Today the Premier made a commitment to conservation in NSW, announcing that the Millewa Riverina Red Gum Forest will added to the National Park estate. The Barmah-Millewa is Australia’s largest River Red Gum forest and the biggest ecosystem of its type in the world. The Barmah portion of the forest, on the Victorian side of the river, was made a national park last year.
“I congratulate Premier Nathan Rees in announcing that he will create a new National Park and protecting for posterity 660 km² of iconic River Red Gum forest and Ramsar-listed wetland,” says Ian Cohen, Greens MLC.
“Many people have worked hard for many years to convince the Government that the protection of these forests needs urgent attention. Premier Rees has listened to the experts – the Natural Resources Commission, the recent group of 57 scientists and many other scientists – who have confirmed that the Red River Gum forests of south-western NSW are heavily stressed.
“I hope the release of the report from the Natural Resources Commission on 21 December will provoke the Premier to preserve the remainder of the High Conservation Value River Red Gum forests.
“The exit assistance package of $48 million should be used for setting up sustainable industries and job creation and is not just a one-off hand-out. The rainforest decisions of the Wran Government in the 1980s and those of the Old Growth forests of the1990s show how a well-targeted assistance package can lead to sustainable and adaptive long-term employment.
“The traditional owners, the Yorta Yorta people, are calling for a handback/leaseback arrangement for the Millewa country. I hope any future plans for the area take this into consideration.
“Saving this eco-system, the ‘green lungs’ of the Murray, is a great contribution to the Labor Government’s environmental credentials. Nathan Rees joins his predecessors in expanding the national parks system – and for that I commend him.”
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