Margo: Webdiarist Susie Russell [0] is the Greens candidate [1]s for the deputy PM's seat of Lyne [2]. I published her recent speech to the Wingham Rotary Club here [2].
The approval of Gunns’ pulp mill [2] is firmly on the national agenda. As we have seen, Gunns refused to participate in the independent assessment process and effectively brought it to an end. The Tasmanian Government then passed legislation giving a special approval. Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull rubber-stamped the deal and Peter Garrett looked on saying ‘Me Too’.
But what has got lost in the hoo-ha is that there has been absolutely NO assessment of the impact of the mill on Tasmania’s forests. The mill is expected to process some 7-12 million tonnes of wood annually. More than 80% of this wood will come from native forests. This is likely to continue as long as there is a tree to fell, because it is availably much more cheaply that plantation wood.
It is more than 10 years since the Federal and State Governments signed off on the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA). The RFA is the justification for any and every forest activity that has been proposed since.
RFAs exist in other states as well. In NSW there are RFAs for Northern NSW, Southern NSW and Eden. All had clauses in them that said they were to be reviewed within 5 years. In every case this clause has been ignored. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when a ‘review’ finally happens it won’t be allowed to look at anything to upset the logging applecart. Like mining, logging is a sacred Australian industry.
But the science gets ever clearer. Existing old forests play a major role in locking up carbon. Old forests also perform the role of an underground reservoir. Their roots transport and hold water in the soils. More water flows into streams that come through old forests than plantations or regrowth. Forests also hold the banks of the creek together, stop erosion and siltation of our waterways, keep the temperature of the water cool and provide the best drinking water.
In northern NSW local communities are getting increasingly anxious about the effects of logging on their catchments. Recently a court refused to convict several people who had taken direct action to protect their catchment. Now the residents of another valley are preparing for action.
This media release from the Five Day Creek Catchment Protection Group, published below, tells part of the story. There will be more to come as they have already found that despite the minimal rules that govern logging, particularly on private land, there is really no-one checking to make sure they get adhered to. The State Government pours millions into propping up the timber industry but puts almost nothing into compliance. It would not be unreasonable to assume that the general attitude of government is ‘get away with what you can, chances are no-one will ever find out’.
In the case of private property you have the ultimate Catch 22. You can’t get the Government to send an inspector to check the logging unless you have evidence of a breach of permit. You can only obtain the permit via FOI. Then of course you may only be able to obtain evidence of a breach by trespass. It’s a slow process. Meanwhile the trees fall, the damage is done and the community and the environment as always are left to pay the long-term costs.
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Upper Five Day Creek Headwater Protection Group
URGENT MEDIA RELEASE OCTOBER 14, 2007
Logging in Water Catchment Causes Uproar!
Known for its pristine water, lush rainforest vegetation and rare fauna and flora, Upper Five Day Creek [3] in NSW is a vital feeder for the rivers and towns downstream.
Located due west of Nambucca Heads, the land in this area adjoins the New England National Park and is a mixture of private freehold land and perpetual crown leases. The land is classified as State Protected Land due to its slopes and ecological importance. It is largely uninhabited, except for a Wilderness Health Retreat and a few residents with urgent concerns for the welfare of the mountains and waterways.
A recent purchase of approximately 1,500 acres in the area by a timber company has caused no small stir among the locals. After receiving a permit to log from the Dept of Environment and Climate Change, logging operations commenced in September this year. This was despite numerous appeals to the authorities and protests from residents and environmentalists.
Local resident Dale Davison became alarmed last week when she went to the Five Day Creek on her property. “I was very concerned when I saw our permanently crystal clear water was dirty and grey,” said Dale. “Another neighbour visited and told me it is worse upstream. I then realised this was due to the logging about 10 km’s upstream in the hills.”
Steven White, farmer and mobile sawmill owner, resides on the family farm that adjoins the property being logged. “In the 30 years I have lived here, I have never seen the damage that is happening now.” said Steven. “Rockpools are already silting up after only three weeks, and riparian areas have been leveled. What was a riparian forest three weeks ago is now a mass of tree crowns, bear earth and lonely stripped young eucalypts.”
The Five Day Creek area is an example as to why legislation needs to change on the logging of private land. “I have a sawmill myself, but see myself an environmental timber man.” said Steven White, “I have been shy of any new laws to do with logging on private land, but the way that Five Day Creek is being logged now is shocking. A timber company just buys in, and logs the guts out of the country and then moves on. We are left with the bare earth, ruined creeks and the irreplaceable loss of clean water. The hills are now open to fires, cattle intrusions and weed infestation which kills off the remaining hope of recovery.”
The area is a paradise for bush walkers and naturalists. A visitor to the area last weekend was Jeffrey Leenhouwers from Nelson, New Zealand. “I do not understand how governments can allow logging in such fragile environments.” said Jeff. “I go tramping all over the world and this is as good as it gets.”
“The economic benefits of preserving the pristine nature of Five Day Creek are huge.” said businessman and retreat owner Michael O’Neill. “We have people come from all over Australia to de-stress and get healthy in a remote and untouched environment. We are employing local people and believe eco tourism ventures are the way of the future for the Upper Five Day Creek area.”
“The logging of fragile catchment areas seem to fly in the face of the massive worldwide effort to turn back the tide on poor environmental practices of the past.” said Michael. “I have never seen myself as an environmental activist, but when confronted with the destruction of such important areas as the water catchment, I have had to rethink my position and responsibility.”
Matthew Pickering from the Upper Five Day Creek Headwater Protection Group laments that as each day passes without intervention, the pristine nature of the area will only be something he can tell his daughter about in stories. “At the pace the bulldozers and chainsaws are going, it will not be long before it is all gone.” said Matthew. “It appears that there are serious breaches in the conditions of the permit. A fine and prosecution of the offenders will not undo the damage. It is a terrible, terrible shame.”
Residents are hopeful that government action will be taken over alleged breaches in the permits conditions. “We have equally good timber on our property, but refuse to be lured by the current high prices.” said Steven White. “At the end of the day you have to live with yourself and sleep at night. What we do affects our children and all future generations of Australians.”
For comment contact:
Michael O’Neill, Misty Mountain Health Retreat, Ph (02)6567 8118, 0427678118
Steve White 65678223