BURNIE EXPORT LOGS REDIRECTED TO SMITHTON VENEER MILL

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed confirmation by the Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green that logs stacked on the Burnie wharf were now being sold to Ta Ann at Smithton instead of being exported at a cost to taxpayers.

Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the move followed a successful sawmilling trial which had proven that the thousands of tonnes of export logs stacked up at Burnie were suitable for high-value local sawmilling.

“At the time I also said that these logs should be suitable for peeling, and this has now been acknowledged by Forestry Tasmania transporting the logs back to the Smithton Ta Ann peeler mill,” Mr Booth said.

“This should also take some of the pressure off our native forests, a precious resource that has been used and abused for decades.”

“Access to these logs on Burnie wharf, coupled with an end to export of logs of this quality, should mean that the sensitive Bruny Island coupes can be protected as National Park as proposed.”

“There appears to be a positive cultural change taking place at Forestry Tasmania in relation to the way it treats the timber resource, and that should be warmly welcomed by all Tasmanians.”

“We should no longer have to see the shameful sight of export wharves sinking under the weight of wood that could and should be processed here.”

“The next step is to review the grading specifications, which have been used by Forestry Tasmania for decades to justify the appalling waste of minor species, eucalypt and peeler logs.”

“I congratulate Forestry Tasmania for their refreshingly new attitude and the help and co operation that they have shown over the trial.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Forestry Spokesperson Wednesday, 26 June 2013