Three young people on school holidays and two Knitting Nannas stopped logging in two state forests inside the proposed Great Koala National Park.
Forestry Corp refuse to accept the writing on the wall and are madly logging the area ahead of the proclamation of the Great Koala National Park.
Logging operations ground to a halt on Tuesday, 4th July 2023 in two State Forests inside the proposed Great Koala National Park as the conflict over the destruction of the 175 000 hectare area slated for protection returns to the battlegrounds of the Mid North Coast.
Three high school students locked on to heavy machinery and a full barrel of cement in Orara East State Forest.
Seventeen year old Mason from Glenreagh, who locked to a machine surrounded by his friends in Orara East State Forest, said:
“I am here on behalf of myself and my 14 year old brother. The rate at which our government is auctioning off natural forests is frightening, and I feel powerless to do anything about it.
We’ve tried protesting, and we can’t vote, which is why we feel driven to take this action against these machines ripping our trees down. The government can stop this and we just need them to take notice.”
Seventeen year old Mason from Glenreagh
At the same time two Knitting Nannas locked onto heavy machinery and a protester has occupied a tree-sit in Boambee State Forest.
These areas are home to 20% of the state’s wild Koalas and the proposed Great Koala National Park which will provide a critical connected reserve and a lifeline to Koalas which are on the trajectory to extinction.
April, aged 17, from the Orara Valley, who locked to a barrel full of cement with Jimmy, aged 17, at Orara East State Forest, said:
“I’m a passionate year 12 student from Coffs Harbour. I am making a sacrifice by pausing my HSC studies and risking my future to protest against the logging of native habitat, particularly this forest next to my home.
This forest holds a special place in my heart, and I refuse to stand idly by as Forestry Corp destroys the cherished memories I associate with it. It’s high time the NSW Government recognizes the urgent need to halt deforestation of native habitats and protect the natural treasures on Gumbaynggirr land.”
April, aged 17, from the Orara Valley.
The protests follow the delivery of a communique to NSW Parliament last week by the Great Koala National Park Advocacy Group who joined crossbench MPs in calling for a suspension of logging operations in the proposed Great Koala National Park after Labor committed to establishing the Great Koala National Park in their third consecutive election campaign.
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe confirmed in a statement in Parliament last week that there would be no moratorium on logging in the areas that will be the Great Koala National Park.
Greens MP and spokesperson for the Environment Sue Higginson said:
“The Government’s position is environmentally, economically and socially untenable and now we see young people having to spend their school holidays taking direct action to stop logging operations to protect their local forest and Koalas.”
Sue Higginson said
“Students Jimmy and April are being cut out of the barrels blocking the entry to Orara East as we film!
There are family, friends and supporters at the watch house awaiting their release.”
**Update as of 1:45pm all three lock-ons at Orara East have been removed and the students are now in custody.
Sue Higginson said:
“This conflict in the forest is on the government for holding an untenable position. The government has support from across the Parliament and was elected on the promise to create the Great Koala National Park, yet here it is destroying it.
“Last week the Minister said that there are no agreed facts in this debate. The agreed facts we have are that if we continue as we are, Koalas will be extinct in the wild in just 27 years.
We know that the 175 000 hectares of native forests that will be protected under the Great Koala National Park plan will provide a critical connection between existing National Parks and this is our best chance at saving our beloved Koala.
We know that logging operations are literally driving Koalas to extinction right now and that the minority Labor Government made an $80 million commitment to creating the park.
Now we have young people putting their lives on the line in defence of their forests and Koalas.
“We know the solution, we just need the government to take action.”
Ms Higginson said.
UPDATE: The three students who locked on today in Orara East SF have just been released from custody. All with juvenile cautions and NO charges laid.
The knitting nannas from Boambee SF are still waiting to be released, while the tree-sitter is still up high in the forest guarding the tallest trees.
In a multi-generation hit, these two forests were held off from destruction today. While the actions alone are not enough to protect these forests forever, the resistance is growing and history has shown us direct action with momentum has brought about huge change.
Exhausted from decades of inaction, people are rising up to defend the places that sustain us. Against a system that will put logging, mining and business over the wellbeing of people, country and kin.
If you want to get involved please PM us or come connect this weekend at the Forest Fest for a yarn and dance!
See also: As NSW’s debt mounts, Treasurer urged to end to subsidies for logging
Forestry Corporation rebrands NSW native forest as ‘plantation’ to allow logging
Forestry Corporation failing to comply with the law: Auditor General
What can NSW Government do to stop koala extinction
NSW Minister Tara Moriarty visits Forestry Corp at Bagawa State Forest
Forest action spreads to Doubleduke & Lorne State Forests
NSW Nationals motion on the Forestry Industry, 31 May 2023
A burnt & logged nature reserve is not a nature reserve
Legal challenge to New South Wales Regional Forest Agreement (RFA)
Taxpayers hit with $5 million bill for Forestry Corp to log koala habitat
NSW Forestry Corp have a fight on their hands to Save Bulga Forest
Forest protesters lock out Forestry Corporation’s HQ
Forest wars in Shallow Crossing State Forest, South East NSW
Midcoast Council Votes to Save Bulga Forest on Biripi Country
Greens plan to Save Koalas, End Clearing of Koala Habitat
Two more women lock-on protests at Heron Creek Sawmill
Mother & daughter’s protest stops logging on Mid-North Coast, NSW
Knitting Nanna blocks saw mill & stops logging trucks
Out of control Forestry Corporation caught destroying more Koala habitat
National Parks Association says “it’s time to transition our dying native timber industry”
Forestry Corporation of NSW fined $471,200 since 2019 bushfires
