Gunnedah Timbers owner Paddy Paul has made an impassioned plea for NSW Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, to visit the mill, amid growing anger and frustration about access to areas for logging.
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It comes following delays with a draft report by the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) – an independent body – which is investigating the management of cypress forests in the Brigalow and Nandewar regions.
It was commissioned by the State Government last year.
The mill is hoping the findings will lead to the government opening state conservation areas like Trinkey State Forest and areas in the Pilliga, to commercial logging so that the mill – which is currently stuck in limbo – can continue operating.
Minister Parker, There is increasing frustration in relation to how slowly this process is moving. I know you have a very sound understanding of the issue and with that in mind, I am asking that you personally intervene to achieve a resolution so that the community and the workers have certainty about their future.
- Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson
The Natural Resources Commissioner, John Keniry, visited Gunnedah Timbers last October to help gather information, announcing a draft report would be prepared for the Premier in December last year.
That report, however is yet to be finalised, because the NRC needs more information.
“We are still undertaking consultation,” NRC Director Bryce Wilde said.
“We still need further data analysis to be able to quantify areas that may or may not require active management.
“Once we get that data, we will then be in a position to finalise a draft report.”
The Gunnedah timber mill may only have three months worth of sustainable logging left, and when that goes, it could potentially close by the end of May or early June.
“They’re always fobbing us off and waiting for more information, and in the meantime, we are facing the possibility of closing at Gunnedah,” Mr Paul said.
It’s understood the NRC is working with other agencies to obtain more data, including the Office of Environment and Heritage and State Forests – which are in the portfolios of Minister Parker and Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson.
Mr Paul spoke with Minister Hodgkinson while she visited Gunnedah on a drought tour last month, and said she is aware of the issues and understood the mill’s ongoing fight.
He, however, would like Minister Parker to visit the mill to see first hand the problems it is facing.
Minister Parker had previously stated that national parks would not be opened for logging.
“Everything we’ve come out and said in the past, she’s said no, no, no to.”
“I want to show her what’s at stake, and tell her it’s a no brainer. The
forest must be cut for the continued life of the forest – the soil, flora and animals.
“There’s timber there in the conservation area, and it’s locked up.
“At least have the decency to come up and see the mill and forest where you’re not getting second and third hand information.”
The lack of answers relating to logging has also stopped the mill from upgrading plant and machinery, with its workers also in the same boat.
“It’s not fair on them either,” Mr Paul said.
“They’ve got their families and jobs at stake.”
State Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson admits he is frustrated with all the delays.
He said the NRC has already provided preliminary advice to the government, but the information “could not address the full scope of the terms of reference due to data gaps”.
Mr Anderson said a draft report would not be made publicly available until May – adding more frustration for the mill.
“Every time we get three steps forward, we take two steps back.
“It’s either another study, or more information is required,” Mr Anderson said.
“Either way, we need some certainty and that’s all we’ve been asking for.
“We’ve been fair and reasonable, and we’ve been getting the run around.”
Kevin Anderson said the government’s terms of reference for the Natural Resources Commission were clear.
“Let’s get on with it.
“We need to provide some certainty for these hard working families who have ben mucked around for months and months.
“We know the timber is there, let us have access to it.”
Mr Anderson has written to Environment Minister Robyn Parker asking her to remain aware of the issue and to personally intervene.
“Minister, there is increasing frustration in relation to how slowly this process is moving,” he wrote on February 14.
“I know you have a very sound understanding of the issue and with that in mind, I am asking that you personally intervene to achieve a resolution so that the community and the workers have certainty about their future.”
Gunnedah Timbers is currently logging in the Breeza State Forest and will then have to go back to an area in the Pilliga where Mr Paul said there are smaller logs that have no value to them because the market doesn’t want them.
Mr Wilde said once the NRC completes its analysis, it will submit the draft report and then consult the wider community on the draft report before finalising it.
“There has been some delays but we are working as hard as we can to finalise this as soon as possible,” he said.
A spokesperson for Minister Parker’s office said she is awaiting the NRC’s draft report, just like the other departments and the Premier are.
She would consider a visit to the mill after receiving the report.
Mr Paul has emailed Robyn Parker’s department to personally invite her to come and visit the timber mill, but said he has not received a formal reply.
