Logging operations in Sheas Nob Rock State Forest were brought to a halt today as community members issued a citizen stop work order against the Forestry Corporation. This bold move comes in response to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) receiving reports of 188 breaches across nine forests two weeks ago, without issuing stop work orders during their investigation.
South East Forest Rescue (SEFR) successfully stopped logging operations at Sheas Nob, following the revelation of up to 188 potential breaches of logging rules in NSW state forests. SEFR’s on-ground action also targeted Flat Rock, where logging activities were ongoing until yesterday. However, today, loggers were notably absent from the site.
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Two weeks ago, conservation groups, including SEFR, sent a letter to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) urging them to issue stop work orders on active forestry operations in nine state forests. This call for action was to allow the investigation of breaches related to the protection of the endangered greater glider habitat.
SCOTT DAINES, SEFR SPOKESPERSON:
“There’s been a blatant breach of the logging laws. Operations must not be conducted unless compliant surveys have been undertaken. It is outrageous that the EPA has failed to act in the last 14 days. Our patience ran out,” said Scott Daines, SEFR spokesman.
“This failure by the EPA has left no option but for the community to stop illegal operations to protect our endangered Greater Gliders. We are here to stop a crime being committed,” Mr Daines continued.
Motion in NSW Parliament
The timing is significant, as the NSW Parliament is set to debate a motion from Greens MP Sue Higginson. This motion calls for the Government to ensure that the EPA regulates logging effectively and halts all logging activities while investigations are conducted.
Greens MP and environment spokesperson Sue Higginson remarked, “The community have stepped into the regulatory void left by Premier Chris Minns and the NSW EPA. Unlawful logging operations have been stopped for today, but could restart as early as tomorrow.”
Highlighting the frustration over inaction, Ms. Higginson pointed out, “The EPA have had these breach reports which identify some 188 breaches of Greater Glider protection rules for two weeks without taking action as the regulator for native forest logging, and the community is rightly fed up with waiting.”
The logging rules breached were introduced just three months ago to better protect endangered Greater Gliders and their den trees. Despite these protections being agreed upon by the Forestry Corporation, they have continued logging with apparent disregard for the law.
Ms. Higginson emphasized the stakes of the upcoming parliamentary debate: “The NSW Parliament will be debating these breaches and the need to stop logging until, at a bare minimum, investigations are undertaken and legal obligations are being adhered to. It is likely that Premier Minns’ Labor Government will vote with the Liberals to allow this unlawful environmental vandalism to continue.”
She also criticized Premier Chris Minns for failing to resolve conflicts within his Cabinet, stating, “Chris Minns has a responsibility to resolve the ongoing conflicts in his Cabinet between the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for the Environment. He has failed to do this so far. Every day that native forest logging is allowed to continue under NSW Labor is another political failure by Chris Minns.”
The community’s actions today underscore the urgent need for effective environmental regulation and accountability from the government in protecting endangered species and their habitats.
SEFR Exposes Rule Breaches at Sheas Nob
Forestry Corporation NSW’s adherence to new rules, which mandate that surveys for greater glider den trees commence within an hour of sunset, was called into question. SEFR conducted a desktop audit of surveys conducted after the new rule came into effect, using data from the Native Forestry Map Viewer.
The audit revealed that nearly 80% of the 188 transects did not comply with the new requirement, rendering the surveys non-compliant. The affected state forests include Flat Rock, Clyde, Currowan, Shallow Crossing, Olney, Riamukka, Styx River, Sheas Nob, and Bondo.
Despite the clear stipulations of the new rule, the EPA has yet to issue stop work orders while investigating the breaches exposed by SEFR. Today, SEFR took matters into their own hands by stopping logging operations at Sheas Nob and issuing a “community Stop Work Order” to Forestry Corporation NSW.
This decisive action underscores the urgent need for strict enforcement of environmental regulations to protect endangered species and their habitats.
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