Protest Erupts in Orara East State Forest as Logging Begins Ahead of Koala Park Declaration
Protest Escalates as 30 Enter Locked Forest to Resist Logging
18 June 2025 – This morning, more than 30 forest defenders entered the “closed” Orara East State Forest on Gumbaynggirr Country, bypassing newly installed locked gates and private security to walk directly toward logging machinery. The bold demonstration follows a week of intensifying conflict between community members and Forestry Corporation NSW, as logging begins ahead of the promised declaration of the Great Koala National Park.
The “forest defenders” were escorted from Orara State Forest by NSW Police. The show of force from the NSW Police caused most community members to voluntarily leave the forest, although some community members were later issued with fines despite complying with directions.
Protesters ranged in age from 18 to 75, walking with costumes, colour, and instruments, united in message and purpose. Their aim: to expose and resist the destruction of one of the region’s last biodiverse strongholds.
“We are here to show that we are not intimidated by Forestry’s attempts to block us from exposing and resisting the carnage that began this week,” said one protestor. “This is not just a local issue, but a global one.”
Organisers say they are no longer willing to wait passively for government action. They have declared themselves the forest’s last line of defence, vowing to stand their ground until Orara East is permanently protected.
“We will not be bound or silenced while waiting for the Great Koala National Park announcement. We have waited long enough.”
The pressure continues to mount for the Minns Government to intervene and fulfil its commitment to forest protection, as the frontline in Orara East grows stronger each day.
“I’m here today inside the boundaries of what is supposed to be the Great Koala National Park — the long-promised national park that still hasn’t been delivered. Instead, we’ve got logging equipment in here tearing down the forest. It’s absolutely disgusting. The only option we have left is to come in ourselves, take direct action, and stop the logging with our own hands,” Micah Weeks said as he locked on to a logging harvester.
The harvester is parked beside a known koala hub, overlooking the destruction from yesterday’s logging operation.
“It is a tremendous credit to the peaceful forest defenders that they continue to put their lives on hold and their bodies on the line to protect these natural treasures from wanton destruction by the Forestry Corporation, and it is a crying shame that the Police are misleading these community members and taking punitive actions even where official directions have been complied with,” Greens MLA Sue Higginson said.
Logging Halted as Protester Locks On in Orara East State Forest
16 June 2025 – This morning, long-time Mid-North Coast resident and environmentalist Peter Elzer locked himself to a logging harvester in Orara East State Forest, halting operations. The dramatic act of defiance comes as Forestry Corporation NSW (FCNSW) begins its first attempt to log this area, part of the Minns Government’s promised—but not yet proclaimed—Great Koala National Park.
Mr. Elzer was arrested at midday and released around 4pm with 4 charges.
Logging machinery was brought in on Friday, June 13, triggering immediate community response. Locals intercepted trucks at the gate, blocking entry until police arrived. No arrests were made, but the message was clear: the community will not stand by while vital habitat is destroyed.
Peter, who recently completed a 12-day hunger strike outside NSW Parliament, says his return home was met with heartbreak.
“I, with the support of many others, undertook a 12-day Fasting for Forests to show just how urgently our forests need protection across NSW. But when I returned home, the machines had moved into this forest. ‘Soon’ means nothing to a forest that is going to be logged today. We need to take further action to defend what’s left.”
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe had visited Peter during his fast, promising an announcement on the park was “soon.” For Peter and others, that promise now rings hollow.
“Many of us took action at Chaelundi in the ‘90s. I was a small part of that, but back then we were able to save old-growth forests. What’s changed today is that our wildlife—44 threatened species in this forest alone—are running out of time. If logging continues here, we may lose the local koala population entirely. That’s another significant hit for a species already on the brink of extinction.”
A Fight for Forests and the Future
The Orara East and Mount Coramba forests, rich in biodiversity, are more than just trees—they sit at the gateway to the proposed Dorrigo-to-Bindarri multi-day walk, an eco-tourism route that would boost the regional economy while showcasing the area’s unique natural and cultural heritage. Yet instead of leveraging that potential, the government appears poised to sacrifice it to outdated forestry contracts.
“People in this community are sick and tired of watching irreplaceable ecosystems be destroyed under the guise of outdated forestry practices,” said local spokesperson Nicky Read. “We’re in the 21st century, facing climate crisis and biodiversity collapse. This logging model belongs in the past.”
