Forestry Corporation to Pay $500,000 After Illegal Clearing of Bindarri National Park, Inside Great Koala National Park
Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) has admitted to illegally clearing 1.44 hectares of Bindarri National Park, near Coffs Harbour, during 2019 and 2020. The park, home to significant koala populations, is included in the proposed Great Koala National Park.
This incident, which involved the harvesting of mature Flooded Gum trees, has resulted in a $500,000 commitment to fund the purchase of land for gazettal as national park, alongside a suite of remediation measures.
The cleared area, originally part of a mature plantation, is located within Bindarri National Park, a region renowned for its stunning waterfalls, rich biodiversity, and tentative listing as a World Heritage site.
The illegal clearing not only destroyed valuable vegetation but also triggered broader ecological concerns, such as weed invasion, highlighting the lasting impact of such actions.
“Since coming to power, on the promise to establish the Great Koala National Park, the Minns Labor Government has logged the forests of the Great Koala National Park and in fact logging the area has increased under the Minns Government compared to the former coalition government,” Greens MP Sue Higginson said.
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Deed of Agreement
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has negotiated a Deed of Agreement with FCNSW, which includes stringent obligations.
As Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Anthony Lean, stated, “Clearing of vegetation in a national park is a very serious offence.
The Deed imposes significant obligations on Forestry Corporation to ensure we get a better outcome than would have been secured through litigation.”
Under the agreement, FCNSW will restore the damaged area to national park standards, implement staff training, and develop enhanced protocols to prevent future breaches. It will also reforest the site with native vegetation and undertake pest and weed control as directed by the NPWS.
The funding from FCNSW will facilitate the expansion of protected forested areas, bolstering efforts to preserve habitats critical for koalas and other wildlife.
Tentative World Heritage List logged
“This forest is supposed to be protected. It’s key to the survival of a number of endangered species, including the koala, and it is a place that is on the Tentative World Heritage List because of its global significance,” Wilderness Society said.
“This is the latest in a long history of breaches and bungles by Forestry Corporation of NSW. Yet NSW taxpayers are still being forced to prop up native forest logging by the state-owned logging agency with millions of dollars of subsidies every year,” Wilderness Society said.
“As the NSW government moves closer to a decision about the future of native forest logging in the state, it is clear that Forestry Corporation is not fit to manage these forests,” Wilderness Society said.
Blaming a Mapping Error
In its public response, FCNSW acknowledged the breach, citing a boundary error as the root cause. The confusion stemmed from a historical boundary adjustment in 1999, during which sections of the plantation were declared as part of the national park while others remained state forest.
According to FCNSW, the error occurred during the mapping process for a 2018 harvesting operation.
“They say this happened because boundaries existing since 1999 were incorrectly mapped. If they haven’t managed to accurately map boundaries that have been in place for a quarter of a century, what other prohibited destruction are we yet to find out about?” Wilderness Society asks.
Daniel Tuan, General Manager of Hardwood Forests at FCNSW, expressed regret, stating, “We deeply regret this incident and sincerely apologise for this error which resulted in the harvesting of approximately 1.44 hectares within Bindarri National Park in contravention of the National Parks and Wildlife Act.”
He added that the corporation immediately notified NPWS upon discovering the error and has since worked to implement measures to prevent similar incidents.
“I know Bindarri well. It’s one of the most biodiverse landscapes in the world that they’ve gone into the park and illegally cleared,” ecologist Mark Graham said. “Forestry Corporation needs to be shut down.”
Another $500,000 commitment from Forestry Corp
The $500,000 commitment from FCNSW marks a critical step in addressing the environmental damage caused. This funding will either go toward purchasing native forest for inclusion in the national park estate or the transfer of state forest land to NPWS.
FCNSW has pledged to strengthen its boundary identification processes, improve mapping systems, and provide targeted staff training.
Mr. Tuan emphasized, “We have strengthened our mapping systems, improved boundary identification processes, and will implement a specific protocol and training to improve boundary management to avoid similar contraventions in the future.”
“As the NSW government moves closer to a decision about the future of native forest logging in NSW, there is ample evidence before it that Forestry Corporation of NSW cannot be trusted to manage the public native forest estate,” Wilderness Society said.
“It’s obvious the NSW government has known about this shocking breach for some time as a deal that will allow Forestry Corporation to avoid prosecution has been struck. Announcing this deal in the days leading up to Christmas is an obvious attempt to avoid public scrutiny,” Wilderness Society said.
A Fragile Yet Resilient Ecosystem
Bindarri National Park, known for its subtropical rainforests and cascading Urumbilum Falls, serves as a critical habitat for endangered species such as the greater glider and giant barred frog. This illegal clearing, though a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by protected areas, has also reinforced the importance of ecological stewardship.
NPWS believes the Deed represents a constructive resolution, with Anthony Lean noting, “By entering the Deed, Forestry Corporation has admitted the consequences of its actions and will fund critical restoration projects to reverse the damage caused to the national park.”
As part of the greater Coffs Coast region, including the nearby Orara West State Forest, Bindarri National Park remains a beacon of natural heritage and conservation. This incident highlights the delicate balance between land use and environmental preservation and the ongoing need for vigilance in protecting Australia’s precious ecosystems.
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