Forest sale protest gathers momentum

Widespread support is growing for tomorrow’s rally against the forward sale of the Forestry SA’s pine plantations. Individuals, unions, big and small businesses, are all focused on sending a strong message to the State Government not to sell.
The rally will assemble at Vansittart Park Gardens Parking available around the oval) at 12 noon before making its way down Commercial Street at 12:30pm to the Cave Garden, Mount Gambier.
Mayor Steve Perryman, Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi and Grant District Council Mayor Richard Sage will speak at 1.15pm about the direct and indirect impacts of the proposed sale, with strong hopes that the Premier, Jay Weatherill, will also address the gathering.
“Participants are being asked to wear either a Don’t Privatise SA Forests campaign T‐shirt, something ‘green’, or a t‐shirt or uniform that represents their sporting club, community group, or service club.
We want to illustrate the widespread impact of a forward sale in our region – the big concern is that our everyday lives will never be the same, and we need to demonstrate this,” said Mayor Richard Sage.
Local newspaper, The Border Watch, will be inserting campaign posters printed with a campaign message for the Premier and distributing them in today’s edition. Locals are encouraged to bring their poster to the march.
“We’ve done this before, and we’ll keep doing it, as we really need to highlight to the State Government that the South East isn’t giving up on the fight to save its forests,” said Mayor Peter Gandolfi.
The work undertaken by the Forestry Stakeholder group and the unprecedented support and strength of a community united in opposition to the South Australian Government’s proposal to forward sell the ForestrySA harvesting rights has also seen the region’s voice echoed through a Senate Inquiry instigated by Senator Nick Xenophon; a South Australian Parliamentary Select Committee chaired by Robert Brokenshire MLC; and at the Forestry Roundtable.
“The Premier’s visit presents us with our best opportunity yet to present our community’s case against the Forward sale, we need to make the most of it,” Mayor Steve Perryman said.