Red River Logging

**wheelinround** · 29th September 2007, 08:56 AM

Protection for river red gums

http://www.smh.com.au/news/environme...486569843.html

Wendy Frew Environment Reporter
September 29, 2007

ENVIRONMENTALISTS have secured a temporary halt to some river red gum logging after the NSW Government agreed to assess all timber harvesting operations in Riverina state forests and stop logging in 11 sensitive areas.
But they did not get an assurance the Government would match a proposal being considered by the Victorian Government to protect large areas of red gum forests in national parks.
For years, NSW has been logging the trees without assessing their conservation value. Much of the timber has been sold to Victoria to make railway sleepers.
In the face of court action from the National Parks Association, a non-government group, and a blockade in the Moira State Forest in the state's south, the Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, yesterday announced a stop to logging in some areas and the establishment of an environmental impact statement (EIS) process for harvesting in Riverina state forests. But Mr Macdonald said the timber industry had been assured of retaining its supply.
"Forests NSW will also avoid high-conservation value areas while still maintaining the quantity and quality of wood that the red gum industry requires," the minister said.
"This course of action, and the completion of an EIS, will give industry certainty into the future. In doing this, we avoid disruption to the dependent industry and rural communities, while preserving ecological values of the forest."
In return, the parks association said it would accept a settlement of court proceedings brought against Forests NSW earlier this month that sought to prove red gum logging required an impact statement.
The association's executive officer, Andrew Cox, said he was happy with the overall agreement because Forests NSW would avoid logging areas of high conservation value, log less intensively and protect larger trees while the impact statement was being prepared.
Blockaders would monitor Forests NSW's activities, said a spokeswoman, Dr Jacquie Kelly.

**thumbsucker** · 30th September 2007, 05:26 PM

Good news. However it is shame that it is news at all, conservation of these resource should be self evident and not up for discussion.

Salvage, buy and use recycled timber.

**wheelinround** · 1st October 2007, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by thumbsucker

Good news. However it is shame that it is news at all, conservation of these resource should be self evident and not up for discussion.

Salvage, buy and use recycled timber.

I agree any fool would know you can cross the river/boarder and get all you want no wukkers.

**Clinton1** · 1st October 2007, 12:24 PM

Forests NSW will also avoid high-conservation value areas while still maintaining the quantity and quality of wood that the red gum industry requires

The above sounds reasonable, but is sensible management really too much to expect?

Its a shame that it seems that court action was required to enforce a sensible management plan.

**reeves** · 2nd October 2007, 07:38 AM

yeah it's definatley a worry that court proceedings need to happen before the local forestry agreements are adhered to,a sign of consistent issue within the industry and a strong indicator that forestry NSW has been breaching agreed guidlines.

I dunno what its gonna take for some realtime stability in terms of tre chnomping vs conservation, seems a definate middle ground is hard to reach if governmnet agencies are willing to try and buck the system in several ways.

Love those redgums for sure but the timber industry needs to be sure footed in terms of what it can harvest and illegal practices dont help that at all.

**dadpad** · 18th November 2007, 08:32 PM

Far far more damaging is the lack of water.

**SilentButDeadly** · 19th November 2007, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by dadpad

Far far more damaging is the lack of water.

Regrettably......these days, it is becoming a use it or lose it proposition with respect to RRG

It would be so much easier to obtain environmental water if the RRG forests were valued for more than just landscaping sleepers, grass for cattle or feelgood for city people.

If RRG (and the landscape within which it sits) was more highly valued as a resource and a provider of environmental services then it would be better managed AND protected resource.

**bsrlee** · 19th November 2007, 06:09 PM

Interesting - for some years the only permits that I knew of were for fallen timber - Landline had a few segments on the 'old' sleeper industry. Lack of suitable supplies of timber was one reason for NSW railways going for concrete sleepers.

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