[Greens-Media] NSW Government misses fourth deadline to regulate private logging

[Nic Clyde]

Media Release from Ian Cohen						
                  July 4, 2007

NSW Government misses fourth deadline
to regulate private logging

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.


Nic Clyde
Adviser, Greens MLC Ian Cohen
Macquarie Street, Sydney, 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3305, Fax: +61-2-9230 2267
Mobile: 0417 742 754
Web: www.iancohen.org.au