a historic letter from postman Wally Breton.

?This area could not have been settled without horses,? said Mr Wellington.     ?These historic trails should be preserved, they are an important part of our history.?
But sadly the enactment could be the last legal horse ride on the track, following a state government ruling.
The MP went on to say he felt that closing the trails was ?on a par with the bulldozing of Brisbane?s historic Bellevue Hotel? by the Bjelke-Petersen Government.
?Once gone they will be lost forever,? said Mr Wellington.      ?The Premier talks about horses bringing weeds into the forests. What garbage.     Kangaroos, wallabies, birds, possums, and virtually all wildlife bring in weeds.     Passive horse riders complement the beauty and tranquillity of the forest.     Horse riding is one of our great historic recreational activities - it is clean, quiet and great exercise.?
Meanwhile, Mr Beattie?s office was unable to respond to the MP?s statements at time of press because the Premier is currently overseas.