A PARLIAMENTARY report recommending a number of national parks be unlocked for commercial logging could secure up to 30 local jobs.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The recommendations were released last month by an upper house committee following an inquiry into public land use, chaired by the Shooters and Fishers Party MP Robert Brown.
The draft report states the NSW Government should “immediately” open some national parks and other reserved areas for logging to sustain the timber industry.
It also recommends, if necessary, a ‘tenure swap’ be considered, where sections of national parks would be opened up for logging and areas of state forests not suitable for logging, would be reserved in place.
It emphasised the urgent need for action in the Pilliga region.
Gunnedah Timber Mill Manager Paddy Paul spoke on behalf of the timber industry at the inquiry into public land usage, held at Coonabarabran in October last year, with upper house delegates, stakeholders and the general public in attendance.
Mr Paul said his current logging situation meets demand for now, but if action isn’t taken on the report urgently, the mill “would be forced to close some time in 2014”.
The Gunnedah Timber Mill currently logs in East Pilliga, Doona, Jacks Creek, Goran and Keringle State Forests, where the size and quality of saw logs are becoming a major issue due to the restrictions placed on logging by Forestry Corporation NSW and National Parks and Wildlife, according to Mr Paul.
He is seeking more information about the parliamentary report, but is frustrated about the lack of answers from the government.
“We have received a letter from Robert Brown’s office stating the government is required to respond to the recommendations within six months,” he said.
“I have personally spoken to Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson and Environment Minister Robyn Parker and they are basically passing the buck.
“They are both adamant that it is the others’ decision.
“No-one can give us a straight forward answer.”
Mr Paul said if the swap was introduced it would secure the mill’s future.
“Some areas of the national parks have better stands of timber,” he said.
“Trinkey State Forest alone, if sustainably logged could keep the mill operational for another five years and beyond.
“It would mean security for our staff and their families, some who have worked here for many years.”
Environment Minister Robyn Parker said in a statement on May 13, “The NSW Government does not support commercial logging in national parks and has no plans to allow it. Once the committee’s report is finalised and tabled in Parliament, the government will respond in the usual fashion”.
The future of the region’s timber industry has been an ongoing concern.
In 2006, 75,000 hectares of the Pilliga forest was burnt and Gunnedah Timbers requested to salvage any millable timber that remained but was refused by National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Mr Paul said the decision of the Carr Government in 2005, to transfer 348,000 hectares of the Brigalow Belt South Bio-region – including some of the best cypress forests in NSW – to national parks and community conservation areas, had cost $30 million, closed down eight sawmills and forced hundreds of workers away from their homes looking for employment.
Following the decision, the Nationals leader at the time, Andrew Stoner, pledged to overturn the controversial decision to lock up national parks if the Coalition won government.
Mr Paul said many more politicians have made similar commitments since, however, there has been no serious action.
“The State Government is failing to meet previous commitments to the timber industry, it’s been over two years and we are no closer to a decision,” Mr Paul said.