08 February 2023 – Midcoast Council today unanimously supported a motion put forward by Greens Councillor Dheera Smith, calling for a just transition from native forest logging to ecologically sustainably managed plantations and farm forestry.
Council was addressed by a group of young people from Elands and surrounds, who had engaged in a school ‘forest/climate strike’, so they could address the council. Over the last week the young folk have met on several occasions to workshop their concerns and craft the letter that was read to the Council.
They had planned for each of them to read a paragraph, but this was disallowed, so Alfie Somers read the letter with the other young folk standing beside him.
Local long-time forest campaigner Susie Russell, also addressed the Council and answered questions from councillors.
“When we returned to the Council chamber in the afternoon to hear the debate and watch the vote it was with some apprehension”.
“I thought it would be close and was ready to be disappointed if the motion was defeated. To the astonishment and joy of all of us watching, the vote was unanimous. All ten councillors in the room supported the motion.
“This is a sign of the times. If a traditionally conservative council like Midcoast Council can see the writing on the wall for the native forest logging industry, then it’s clear the industry is on borrowed time.
One councillor’s comment was that a convincing argument for him had been that “Healthy communities depend on healthy catchments and healthy catchments depend on healthy forests.”
“The two big questions are: How much damage will be done before the decision is taken to stop? And how much support will there be for a rapid and just transition from an industry that is currently destroying our catchments, biodiversity, carbon stores to a future economy based on forest restoration and protection.
“There is a strong message here for our political leaders. They fail to heed it at their peril,”
Ms Russell said.
For more info on this campaign visit the “Save Bulga Forest on Biripi Country 2429” facebook group, and 1EarthMedia’s coverage of the protests.
The motion also called on the State Government to incorporate part of the Bulga Forest into the Birawal-Bulga National Park, and to write to various politicians, from both major parties calling on them to develop a transition plan.
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Public Agenda for Ordinary Meeting 14:00 PM – Wednesday, 8 February 2023
SUMMARY
Cr Smith has given notice of her intention to move the motion as detailed below.
BACKGROUND
Since Council broke up in December 2022, the NSW Forestry Commission commenced logging in a refugium section of the Bulga Forest close to the Ellenborough Falls. The two sections of high value, 30 year-old timber forest now have become habitat for threatened native species including koalas, Glossy black cockatoos, Greater gliders, bees and other small mammals affected by burning of adjacent forest areas in the 2019 bushfires. The two compartments were the only ones not burnt in the Bulga Forest.
Council’s policies on Climate, Biodiversity and protecting koala habitat requires action to protect this important resource which also provides carbon capture and water storage at the top of the Hastings and Manning river catchments. It is crucial that these critical resources are nurtured and preserved in perpetuity.
NOTICE OF MOTION
1. That Council Advocate to the NSW Forestry Commission and National Parks to permanently cease all logging in Compartments 41 and 43 of the Bulga Forest and add the compartments to the Biriwal Bulga National Park.
2. That Council advocate to the NSW Government to develop a plan for the just transition of the Forestry Corporation NSW native forest sector to ecologically sustainable plantations and farm forestry and that such plans ensure the protection of existing jobs in this sector and ensure a reliable supply of high value native hardwood timber products into the future by;
° writing to the relevant State Members, The Hon. Stephen Bromhead MP, The Hon. Leslie Williams MP, Treasurer and Minister for Energy, The Hon. Matt Kean MP, Minister for Finance and Employee Relations, The Hon. Damien Tudehope MLC, and Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW, The Hon. Dugald Saunders
° writing to the Shadow Minister, Leader of the Opposition, The Hon. Chris Minns MP, the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, The Hon. Mick Veitch MLC and the Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, The Hon. Courtney Houssos MLC.
3. That Council notes the concerns from MidCoast residents for better management of State Forests to support nature-based tourism enterprises, recreational usage, threatened species habitat protection and carbon sequestration and raises these concerns with Forestry Corporation NSW.
