GREENS SECURE SAWMILLERS ACCESS TO SPECIAL SPECIES LOGS

Local Logs for Local Jobs

The Tasmanian Greens today secured a commitment from Forestry Tasmania that small local saw millers would be provided with ongoing access to eucalypt and special species timbers that would otherwise be exported as whole logs.

Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP visited the Burnie wharf today with Forestry Tasmania chairman Bob Annells and a group of local saw millers, to inspect the logs stacked up for export, and assess their suitability for sawmilling.

“I am pleased today to have secured on behalf of local saw millers a commitment from Forestry Tasmania to provide ongoing access to this extremely valuable timber resource,” Mr Booth said.

“Saw millers have been trying for years to get access to export logs that have been left to split up behind locked gates in places like the Burnie wharf, and at Brighton and Leslie Vale.”

“The Greens have long held concerns about Forestry Tasmania’s appalling wasting of special species timbers, which has come at the cost of local jobs and the public purse.”

“These logs are far too good to sell to China for peanuts, so I am very pleased that they will be made available for local sawmillers, builders and craftspeople.”

“We are also pleased that Forestry Tasmania has agreed to provide three log truck loads of mixed species eucalypt, myrtle and blackwood for a sawing trial.”

“The trial will be carried out between Forest Tasmania, myself and a private saw miller and I am confident it will show that these logs are more than suitable for a whole range of high value sawn timber products.”

“It was a very productive day, and I would like to thank the chairman of Forestry Tasmania for agreeing to see the matters I have raised firsthand.”

“I would also like to thank the saw millers, contractors and Forestry Tasmania personnel who attended today, and for their assistance and goodwill on this matter,” Mr Booth said.
Kim Booth MP Greens Forestry Spokesperson Tuesday, 19 February 2013