ANYONE who has had a business knows that it is like preparing for a crop or a new plant in your garden.
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You need to do your research about the soil, the climate, the positioning of the sun and shade, the maintenance levels, and the amount of space the plant or crop will need.
To start a business requires the same sort of homework and usually a great deal more in the way of finance.
Both a new business and a new plant need careful tending in the first few days, months, even years to ensure that all is going as it should.
This is the process local businesses, like Gunnedah Timbers, have had to go through.
The difference is that the fallout when things go wrong is so much greater.
When a business that has survived decades and weathered storms and droughts closes its doors, it has dramatic impacts on its owners, its employees, its suppliers and customers.
The saddest part of this story is that the business has done its utmost to prevent this outcome. The owners identified the lack of timber as an issue years ago. They stated their case and enlisted the help of the only people who could make any change - politicians.
It first became an issue in 2005 when 350,000 hectares became National Park and Community Conservation Areas. If you talk to the people of this business you will no doubt find they love timber and trees. They are not trying to frighten Dr Seuss’ Lorax out of his stump.
They have waited patiently as the bid to unlock more - renewable - timber resources went through a long and tortuous process.
The agitation became louder as the Pauls pointed out they had only six months worth of timber left. Re-opening anything up to logging is fraught with negative implications for politicians, particularly when the area is already continually under the environmental spotlight over Maules Creek and other mines.
But the recommendations from the Natural Resources Commission’s report have been made - this can be done.
Gunnedah Timbers nearly made it but in the end, it is the lengthy decision-making process that could not be carried any longer.