International Woodchip Demand Sways Logging Decisions in W. Australia
6/30/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: International Woodchip Demand Sways Logging Decisions
in W. Australia
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: June 30, 1999
It has been revealed decisions over logging in Western Australia's
forests are being influenced by international demand for woodchips.
The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) has
admitted it has changed its logging practices because there is an
over-supply of woodchips.
Greens WA MP Christine Sharp first exposed the changes, claiming they
have been made without approval from the Environmental Protection
Authority.
A spokesman for timber company Bunnings, Keith Kessell, has defended
the changes in logging practices, saying CALM must manage the forest
to meet demand for sawlog timber and woodchips.
Dr Sharp says the Environment Minister, Cheryl Edwardes, has allowed
Bunnings to ignore the rules which govern the forests.
Democrats MP Norm Kelly says the timber industry can no longer argue
that woodchips are a by-product of timber production.
"If you wanted to argue that woodchips are a by-product, then you
would be logging coupes solely upon the amount of sawlogs that can be
produced from that coupe," he said.
CALM maintains woodchips are a by-product.
Mrs Edwardes says CALM has legal advice that it has not broken any
rules, while the EPA says it is investigating.