Local environmentalists are disappointed with the small fines Forests NSW has received for illegally logging 15 hectares of endangered lowland rainforest in Grange SF near Jackadgery.
Lowland Rainforest is an Endangered Ecological Environment (EEC) that is excluded from Forests NSW harvesting operations.
Environmentalists are concerned that the forest regulator, the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) may not have found the 15ha area of rainforest that was trashed because the two small fines issued were for offences in other forest compartments. Forestry regulation staff at OEH do not have the requisite skills to identify EEC’s. The Clarence Environment Centre offered to show OEH the forest compartment in question but OEH declined the offer.
The value of the illegally harvested trees far outweigh the fines imposed to FNSW.
OEH minister Robyn Parker and OEH CEO Lisa Corbyn owe the people of NSW an explanation. Why is Forests NSW not subject to the full force of the law?
Does Chris Gulaptis the National party candidate for the seat of Clarence support Robyn Parker's lazy approach to regulating Forests NSW harvesting operations?
Chris Gulaptis brags about he had 10,000 bats tipped out of their home near Maclean.
Parker claims the government is working hard to save koalas but has approved logging in core koala habitat in Boambee State forest near Coffs.
Robyn Parker is proving to be a liability for the NSW government with a bad case of foot in mouth disease. Luke Foley at the recent standing committee - " So you are an environment minister that just does what Forests NSW ask?"
In the last 2 years Forest NSW have been found to have breached the Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (IFOA) at Yabbra SF, Girard SF, Doubleduke SF, Grange SF and Wedding Bells SF.
In June 2011 Justice Pepper of the NSW Land and Environment Court commented that FNSW operations - ‘suggests either a pattern of continuing disobedience in respect of environmental laws generally or, at the very least, a cavalier attitude to compliance with such laws’.
Chris Green
Guest Speak is a North Coast Voices segment allowing serious or satirical comment from NSW Northern Rivers residents. Email ncvguestpeak at gmail dot com to submit comment for consideration.
Lowland Rainforest is an Endangered Ecological Environment (EEC) that is excluded from Forests NSW harvesting operations.
EEC’s are protected by the National Parks and Wildlife Act. Under sections 118A and 118D of the Act it is an offence to pick or harm endangered ecological communities; currently the maximum penalty is $220,000 and up to 2 years jail, with an additional $11,000 for each plant illegally logged, picked, bulldozed out of the ground, trampled or squashed.
Environmentalists are concerned that the forest regulator, the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) may not have found the 15ha area of rainforest that was trashed because the two small fines issued were for offences in other forest compartments. Forestry regulation staff at OEH do not have the requisite skills to identify EEC’s. The Clarence Environment Centre offered to show OEH the forest compartment in question but OEH declined the offer.
The value of the illegally harvested trees far outweigh the fines imposed to FNSW.
OEH minister Robyn Parker and OEH CEO Lisa Corbyn owe the people of NSW an explanation. Why is Forests NSW not subject to the full force of the law?
Does Chris Gulaptis the National party candidate for the seat of Clarence support Robyn Parker's lazy approach to regulating Forests NSW harvesting operations?
Chris Gulaptis brags about he had 10,000 bats tipped out of their home near Maclean.
Parker claims the government is working hard to save koalas but has approved logging in core koala habitat in Boambee State forest near Coffs.
Robyn Parker is proving to be a liability for the NSW government with a bad case of foot in mouth disease. Luke Foley at the recent standing committee - " So you are an environment minister that just does what Forests NSW ask?"
In the last 2 years Forest NSW have been found to have breached the Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (IFOA) at Yabbra SF, Girard SF, Doubleduke SF, Grange SF and Wedding Bells SF.
In June 2011 Justice Pepper of the NSW Land and Environment Court commented that FNSW operations - ‘suggests either a pattern of continuing disobedience in respect of environmental laws generally or, at the very least, a cavalier attitude to compliance with such laws’.
Chris Green
Guest Speak is a North Coast Voices segment allowing serious or satirical comment from NSW Northern Rivers residents. Email ncvguestpeak at gmail dot com to submit comment for consideration.
2 comments:
Nuke the koalas
Hark! Do I hear the loon call of the Anonymous Redneck Queenslander?
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