Carr's Forest View Chipped
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday April 25, 2000
The NSW Division of the Australian Institute of Foresters has added its voice to the chorus of criticism of State Government plans to cap logging in the South Coast region.
NSW Division chairman Ian Barnes said Premier Bob Carr had missed a great opportunity to show he had the future of the state's forests at heart with his announcement that the NSW Government would be supporting a Southern Regional Forests Agreement (RFA) option of just 42,000m cubic of resource.
The timber industry has repeatedly warned that the ``bottom line" for the industry is 46,000m cubic.
Mr Barnes, of Batemans Bay, said he was disappointed with Mr Carr's decision, which he described as ``mediocre".
``The potential political position of the South Coast forests was unique," Mr Barnes said.
``After intensive scientific investigation and remarkably smooth negotiation of realistic options, here was an opportunity to not only significantly increase the National Park estate by at least 150,000 hectares but to bolster the confidence of the timber industry and encourage them to invest in theirs, and our grandchildren's, economic future.
``Unfortunately, Mr Carr has once again folded to the insatiable demands of a small lobby group and has locked away additional valuable timber areas proven to have little conservation value."
Mr Barnes said Mr Carr had displayed ``ordinary leadership" in the matter.
``In this decision it is hard to see compassion or understanding of the economic and social values of forests in rural Australia," he said.
Bega MP Russell Smith has also attacked the Premier's decision, saying it would destroy the last remnants of a once flourishing timber industry in the south-east of the state.
Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Gary Nairn was equally critical, describing the NSW Government's announcement as ``a kick in the teeth" for the south-east.
© 2000 Illawarra Mercury