Date & Address
Premier Mr. M lemma Parliament House Macquarie St. Sydney NSW 2000
Dear Sir,
I am writing to inform you of my opposition of the woodchips industry, especially South East Fibre Exports which sources native timber logs from Nowra to Orbost and chips them for export.
I want the chip mill to stop chipping native forests
Our precious native forests are taken to the Eden wood chipper for the last 35 years. Native forest woodchips are not "waste" or a by product. More then 90 % the timber cut between Eden and Cobargo goes to the mill in Eden. It is shameful that our icon forests are being shipped over to Japan to be made in to paper.
Small forest operators and workers have suffered badly through Forest NSW big business approach. Since wood chipping began all but, three mills have closed with huge losses in forest industry jobs. The profit now goes to one giant milling company and to the chip mill offshore shareholders. It is time for major changes in the way we manage our native forests. Transition to sustainable logging and jobs depends on workers, conservationists and government acknowledging and nurturing common interests and working together.
The government spent millions of dollars doing the science for the RP A, but the erosion filling our waterways is more evidence that the RP A is unable to oversee proper management and protection of the environment. Also you may wish to consult the Federal Minister responsible, Senator lan Mc Donald, that build in to the RP A was a review of practices, where is it?
The failure of this industry to address in real terms the chronic and irreversible erosion and degradation of our water catchments has caused the community to loose faith in the competency and integrity of forestry management and practices. There have been major protests and rallies aimed at ending unsustainable wood chipping and logging practices.
The logging of the water catchments with the current water crisis should not be allowed, and is a concern by many people in the local tourism, fishing, oyster fanning and farming industries. The community has a right to expect accountability and responsibility in return for our taxes subsidizing forestry.
What are our representatives in government doing about addressing these failed practices? The community wants an evidence led debate.
I ask you to present my concerns to parliament of which you are a publicly elected member.
Yours faithfully
Name