At a community forum in Burnie today, participants heard that solving Tasmania’s forest conflict required new, reality-based thinking from Tasmania’s major political parties.
The forum was chaired by local MLC and President of the Legislative Council Sue Smith MLC and was organised by the our common ground coalition.
Forum speaker Russell Warman, an analyst and industry liaison officer with Environment Tasmania said that “With our plantation estate, Tasmania now has real opportunities to better protect our native forests and have a truly long term sustainable timber industry.”
Another speaker, Vica Bayley of the Wilderness Society said that “Global markets are rejecting Tasmania’s native-forest products, presenting a unique opportunity resolve the conflict over forestry in Tasmania”.
“To achieve this, we need old style policies and political thinking to be replaced with an acceptance of market realities and a will to enact change.”
Specialty timber worker and craftsman Paul Noordanus told the crowd that the specialty timber industry can survive without woodchipping but only if a widespread restructure occurs.
“We need native forests to produce the specialty timbers Tasmania is famous for, not woodchips. Our oldgrowth forests should be protected and the woodchip industry should focus on plantations,” said Mr Noordanus.
Local issues and the benefits of a Tarkine National Park were addressed by Tarkine National Coalition campaigner Scott Jordan.
“Protecting the Tarkine in a secure national park would help to grow jobs, boost the profile of the entire north-west region and attract visitors to our area. Increased tourism is just one area where a resolution to the conflict over forestry would benefit all Tasmanians,” concluded Mr Jordan.
Our Common Ground
