Frank Nicklason
Alan Cummine, presenting plantation forestry interests on Landline, was not able to, believably, counter the concerns for long term water security which were raised on the show by Mr Belcher (and which have been extensively studied by Tasmanian geohydrologist Dr David Leaman).
Dear Editor
Grazier Robert Belcher and Senator (Liberal) Bill Heffernan, also a farmer, are to be commended for their contributions to Sunday’s (25/2/2007) Landline programme on the ABC which examined the thorny issue of managed investment schemes (MIS) in agribusiness.
It is an absolute disgrace that the rort that is the MIS product ruling which allows 100% upfront tax breaks for pulpwood plantation establishment has been allowed to continue whilst it has been removed for non forestry schemes.
We are living at a time when the most appropriate decisions need to be made in order to conserve critical resources in the face of the reality of global climate change.
Our most precious natural resources include agricultural soil for food production and water.
Alan Cummine, presenting plantation forestry interests on Landline, was not able to, believably, counter the concerns for long term water security which were raised on the show by Mr Belcher (and which have been extensively studied by Tasmanian geohydrologist Dr David Leaman).
Mr Cummine’s suggestion that water quality is improved by plantations certainly does not hold when dangerous chemicals are used in the planting phase and later to protect against insect and fungus attack.Often these chemicals are aerially sprayed and can easily gain access to domestic water supplies when riperian vegetation has been cleared in the prior harvesting operation.
Mr Cummine also suggested that plantations lead to a reduction in soil erosion.This is certainly not the case when plantations are established on clearfelled areas.
Much of the siltation problem affecting the Tamar River relates to soil erosion from clearfells in the upper catchment.
Tasmania is projected to be less affected than mainland Australia by climate change and therefore our farmers become much more important in the nation’s food supply.
The water hungry rapidly growing young trees clearly consume far greater water than the mixed native forests they replaced.
The longterm consequences of chemical contamination of our water (funded by the Australian taxpayer through MIS) are yet to be fully appreciated.
The product ruling for plantation developments should be disallowed when the tree farms are established on cleared native forests or on productive farmland.
Dr Frank Nicklason
West Hobart
