Activists halt logging in two North Coast forests Coffs Coast Coffs Coast - popup ad Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - July 26, 2024 Activists halted logging operations in Orara East State Forests. Photo: Bellingen Activist Network. DESPITE governments and courts recently cracking down on environmental protests, activists halted logging in two state forests in a week. Eighteen protesters stopped logging in Orara East State Forest for three hours before two police cars arrived on July 20. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au On July 23, protesters entered logging operations at Sheas Nob State Forest and halted the work of two crews and their machines. “Forests are being decimated here on Gumbaynggirr Country,” activist group spokesperson Dean Curtis said. “We are in a climate emergency and this is absolute madness that our life support system continues to be flattened. “The science is on our side. “We need to leave mature forests alone for threatened species and to halt the ecological crisis we are witnessing unfolding under our eyes.” Some activists represented the Bellingen Activist Network, with others travelling from across the Coffs Coast and hinterland. In response to the protests, a spokesperson for Forestry Corporation NSW said, “Forest operations are active worksites that can be extremely dangerous. “For the safety of all involved, members of the public should not enter active worksites. “Forests are closed for this purpose and Police attended the site last week.” Forestry Corporation noted that the logging operation at Orara East State Forest is harvesting timber from a regrowth forest, “which has been harvested for timber and regrown many times previously”. By Andrew VIVIAN
