Claims NSW Govt over-reacted to forest protests
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
December 3, 2001
The State Government has been accused of a massive over-reaction to threats by conservationists to mount anti-logging protests in a disputed forest in the state's south-east.
Parts of the Badja State Forest, near Cooma, were set aside for logging in the Southern Regional Forests Agreement, signed by the state and federal governments earlier this year. Harvesting work began late last month.
The Wilderness Society has begun a campaign to save the Badja, which it describes as an icon forest and home to at least eleven threatened species of fauna.
Spokeswoman Annie Coleman says it has been prevented from gaining access to the area by an unprecedented level of police protection.
"There are road blocks at either end of the public road which runs past the forest. There's also a road block on the back road which leads into the forest," she said.
"They've been patrolling the forest. There's at least nine people there full-time, there has been groups of up to 20 or 30 police there on various days as well. It's enormous and there's helicopters escorting the log trucks out."