Queensland’s Premier Steven Miles has been accused of pulling an election stunt to appease environmental activists with scant regard for its own timber policy, environmentally sound land management and the many regional communities and thousands of people dependent on the timber industry. Source: Timberbiz
Environment Minister Leanne Linard announced on Saturday that 54,000 hectares of greater glider habitat in South East Queensland state forest will be transitioned to a new natural capital tenure.
With it, the State will establish a Greater Glider Forest Park.
Of the 54,000 hectares, 7500 hectares are set to be placed into Natural Capital Reserve as a potential strategic advance offset for the critical Borumba Pumped Hydro project.
Queensland goes to the polls on October 26 with most polls pointing to Labor losing power after nine years in Government.
Timber Queensland Hardwood Division Chair Curly Tatnell said the announcement to form a Glider Park in South-East Queensland with predetermined areas of mapped forest made a mockery of the consultative framework the Premier established less than two months ago.
“The first meeting of the advisory group under the Government’s new timber policy only took place on 15 August. This group is tasked with providing advice on the scope and options for timber supply and protected areas to be worked through to the middle of 2025,” said Mr Tatnell.
“From 2025 the hardwood industry will already face a 40% reduction in state timber supply in the region due to a unilateral decision by the Government in 2019 to cease timber harvesting in the South-East Queensland Regional Plan area,” he said.
“Now we have the Government railroading further forest areas to be taken out of production with no consultation with the group or testing of the scientific validity of mapped areas or other alternatives for glider protection. There is also no information on timber supply impacts. This is disingenuous and an insult to the workers and families in our sustainable native forest industry,” Mr Tatnell said.
Timber Queensland has written to the Premier seeking assurances for long-term contract certainty for native hardwood sawmillers from state forests which has fallen on deaf ears and put $140 million of planned investment for timber production and 6000 jobs at risk.
“We do not support the locking up of forests where there is clear evidence that well managed state forests provide superior environmental and economic outcomes for the community,” Mr Tatnell said.
“It also makes a mockery of the Government’s aim to maintain current timber supply levels from
2025 to 2034 as an essential building material in the middle of a housing crisis,” he said.
“Grandstanding by environmental activists and a rushed announcement by a government to win
over green voters should not determine forest and timber industry policy. Decisions on the longterm management of forests should be evidence-based with empirical data and genuine consultation rather than ideological opinion.
“We believe State forests should already be considered part of the protected area system, just like National Forests in the United States and other multiple-use and cultural landscapes across the world, given that state forests are managed in accordance with strict environmental regulation and adopt selective harvesting practices to maintain permanent healthy forests with timber, recreation and biodiversity outcom
