A recent analysis by the Forest Alliance NSW has uncovered alarming logging activities within the proposed Great Koala National Park. According to the report, the rate of logging in these forests is three times higher than in other North Coast state forests.
Despite the proposed park comprising only one-fifth of the North Coast’s state forests, more than half of all logging operations are concentrated within its boundaries.
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Based on Forestry Corporation’s own maps as at 25 June 2024, of the 20 active logging operations on the North Coast from the Hunter to the Queensland border, more than half were in the Great Koala National Park footprint. That’s despite the proposed park area containing just one fifth of State Forests in the region.
Justin Field from the Forest Alliance NSW said, “Clearly the Great Koala National Park area is being targeted for logging by the Forestry Corporation.
“It’s bad faith from the state owned logging company. They know the direction the Government is heading and they are making a mockery of that commitment. The Minns Government needs to step in and stop this destruction if the park is going to be the reserve Koala’s need to survive.”
Greens MP Condemns Government Actions
Sue Higginson, Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment, voiced her concerns over the situation.
“Preventing koalas from going extinct by 2050 is an obligation that all of us have responsibility for and that both sides of politics have committed to, but the Minns Government is undermining their own goals by logging the Great Koala National Park,” she said.
Ms. Higginson criticized Premier Minns for failing to uphold the pre-election commitment to establish the Great Koala National Park.
“The pre-election commitment, that the Great Koala National Park would be established, has been trashed by Premier Minns and is seen as a political failure by the communities that live and work around these critical forests,” she remarked.
Impact on Koalas and Local Communities
The ongoing logging operations are not only threatening the koala population but also impacting local communities and businesses dependent on eco-tourism.
“The continued logging is directly driving koalas closer to extinction, while also causing irreparable harm to the neighbors of these forests, as well as the businesses that rely on healthy forests for eco-tourism and the money that similar industries bring into the region,” Higginson stated.
She further highlighted the day-by-day destruction faced by koalas, communities, and tourism operators.
“Koalas, communities and tourism operators are watching day-by-day as their homes and livelihoods are being cut down and trucked away by the Forestry Corporation. All at a loss for the NSW treasury,” she emphasized.
Call for Immediate Government Intervention
Ms. Higginson also pointed out the unprecedented nature of the current situation.
“I cannot remember another time in NSW environmental history, where a promise for a National Park was made during an election, and then logging of that same area intensified when the promising Party won Government,” she said.
She called for immediate government intervention to halt the intensive logging activities to prevent the potential local extinction of koalas.
“Without immediate Government intervention in this intensive logging of the Great Koala National Park, local extinction of koalas is a serious risk. Premier Minns must explain how this is anything other than a broken promise and political failure,” Ms. Higginson concluded.
NSW Nature Conservation Council
Jacqui Mumford from the NSW Nature Conservation Council said, “The Minns Government made a commitment to a Great Koala National Park which would be a proud legacy for a Labor Government however they are allowing the Forestry Corporation to erode that legacy.
“We’re reiterating our call for logging in the proposed park boundary to cease while the process to establish the park is completed.”
Justin Field from the Forest Alliance NSW said, “Clearly the Great Koala National Park area is being targeted for logging by the Forestry Corporation.
“It’s bad faith from the state owned logging company. They know the direction the Government is heading and they are making a mockery of that commitment. The Minns Government needs to step in and stop this destruction if the park is going to be the reserve Koala’s need to survive.”
Analysis of Logging Intensity in the Proposed Great Koala National Park
Overview of the Northern Region State Forest
The total area of the Northern Region State Forest, which encompasses the Upper North East and Lower North East Forestry Areas, spans 917,000 hectares.
Proposed Great Koala National Park Footprint
Within this vast expanse, the area designated for the proposed Great Koala National Park (GKNP) is 176,000 hectares. This means that the GKNP footprint comprises 19.19% of the Northern Region State Forests.
Logging Disproportionately Concentrated
The analysis highlights a significant disparity in logging activities within the GKNP footprint. Despite representing just under a fifth (19.19%) of the Northern Region State Forests, the proposed park area is experiencing a disproportionately high rate of logging.
