Letter to the Editor: A turning point to a more hopeful future

DEAR News Of The Area,

AFTER years of lobbying, peaceful protest, and dedicated vigilance by thousands of ordinary citizens, the long-anticipated announcement for the declaration of the Great Koala National Park has arrived at last.

Since the Minns Government took office, there has been wide-spread degradation of valuable habitat and ecological services, as well as increasing bushfire risk caused by recent intensive, industrial logging after catastrophic bush fires, within what is to become the GKNP.

It will take decades of work and care to restore many of these places, which will require ongoing maintenance and on ground management.

This could provide new opportunities for the potentially burgeoning “Green Collar Sector”, which could have its strong hold in our richly diverse bioregion, as the social licence of the old, outdated extractive industries, becomes less viable.

The appropriate investment in the restoration of these places could help offset any potential loss of employment experienced within the changing forestry industry in New South Wales, and provide new opportunities in hospitality, eco-tourism and all the other associated industries across our region.

I have friends and neighbours working in the forest industry, whose livelihoods could be impacted by the creation of GKNP.

I believe it is important that these people and businesses within our community be properly supported with the provision of re-training packages and career opportunities, as well as fair compensation to affected business owners, so they can afford to transition away from this state-subsidised industry.

As well as costing tax payers tens of millions of dollars per year, Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) has been responsible for overseeing serious, multiple breaches in guidelines and legislation, resulting in millions of dollars in fines.

Has any of this money paid to EPA (another government department) been used to repair the damage done?

If not, why not?

Strangely, it seems that no individuals have yet been held to account for these breaches either.

Again, if not, why not?

This has been allowed to happen, while, at the same time, peaceful protesters trying to protect forests have been arrested and fined.

As a bush regeneration contractor working in natural areas on public land, I’m expected to know all the restrictions and legislations regarding my operations and required to carry $20 million insurance to cover any potential damages my businesses activities may cause.

If I was responsible for repeated damage, accidental or otherwise, I would not just be held to account, but my business would not be viable.

It would appear regarding FCNSW and its logging contractors this has not been the case.

I am not aware of any individuals losing their jobs or contracts, even after repeated proven breaches in logging activities.

Despite all this, I still believe there is a place for well-managed working forests.

I love timber and have seen firsthand, when actively cared for (proper forestry/silviculture) and carefully harvested, our forests can create a sustainable resource and the opportunity for high-quality, value added products, and need not destroy significant habitat nor degrade ecological services.

But can we trust FCNSW to look after this important public asset into the future, after such poor environmental and financial outcomes?

The state government now has the opportunity to change the structure, focus and priorities of what has been FCNSW so as to enhance the quality and all the values of these increasingly important public assets, that are the unique native forests of NSW.

Future generations will thank us if we can, as humanity faces the challenges of an extinction crisis, and changing climate.

Together in restoration,
Lindy DAVIS,
Moleton via Lowanna.