DEAR News Of The Area,

FORESTRY Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) was convicted of failure to protect known endangered species habitat on 31 July 2024.

This resulted in a fine of $360,000 which we NSW taxpayers will pay along with the EPA’s costs.

FCNSW were then ordered by the court, to place an advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald to inform the public of their criminal negligence, also at our expense.

Why was this deemed necessary?

Everyone needs to be made aware of the misinformation promoted by FCNSW about their ‘high conservation values’. Questions need to be asked.

Why is our environmental heritage being run by a corporation?

Why isn’t the NSW government stepping in and controlling these precious resources?

What is Forestry’s agenda?

Forestry is certainly not focused on sustainability of species, as is obvious from their ongoing court fines.

They are not focused on profit, as we know from independent research by the Aust Foundation that their hardwood division runs at a significant loss annually.

Forestry’s large employment claims are highly disputed.

Blueprint Institute analysis shows about 235 people are directly employed in the FCNSW hardwood division.

While employment of many thousands is predicted to be generated if the proposed Great Koala National Park gets up, over the next ten years (University of Newcastle Economic Viability Study).

Forestry’s real agenda is to meet the unrealistic contracts of Boral and big timber.

These haven’t been changed to account for the Black Summer fires, when we lost close to 50 percent of our native forests here in NSW.

When I asked our local Member about the logging of our Kalang Headwaters, I pointed out this would put our water supply at threat, and that this was a biodiversity hotspot full of rare and endangered species.

It’s all taken into account, he said.

“Where do you get your information?” I asked him.

“From the DPI,” he replied.

The Department of Primary Industries might not be the most independent science source as they see forests as a primary resource first and foremost.

They don’t acknowledge these places as refuges for the many creatures who have nowhere left to exist.

They don’t see the potential for ecotourism.

They don’t see that our clean water and our stable climate is reliant on these intact ecosystems.

The court understands that once the misinformation is out, it is often hard to get people to see the truth of the bigger picture.

We need to get rid of Forestry Corporation and for the NSW Government to set up an enquiry and a task force into timber harvesting and processing for the future.

Putting Forestry in charge of our forests is like putting a fox in charge of the hen house.

Regards,
Louise CRANNY,
Bellingen.