Timber jobs concerns falling on deaf ears

George Paul says the industry has been struggling in the region ever since 2005, when then Premier Bob Carr converted a huge area of State Forest into National Park, but the family business, which directly employs 55 workers and spends more than $200,000 a month in the region has “less than 12 months to run” unless the State Government delivers on its promise to open up more forest to the industry.

“The decision by the Carr Government to transfer 348,000 hectares - including the best cypress forests in NSW - to National Parks and community conservation areas has closed down eight sawmills and forced hundreds of workers out of the industry,” Mr Paul said.

“Our business has been struggling along ever since. We are working hard to keep things afloat, but slowly becoming increasingly unviable.

 “We will keep going as long as we can, but I give us 12 months at the most, unless the government honours its election promise.”

In the lead-up to the State election last year, Deputy Leader of the Nationals, Adrian Piccoli, Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries and The Nationals candidate for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, met with workers at Gunnedah Timbers on the campaign trail.

“Before the last election, the Coalition promised they would protect the timber industry by turning some National Park back into State Forest, which can be managed for timber,” Mr Paul said.

“Ever since the election, we’ve been trying to get a meeting with the Environment Minister Robyn Parker to discuss it and we have constantly been rejected.”

Finally yesterday, as part of the Community Cabinet meeting in Tamworth, the Pauls managed a short appointment with the Minister, but only to sit in as part of the Gunnedah Shire Council meeting scheduled for the morning.

“After our own request for a meeting had been again declined, Owen Hasler, as Mayor, was kind enough to invite us to sit-in on the council appointment and speak to the Minister,” Mr Paul said.

“But I’m sorry to say, we came away with the distinct impression she didn’t want to know us.”

The issue for the forestry industry is that while the areas put away as National Park have no better biodiversity value than what was left for timber management, the timber industry was left with areas that didn’t have the right timber.

It has been claimed this was a deliberate measure to close down the industry, and Mr Paul argues he runs a sustainable business.

“Our industry is sustainable. We are managed by Forests NSW - we only harvest the trees they mark that we’re allowed,” he said.

“We leave anything that is too small to grow into the resource in ten-years time and allow the forest to regenerate.

“What we want is the mature trees that are bigger, better timber. If they’re not milled, they are just going to fall down or be burnt in a couple of years.”

Mr Paul has already hosted a group of Members of the Legislative Council on-site, as well as met twice with the Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, but has been told time and again, the issue and the future of the 55 workers the business directly employs, is in the hands of Ms Parker.

“Yesterday, when we finally got to see Minister Parker, she told us it was a decision by the Minister for Primary Industries. It was a complete run-around.”

The Paul’s long-time family friend, George Avard then tried to put the Minister on the spot during the public forum, but was equally dissatisfied. Mr Avard, who organised a rally for the timber industry in 2005, asked “if the NSW Government would be opening up more viable timber to the industry as had been promised.”

Ms Parker told Mr Avard and the forum, the review of public lands was still underway and she was awaiting the advice of her department.

“That’s not what she told the Pauls,” Mr Avard said.

“This is a digrace. The jobs of 55 workers are on the line and no-one can get a straight answer.”