FORMER State Labor candidate and Coffs Harbour Councillor Tony Judge, says local National Party leaders are putting the environmental and economic future of the region at risk by their negativity towards the Great Koala National Park (GKNP).
“The announcement confirming that NSW Labor will proceed with the full implementation of the GKNP was an exciting and very welcome boost for our region,” he said.
“I was proud to stand with Environment Minister Penny Sharpe when that announcement was made.
“Since then, there has been extensive consultation with environmental groups, scientists, industry representatives and Unions representing timber workers.
“The announcement comes with a clear commitment to work with the timber industry on transition, including… job keeper payments.
“It also includes the creation of more than 100 jobs in the National Park itself.
“I know that local Nationals leaders were fully briefed on the extent of the Government’s plans.”
The Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh, disputed Mr Judge’s statements.
“The surprise is not the announcement itself, but that people were told on a Friday afternoon that they would not have a job on Monday morning, and that there will be zero hardwood harvesting instead of limiting [access] to the area, as promised to industry over the years.
“The $20,000 redundancy offers to mill workers are insulting, as are the $9000 offers to retrain as ‘tourism operators’.”
He said that in addition to the six mills directly affected, are the other mills “downstream” that have not heard from the government.
“Grazing leases in State Forests will cease as well.”
Mr Singh said all the ecotourism activities mooted can already happen, while others such as four-wheel driving and dirt biking, won’t be allowed.
“People who have built tourism businesses using the State Forests have been left completely in the dark by this announcement and have yet to hear any further details or reassurance from the government,” he said.
“The government has done a terrible job communicating what this park actually is to our community.
“Businesses, mills, forest workers, and recreational users including the mountain bike clubs are all very concerned about what their futures look like.”
Mr Singh also questioned the potential economic benefits, saying, “even if the $8m annual tourism benefits all came to Coffs Harbour instead of being split across five electorates, it’s still bringing in less than one single Oz Tag or Touch Football tournament over a single weekend.”
Mr Judge said, “Environmentally, it provides a lifeline for koalas and over 100 other threatened species, protects the catchment for our precious drinking water and contributes to climate action.
“Economically, it offers up great opportunities for new and expanded business as it capitalises on our eco-tourism certification and love for our iconic koalas.
“The Coffs Coast has the opportunity to be known across Australia and the world as the place where we made a stand to save wild koalas and preserve our beautiful natural environment for future generations.
“The value to our environment, our community and the local economy is huge.”
Information about the GKNP and worker and business support can be found at nsw.gov.au/environment-land-and-water/great-koala-national-park.
By Andrew VIVIAN
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What about the bush fire risk to Coffs and Woopi by locking up all of the local bush under Sparks and Wild Fires?
Just look at Yuraygir National Park it is a complete fire trap due to years of mismanagement and will burn this summer or next! Coffs and surrounds will also burn to the coast in years to come. Only then will Crs Judge, Cassell and the Greens with no local forest and fire management experience be held to account by the public.
The bullshit thing about this whole plan is that Judge stood for election on the GKNP policy and not much else and did not get elected. Singh opposed the GKNP and got elected!
Clearly the Greens and Labor voters in Sydney dont know the heavy plant machinery of the timber and forestry industry helped the RFS to stop the last major fires in 2019 from burning through Coffs. Those machines wont be around in years to come. Good luck Coffs, enjoy the bush before it burns. Sadly, the huge koala population we now have will be roasted! Then it is up to the Greens and Labor to explain what they have done.
What about the families who have been in the logging industry for generations? So the job keeper payments going to help their family and loans they have on the lorries they will never use again.. Is the Gov going to buy back those vehicles on these loans..Once the logging industry closes there huge repercussions on income and income on Gov hand-out .
We all look at tourism ! Back in the 70-80’s Coffs Harbour had many steel industry & factories in town many families worked there trades were productive apprenticeships ( that’s a new word) became available from local TAFE Collages everything in Coffs and Bananas were thriving , the city was growing shops were full of locals . Since they all closed the city is very tired and looks like it needs a good shake-up .
What about the families who have been in the logging industry for generations? So the job keeper payments going to help their family and loans they have on the lorries they will never use again.. Is the Gov going to buy back those vehicles on these loans..Once the logging industry closes there huge repercussions on income and income on Gov hand-out .
We all look at tourism ! Back in the 70-80’s Coffs Harbour had many steel industry & factories in town many families worked there trades were productive apprenticeships ( that’s a new word) became available from local TAFE Collages everything in Coffs and Bananas were thriving , the city was growing shops were full of locals . Since they all closed the city is very tired and looks like it needs a good shake-up .
There have been many discussions and consultative processes about this initiative over more than a year.
Many industries go through significant change.
A sustainable timber industry with high value products is still possible and the resource can generate more economic value for the community if it is managed for long term environmental purposes.
There is clear evidence that current logging practices increase bushfire risk.
Biodiversity and climate change are both responsible and necessary reasons to support this positive and future focussed initiative.
Many jobs of today are not jobs of the past. Many jobs of today will not be jobs of the future.
There are clear opportunities for all our local communities arising from this National Park.