Funding support for businesses affected by the introduction of the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) is totally inadequate, Member for Port Macquarie, Robert Dwyer said today.
“The Minns Government has allocated $5 million across four electorates to assist businesses indirectly impacted by the GKNP. This is capped at $100,000 per business and anyone who runs a business knows this is drop in the bucket.
“That funding figure will not even come close to the huge financial impact on the local timber industry and the many associated businesses which will now face financial hardship due to the abysmal planning by the NSW Government.
“It is not only the businesses ‘downstream’ being impacted, but timber mills and other directly associated businesses as well, Mr Dwyer said.
“Whilst I support the GKNP and the protection of the koala habitat to ensure the future of one of Australia’s most loved marsupials, I am very disappointed that the largest timber mill in NSW at Herons Creek has been singled out to take the brunt of the downturn of the timber industry.
“This mill operated by Pentarch Forestry is nowhere near the GKNP, sources the majority of it’s timber locally with only 10% of timber coming from the GKNP region and is now forced to close costing 80 people their job and will cost the NSW Government millions of dollars in compensation and rehabilitation of the site.
“Furthermore, any timber harvested from forests in Kendall and surrounding areas will now have to be transported by road to any mills still in operation with the closest mill being over 150 kilometres away.
“The flow on effect of the mill’s closure is already being felt by Gibson & Sons at Kendall who manufacture industrial automation and robotics technology and work closely with Pentarch Forestry as well as internationally. Gibson’s have been in operation since 1896 with a quarter of their workforce now being made redundant with a downturn of business costing the company millions of dollars. They are like the NRMA is to motorists in NSW. When there is a breakdown in the Mills in NSW that have they trailers and teams ready to keep them running. Discussions with Gibsons indicate that by taking out the largest Mill this will no longer be viable,” Mr Dwyer said.
“I have written to the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for the North Coast to kindly suggest that the impact of the GKNP be reviewed with all timber mills forced to make minor supply changes thereby sharing the impact across the industry rather than a small number of mills taking the full burden. I am advised by Pentarch Forestry that they could maintain the Herons Creek Mill in some capacity if such an agreement could be reached.
“The effect the proposal will have on the supply of timber is also of concern. NSW will likely increase timber sourcing from private land and Australian plantations, with a focus on expanding engineered wood products and enhancing reclaimed timber and international imports to meet demand with no control over forestry sustainability and deforestation and illegal logging is very disturbing.
“Additionally, it is also important to note the risks of importing timber from countries like China and Brazil with potential invasive insects like wood boring beetles and termites causing economic and environmental damage to our ecosystem, as well as the pollution caused in the transportation of timber via cargo ships.
“The GKNP was an election commitment by the Minns Government and now after two and a half years since the election, this funding package is too little, ill conceived and badly implemented,” Mr Dwyer said.
“I believe if managed, funded and planned properly, we could have the best of both worlds.”
