$270 Million Reasons Why PM and Truss Are Wrong on Jobs Future in
Logging Industry in NSW
7/30/99
*******************************
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: $270 Million Reasons Why PM and Truss Are Wrong on Jobs
Future in Logging Industry in NSW
Source: Friends of the Earth Sydney
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: July 30, 1999
Byline: Tom McLoughlin
Tom McLoughlin, NSW forest campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said
today "The PM and Minister Warren Truss are wrong to worry about
other states chucking the so called "forest agreements" on compelling
economic and environmental grounds". McLoughlin's comments follow the
blink by Premier Court's government in Western Australia on forest
policy likely to cause fallout for other States including NSW.
"The Financial Review 20th July 1999 reported the study of the tree
farm agricultural sector by "senior industrial analyst Mr David
Franklyn" to the effect that "five major tree farming groups raised
$240 million from investors for their 1999 projects" with another
estimated "$30 million" raised by five smaller promoters. All up
about "54,700 hectares" of mainly bluegums would be planted "over a
two year period". The report states "In about a decade those new
plantings would result in about 14 million tonnes of plantation
woodchips hitting the market over a two year period". Mr Franklyn
noted especially processing opportunities for WA's south west.
"The massive, under utilised plantation stockpile is already
responsible for "72%" of Australian "wood products for building":
refer Dr Judy Clark ANU in Australian 1st June 1999. There is also a
major plantation project going ahead by Visy at Tumut (1,000 jobs)
and by Arisa Ltd using wheat straw near Horsham ($100 million
project).
In relation to economic impacts of dry land salinity in large part
due to forest clearing Mr McLoughlin said "In NSW at Wagga Wagga and
Sydney's west we are seeing infrastructure and building foundations
crumble. Agricultural land is becoming sterile with latest national
estimates of "2.5 million hectares" affected and expected to increase
"six fold": CSIRO's Land & Water scientist Dr Tom Hatton Australian
10th July 1999. Dr Hatton reports that "Lost agricultural production
exceeds $130 million annually, costs to infrastructure are over $100
million."
"In Western Australia the Court government responded recently by
purchasing "3,000 hectares" of critical forest catchment for "$9.5
million" to prevent logging causing further dry land salinity at
Wellington Dam near Bunbury: Australian 2nd July 1999.
On the environmental issues involved Mr McLoughlin comment "All
independent, reputable scientists like Professor Harry Recher at
Edith Cowan University note the unsustainable natue of old growth
logging. In this sense the "forest agreements" referred to by the PM,
Wilson Tuckey and logging union reps like national secretary Michael
O'Connor and Gavin Hillier in NSW are a fraud on the public. The
Australian way is exemplified by entrepeneur R. M. Williams who
recently acted to protect bush on his cattle property in central
Queensland" concluded Mr McLoughlin
More: Tom McLoughlin 0410 558838 or 02-9517 3900