South East Forest Rescue has called for the Attorney-General’s intervention after once again having breaches of logging and licence prescriptions by Forests NSW confirmed.

The Office of Environment and Heritage has again confirmed that illegal logging has occurred in Badja State Forest and Bodalla State Forest.

The group stated that rocky outcrops and hollow bearing trees had been logged. Further, in relation to Badja SF, they stated that significant and deep soil disturbance and water pollution had occurred. OEH has issued warning letters to Forests NSW.

Rocky outcrops are special ecosystems, they are part of special prescription zones under the area’s forestry agreement which forbids logging of them, and within 40 metres exclusion zone around them.

“We are gratified that these breaches have been upheld,” said Ms Stone, spokesperson for SEFR. “However this is a case, yet again, of too little, too late. Our audits have exposed illegal logging of rainforest, land registered on the National Estate, endangered ecological communities and now more rocky outcrops. We have proven systemic re-occurring breaches on the south coast that show a pattern of non-compliance.”

The community were given assurances by the government when the controversial Forestry and National Park Estate Act was enacted in 1998 that the government would continue to regulate Forests NSW to its fullest capacity.

“OEH are understaffed and underfunded,” said Ms Stone. “By the time OEH get to the forest it is usually months down the track. We put in these breaches in February and April.”

While OEH has warned Forests NSW again to ‘take steps’ to ensure adherence to the licence conditions, enforcement seems inadequate.

“Forests NSW have been repeatedly reprimanded about theses breaches which has had no effect,” said Ms Stone. “These breaches are multiple and ceaseless. Given the failure of OEH to enforce its own laws, we call upon the Attorney-General to commit to urgent intervention.”

To add insult to injury the Eden chipmill, (South East Fibre Exports owned by Nippon Paper Group) have ignored the request to halt their production of wood pellets.

“SEFE are turning our forests into little pellets to be burned or made into kitty litter,” said Ms Stone. “Given what we know about the link between land degradation, deforestation and climate change this is an outrageous proposal and the height of madness.”

The group is also calling on the State government to end native forest logging on public land and begin the process for fair exit packages for local forest workers.

“Band-aid solutions are no solution. Forests NSW and the State Government have had twelve years to get this right and they have failed dismally,” said Ms Stone. “This logging is unlawful and unsustainable.

It is now time to end native forest logging.”
South East Forest Rescue [email protected]