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March 19, 2024

Forest blockade stops logging at Wild Cattle Creek

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Protesters stopped NSW Forestry Corporation from logging at Wild Cattle Creek state forest this morning. Photo supplied.

A tree-sitter a the Newry Native Forest Blockade has stopped NSW Forestry Corporation (FCNSW) from logging native forest an hour and a half west of Coffs Harbour in Wild Cattle Creek state forest this morning.

The forest defender is in a tree-sit immobilising four logging machines as FCNSW returns to work after a stop-work order was issued last year in the same state forest.

The group’s action demands that native forests are safeguarded from the unruly behaviour of FCNSW to protect threatened wildlife, waterways and the climate. The group is concerned that this native forest is being logged after it narrowly escaped the 2019 Liberation Trail mega-blaze and should remain as an undisturbed refuge for threatened wildlife.

A tree-sitter is guarding the forest. Photo supplied.

The person in the tree-sit, who wishes to keep their name out of the media, says that the community has suffered enough from the Black Summer Bushfires. ‘It is unthinkable that native forest logging would continue as business-as-usual after such widespread habitat loss across the state. The NSW Government’s koala inquiry showed that habitat loss was the biggest threat to the survival of koalas and yet logging continues.

World leader in mammal extinctions

‘Australia has become a world leader in mammal extinctions. The elected NSW Berejiklian Government has a responsibility to listen to concerned community members and halt native forest logging in our public forests.’

A Newry Native Forest Blockade spokesperson says this action comes after Forestry Corporation was issued two suspensions and fines for illegal logging last year less than 10km down the road. They say that over the last year alone, the NSW environmental watchdog has begun five prosecutions against NSW Forestry Corporation for allegedly felling trees in protected areas in northern NSW. One of those sites is Wild Cattle Creek after Forestry contractors felled trees and operated snig tracks within a koala exclusion zone in 2018. The total fines could surpass more than $1 million dollars.

The tree-sitter says the group feels that Forestry Corporation will continue to breach its weak environmental protocols unless the community steps in and holds them to account. They have broken the community’s trust showing a blatant disregard for threatened wildlife habitat and fines alone are not enough.’

Concerns about the lack of transparency

Protesters at Wild Cattle Creek. Photo supplied.

There have been concerns about the lack of transparency from FCNSW who are actively avoiding community consultation and continue to ignore questions from concerned community members.

‘There has also been no proper assessment of the significant cultural sites within the Wild Cattle Creek State Forest. Gumbaynggirr custodians are concerned the logging will destroy cultural areas before they are recorded and preserved.’

‘The Wild Cattle Creek state forest is within the proposed Great Koala National Park (GKNP) that surrounding communities have been passionately advocating for. Currently, the NSW Berejiklian Government is not representing the vision of local communities as they allow the continued destruction of native forests.

Decisions shaped by the community

‘They could be making economic decisions that are shaped by what our community values most in life. Our public money should not subsidise an industry that is destroying nature and prime koala habitat. Instead, the Government should be supporting initiatives like the GKNP that create jobs with a future and are good for our future.’

People who value native forests, healthy waterways, wildlife, sacred land and their children’s future are welcomed and urged to join a growing community of people standing up to protect native forests now.

More information on upcoming local actions and events can be found at facebook.com/newryforestblockade.


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8 COMMENTS

  1. All I can say is that I am very grateful, and in debt, to you mob out there who are holding the b@sta#ds to account.
    Legends.
    Thru The Mother

  2. It’s just astounding that people have to protect our land from our governments. In a country the size of Australia, timber should be an abundant, renewable and cheap resource. If you’ve purchased timber lately you’ll know about the price. We shouldn’t be smashing up vital habitat. If China can buy our native forests cheap enough to make cardboard boxes, something is amiss. We should have planted native cabinet timber plantations decades ago for commercial use and rehabilitated and extended wild areas. I don’t get it.

  3. Forestry Corporation is a organized ,career criminal organization and is encouraged by the likes of Gladys ‘The Koala Killer’ and the low-lives that make up the minority NSW Government. If you, or I, was proven to have ignored the law as often as FCNSW we would be doing a very long time at “her Majesty’s pleasure”. This country has frittered away the generous native timber resources ( the palaces of Europe are bedecked with ‘red cedar’ and the wharves of the world have been constructed of our ‘turpentine’ ) and the governments of the time have, and do, fall far short on their ability to procure fair prices for Australian commodities, thus securing their place in the honours lists while raping the resources and wealth of the nation for their private gain.
    Luckily the public are easily duped and leave politics up to their betters. Cheers G”)

  4. And the Government permits this?
    Thanks to the tree sitter for the courage to say NO! I’m thinking only when we care enough as individuals will there be any hope of saving not just the forest, but this one planet we all live on.
    Jill Summer
    New Zealand

  5. SO SO PROUD OF THE BRAVE TREE SITTERS. They are precious legends, just remember that we should not be having these battles & trauma decades on. Same shit different day. This is because Governments have protected & subsidised the Forestry Industry for decades. Governments have willingly permitted the destruction of our precious but dwindling native forests, due to the power & influence of these mega corporations. What a outrageous waste of TAX PAYERS money. Lets not forget that the Murdoch media has sought to conceal the facts & the dirty dealings of the corrupt & incompetent Forestry Industry. Governments continue to lie about the number of jobs past /present or future in this unsustainable industry. Australian voters are being conned & they need to take the time to get informed & ACT ASAP… to protect our unique and irreplaceable native forests, that all of our wildlife depend upon.

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