NSW Government misses fourth deadline to regulate private logging - 4 July 2007

Management of logging on private lands in NSW has descended into farce as the state missed the fourth deadline on the 1st July 2007 for the introduction of a logging ‘Code of Practice’.

“The government has failed miserably when it comes to the regulation of logging on private lands”, said Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“This was one of the most important pre-election environment promises out of only a handful of promises made. Regulation of private logging by 1st July was crucial and long overdue.

“Identified wilderness, old growth forest, streamside vegetation and even patches of rainforest are being destroyed in this state whilst the government is busy making promises it can’t or won’t keep.

“The situation is becoming more critical with the announcement that 6000 Crown leases are to be sold to land owners. This will result in more pressure on biodiversity as forested public lands lose some protection when they transfer to private ownership.

“Management of forests is in chaos. Farmers are cutting trees protesting about land clearing, deadlines come and go on Private Native Forestry and promised reviews of the State’s Forest Agreements have never happened.

“The need for a code of practice has never been greater, but with the track record they have on this issue, can anyone be sure that the government will deliver by the first of August 2007?” asked Mr Cohen.

Further Information: Ian Cohen: 0409 989 466 or Nic Clyde: 0417 742 754

Note to editors

The government first committed to regulation in December 2003 when they introduced the Native Vegetation Act. Two years later in December 2005, they introduced the ‘Native Vegetation Regulation 2005’ but private native forestry (PNF) was exempt from it. They gave a new commitment to regulate PNF by June 2006. In June 2006 they then delayed the introduction of PNF regulation until September 2006. In September 2006 there was yet another delay until July 1st 2007. Most recently, another delay was gazetted until 1st August 2007… and so it goes on … The September 2006 promise included a commitment to refer the matter to the Natural Resources Commission if the stakeholders could not agree on the Code of practice. There was no agreement but the Code has never been referred to the NRC.