THE number of businesses declaring their support for a Great Koala National Park (GKNP) has risen to more than 200 in the wake of a recent gathering at the Jetty Beach House.
An open letter from 100 of these businesses has been delivered to Parliament by Kevin Doye and Lindy Davis, who were joined by Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson, and former Executive Director of the Wilderness Society Alec Marr.
Representing businesses from across the NSW Mid-North Coast, the letter was addressed to Premier Chris Minns and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, and calls for the NSW Government to immediately gazette the full 176,000 hectare GKNP to protect the local economy and community.
The businesses point out that promotion of the area is built around a healthy natural environment, with forests, clean rivers and beaches.
“Logging and clearing… by Forestry Corporation across large swathes of our local public forest estate, is directly impacting the entire economy by removing and degrading our most valuable tourism asset,” the letter reads.
“This causes major compounding losses for all in our region.”
The business leaders expressed concern that pollution in the Coffs-Clarence Regional Water Supply catchment could necessitate a $65 million filtration system, funded by the community.
They also highlighted that Forestry Corporation NSW does not pay rates and yet its heavy vehicles and machinery damages roads, with the local community and businesses meeting the cost of repairs.
They say that protecting and repairing forests would provide water security and support the agricultural, horticultural, tourism and fisheries industries, and all nature conservation.
The letter further states, “We recognise the essential values of the publicly owned forests of our region that sustain our economy, sustain our people and ensure a safe future”.
Kim Towner who owns the Happy Frog Café and runs the Harbourside Markets at Coffs said, “It is so valuable for our economy and, as a business owner involved in tourism, it will directly impact positively on tourism in our area.”
Expert fishing guide, Chris Cahill, from Chris Fish Ventures Sandy Beach, said, “Healthy, intact native forests are needed for good healthy fish populations.”
“Logging pollutes the rivers with mud.
“We need the Great Koala National Park to look after our rivers and the fish in them.”
The letter also states, “All publicly owned forest cover and Koala habitats in these areas must be protected from logging to ensure maintenance of their tourism drawcard value, to protect water quality and to prevent any harm to the biggest coastal koala colony in NSW.”
By Andrew VIVIAN
