The Forestry Corporation of NSW must pay $500,000 towards four environmental initiatives as part of a legally binding Enforceable Undertaking with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
This arrangement stems from an incident involving the confirmed illegal harvesting of 17 protected trees in Coopernook State Forest on the NSW mid-North Coast.
The incident occurred in December 2021 when a contractor employed by Forestry Corporation harvested the trees within a riparian exclusion zone, violating the Forestry Act 2012. Forestry Corporation voluntarily reported these breaches to the EPA.
The Enforceable Undertaking mandates that Forestry Corporation allocate funds to four projects benefiting the environment and local community, and improve Forestry Corp’s operations. They are:
1. $150,000 for the development and testing of an industry-first in-cab Boundary Warning Prototype, enhancing forestry operational management to alert operators when they are approaching logging zone boundaries.
2. $150,000 to spend on Forestry Corporation’s corporate website to provide public relations information and spin to external stakeholders about its forestry operations.
3. $100,000 to establish and maintain a nature-themed playground at the Forest Camping Ground in Coopernook State Forest, catering to a broader visitor demographic.
4. $100,000 to establish, monitor, and maintain breeding sites for threatened frog species in the Olney State Forest, located west of Lake Macquarie.
Additionally, Forestry Corporation has agreed to cover the EPA’s legal and investigative costs, totalling $37,802.94, along with reasonable costs associated with monitoring future compliance with the Enforceable Undertaking.
General Manager Hardwood Forests, Daniel Tuan, said in a statement:
“We are disappointed that we did not comply on this occasion and we are sorry.”
“We have worked collaboratively with the EPA over the past 12 months to identify investments that will deliver tangible environmental and community benefits to compensate for the damage this operation caused,” Daniel Tuan said.
This penalty comes while Forestry Corp has been issued with Stop Work Orders at Tallaganda and Flat Rock State Forests because of inadequate wildlife surveys before logging commences.
Steve Orr, EPA Director of Operations, emphasised the critical importance of strict adherence to forestry operation regulations. He highlighted the potential ecological repercussions, stating that the removed trees, situated in a protected riparian exclusion zone near streams, could destabilise the soil, harm the aquatic system, and diminish habitat availability for fauna.
Orr asserted the EPA’s commitment to addressing non-compliance seriously and taking appropriate action upon breach detection.
Enforceable Undertakings represent one of the tools employed by the EPA to ensure optimal environmental and human health outcomes.
The picturesque Coopernook State Forest is located just north of Taree on Forest Drive, South Moorlands. The forest is between Taree and Kew. It is an ideal spot for a family picnic or an overnight stay amidst the scenic eucalypt forest. The public can explore numerous walking and hiking trails around the camping grounds when the forest is not closed for logging.
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