Public support is firmly on the side of preservation. A Sky News poll found that 70% of Coffs Harbour residents support the creation of a protected koala park—a clear mandate for change.
Beyond ecological damage, serious public health concerns are also emerging. Locals warn that disturbing soils near historical mining sites could trigger arsenic contamination of the Orara River, threatening drinking water, agriculture, and downstream communities.
A Movement That Won’t Back Down
Community members, backed by regional and national environmental groups, have vowed to maintain a presence in the forest. Daily vigils are ongoing, and more direct actions are expected in the days ahead. They are united in their demand: a permanent end to industrial native forest logging, and the immediate protection of all areas slated for the Great Koala National Park.
The next few days will test not only the resolve of these forest defenders but the credibility of the Minns Government’s environmental promises. For now, Orara East remains standing—and so do the people.
More information on upcoming local actions and events can be found at facebook.com/bellingenactivistnetwork
Loggers move into Orara East State Forest ahead of Great Koala National Park proclamation
14 June 2025 – Just weeks before the long-promised proclamation of the Great Koala National Park, chainsaws, heavy machinery and controversy have roared into Orara East State Forest. The Minns Labor Government’s commitment to protect koalas is being tested in real-time, with Forestry Corporation NSW now moving to log areas of forest that were expected to be preserved as part of the landmark conservation project.
Locals didn’t take the news lying down.
In a powerful display of civil resistance, members of the community formed a blockade to delay the entry of logging equipment, temporarily halting operations. No arrests were made, but police were called to the scene and the community dispersed—only to promise they would return.
Greens MP and environmental spokesperson Sue Higginson condemned the move in a scathing statement.
“What a kick in the guts for the community around Orara East State Forest to have your Government promise on the one hand to protect the forest you love, but then to watch the machines roll in to destroy it by logging first,” she said.
Orara East, nestled between Bucca State Forest to the north and Ulidarra National Park to the south, is more than just a patch of green.
It’s a critical ecological corridor, one that scientists argue is essential for species migration, biodiversity connectivity, and climate resilience in the face of extreme weather and habitat fragmentation.
The timing of the logging has infuriated conservationists, with many accusing the government of racing to extract timber before the area is officially gazetted as part of the Great Koala National Park. The move risks irreversible damage to habitat that is home to at least 44 threatened species—including one of Australia’s most significant wild koala populations.
One of the protest’s most recognisable figures is local grandfather Peter Elzer, who earlier this year camped outside NSW Parliament for 12 days on a hunger strike demanding urgent forest protection.
“Peter recently did a 12-day hunger strike for forests in Macquarie Street on the doorsteps of Parliament House,” said Higginson. “The Minister for Environment Penny Sharpe spoke with Mr Elzer outside of the Parliament and said that his hunger strike was not necessary because the Great Koala National Park is ‘very close’. The deception and betrayal is sickening.”
Community groups have been holding weekly vigils at the forest’s edge for months, warning of the ecological cost of continued logging. The announcement that machinery had entered the forest felt like a gut punch. Bellingen Activist Network and Friends of Orara East State Forest are two of the Facebook groups organised by protesters.
“Orara East State Forest is home to a globally significant koala population,” said Sue Higginson. “Its protection is essential to the genuine conservation of the species… It is home to some 44 known threatened species, including many hollow-dependent arboreal mammals.”
While Premier Minns and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe have stated that planning for the park is underway, they are now under fire for allowing logging in one of its most critical sections. Higginson wrote to both ministers, and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty, demanding the work be stopped immediately and warning of community backlash.
“Now, it seems Premier Minns and NSW Labor have once again turned their backs on the community and are pushing ahead with their extinction logging agenda,” she said.
Sue Higginson has pledged to join the protestors in person this Saturday, 15 June, at 11.30am at the entrance to Orara East State Forest on Eastbank Forest Road. With more protest actions expected in the coming days, pressure is mounting on the NSW Government to either honour its environmental commitments—or face a very public reckoning.
This story will be updated as events unfold at Orara East.
Related stories
Loggers take a chainsaw to Great Koala National Park idea
Targeted Logging Threatens Great Koala National Park
Pentarch Sawmill blockaded after sourcing logs from koala park
Forestry Corp fails Koala Protection Measures inside GKNP
Logging halted after Forestry Corp misidentifies trees
MPs $64,000 question – Save Koalas or logging trucks
The Great Koala National Park without any Koalas
Great Koala National Park Advocacy Group visits NSW Parliament House