This targeted logging intensity poses a serious threat to the koala population and the ecological health of these forests, further emphasizing the urgent need for protective measures and government intervention.
| Region | Area (Ha) |
| Northern Region State Forest Total Area (Upper Noth East and Lower North East Forestry Areas) | 917000 |
| State Forest Area in GKNP Footprint | 176000 |
| % of Northern Region State Forests in GKNP footprint | 19.19% |
Forest Alliance NSW Analysis Reveals Alarming Logging Rates
This detailed analysis reveals the extent of logging operations within and outside the proposed Great Koala National Park, highlighting areas of active and paused activities. The data underscores the significant logging pressure faced by the forests designated for the GKNP and raises concerns about the future sustainability of these critical habitats.
| Data from Plan Portal As As 25 June 2024 | |||
| Operation – State Forest (Compartment) | Status on Plan Portal | GKNP Footprint (Y/N) | Total Area (H) |
| Yarratt 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | Active | N | 1211 |
| Burrawan 10, 11, 12 | Active | N | 467 |
| Lorne 16, 17, 18 | Active | N | 827 |
| Broken Bago 9, 10, 11, 14 | Active | N | 365 |
| Ballengarra 26, 27, 28 | Active | N | 599 |
| Wang Wauk 20, 21, 25 | Active | N | 607 |
| Styx River 31, 32, 33, 36, 38, 41 | Active | N | 1688 |
| Candole 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 | Active | N | 1460 |
| Onley 49, 50, 51, 52 | Active | N | 696 |
| Riamukka 48, 49, 50 | Active | N | 642 |
| Gibraltor Range 3, 4 | Active | N | 460 |
| Sheas Nob 2, 3, 4, 5 | Active | Y | 646 |
| Orara East 22, 23 | Active | Y | 266 |
| Clouds Creek 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 | Active | Y | 1509 |
| Wild Cattle Creek 46, 47, 48, 49 | Active | Y | 876 |
| Mistake 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | Active | Y | 1178 |
| Collambatti 11, 12 | Active | Y | 474 |
| Collambatti 14, 15 | Active | Y | 538 |
| Collambatti 18, 19, 20 | Active | Y | 424 |
| Tamban 5, 10, 11 | Active | Y | 371 |
| Tamban 20, 21, 26 | Active | Y | 599 |
| Tamban 22, 25, 27 | Active | Y | 636 |
| Girard 8, 9 | Paused | N | 486 |
| Cherry Tree 3, 4 | Paused | N | 455 |
| Braemar 6, 7 | Paused | N | 517 |
| Forest Land 1, 2, 3, 4 | Paused | N | 565 |
| Forest Land 5, 6, 7 | Paused | N | 556 |
| Forest Land 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | Paused | N | 1468 |
| Ewingar 70, 71, 72, 75 | Paused | N | 766 |
| Ewingar 66, 67, 68, 69, 74 | Paused | N | 1009 |
| Double Duke 1, 2, 3 | Paused | N | 921 |
| Double Duke 5, 6, 7, 8 | Paused | N | 1170 |
| Myrtle 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 | Paused | N | 1940 |
| Camira 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | Paused | N | 1258 |
| Gibberagee 7, 8, 9 | Paused | N | 647 |
| Nymboida Crown Road 7, 8, 5, 6 | Paused | N | 737 |
| Bom Bom 1, 2, 4 | Paused | N | 614 |
| Broken Bago 24, 25, 26, 27 | Paused | N | 608 |
| Lansdowne 4, 5, 6 | Paused | N | 144 |
| Bulga 41, 43 | Paused | N | 336 |
| Yarratt 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Paused | N | 1181 |
| Conglomerate 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 | Paused | Y | 1075 |
| Conglomerate 23 | Paused | Y | 381 |
| Wedding Bells 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 29 | Paused | Y | 1395 |
| Bagawa 1 | Paused | Y | 246 |
| Orara East 10,11 | Paused | Y | 232 |
| Kangaroo River 42, 43, 44, 45 | Paused | Y | 1036 |
| Ellis 3, 4, 5, 6 | Paused | Y | 788 |
| Clouds Creek 34, 35, 36, 37, 39 | Paused | Y | 1133 |
| Clouds Creek 30, 31, 32, 33 | Paused | Y | 712 |
| Moonpar 3, 4, 5 | Paused | Y | 406 |
| Wild Cattle Creek 39, 40, 42, 44 | Paused | Y | 939 |
| Wild Cattle Creek 32, 33, 34 | Paused | Y | 229 |
| Orara West 26 | Paused | Y | 69 |
| Boambee 4, 5, 6, 7 | Paused | Y | 215 |
| Newry 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 | Paused | Y | 657 |
| Oakes 18,19,20, 21 | Paused | Y | 953 |
| Thumb Creek 5, 6 | Paused | Y | 556 |
Dalian Pugh from North East Forest Alliance said, “The Minns Government is allowing the State owned logging company to target the proposed park to take as many trees as they can, degrading the proposed park before it’s even established. It’s outrageous.
“We warned that this would be the result if a moratorium was not put in place while the park was designed and that’s exactly what has occurred.
“The Community Advisory Panel’s recommendations for a moratorium, or to at least undertake pre-logging surveys to identify core Koala habitat to protect while the assessment is undertaken, have been rejected by the Government.
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