Clarence Valley NSW
Clarence Valley Council is seeking public feedback in relation to native forest logging on public land. The council is located on the northern coast of New South Wales. Source: Timberbiz
At its June meeting the council resolved to defer an item to phase out native forest logging on public land to its October meeting to allow time for further consultation with industry groups and the community. The matter will also be discussed by councillors at a workshop.
The council is seeking written feedback from any industry stakeholders and interested parties, businesses, organisations and the community.
The issue was discussed at several meeting of the Biodiversity Advisory Committee (BAC) calling for phasing out native forest logging and transitioning to plantation timber. Other nearby councils such as Eurobodalla, Bellingen and Mid Coast Council have adopted resolutions to the same effect.
The recommendations from the BAC were:
That Council make a submission to the NSW Government Ministers, and relevant Shadow Ministers, responsible for forestry activities, biodiversity, tourism, finance, employment, climate mitigation and water management to requesting:
- urgent development of a plan for the just transition of the native forest timber industry operating in state-owned forests, to an ecologically sustainable plantation base; and
- enactment of the plan to manage our State Forests, in partnership with all North Coast communities and local councils, for their nature-based tourism assets, recreational opportunities, biodiversity values and for carbon sequestration;
- seeks advice from Local Government NSW on the status of their advocacy following adoption of Motion 100 moved by Shoalhaven City Council at the November 2022 Local Government NSW Conference, “That Local Government NSW advocates for the ending of logging in NSW (public) Native Forests”; and
- in making the above resolutions, BAC noted:
- the growing evidence that native forest logging by Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) in our State Forests is both economically and environmentally unsustainable;
- that logging in our State Forests is incompatible with our region’s investment in nature-based tourism enterprises, climate change mitigation (including Australia’s international commitments to emissions reduction), the CVC’s Biodiversity Management Strategy’s aim to protect biodiversity, and the CVC’s responsibility to provide quality drinking water to its residents;
- that Eurobodalla, Bellingen and Mid Coast Councils have passed motions asking the NSW government to phase out logging in state forests in their respective shires;
- that both the Western Australian and Victorian State Governments have announced such transitions and have provided end dates for native forest logging;
- that the North East Forest Alliance, the North Coast Environment Council, the NSW Nature Conservation Council, the National Parks Association, the Clarence Environment Centre, and other NGO’s, have long advocated for an end to logging in publicly owned State Forests and the creation of the Great Koala National Park;
- the serious threats posed by climate change, and the urgent need for carbon sequestration, and to protect threatened species habitat; and
- the supporting notes provided with the Biodiversity Advisory Committee’s recommendation.
The deadline for feedback is 5pm on 28 August 2023. Please provide feedback via email to [email protected]
