Blackwood slams timber plan as politically motivated

Shutting down the state’s native timber supplies was more than a political backhander for Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood.

The Blackwood family’s involvement in local timber and logging operations spans five generations.

Mr Blackwood was a fourth generation family member to work in the industry until his election to state parliament 13 years ago, and is currently shadow assistant minister for forestry.

It is an industry he is passionate about, and an industry he is now seriously concerned about for the long term security of businesses at Noojee, Drouin West, Longwarry, Hill End and Powelltown.

Mr Blackwood has called on the government to extend the transition out of native forests to 30 years and reduce the amount of native forests harvested each year as replacement plantation becomes available.

“‘This decision is not based on any science and is entirely politically motivated,” he said.

Mr Blackwood said the government had used political spin to manipulate and mislead the community.

The government last week said it would immediately cease harvesting of old growth forests.

But, Mr Blackwood said old growth forests had not been harvested since 2006 when the Bracks’ government tied up 98 per cent of old growth reserves.

He said the remaining old remnant trees were excluded from harvesting 18 months ago.

Mr Blackwood said the government’s plan to transition to plantation supply in the next 10 years was unachievable.

“The ability for industry to transfer to plantation timber by 2030 can’t physically happen, the trees can’t grow that quickly.

“We need 40 to 50 years growth for saw log quality. 1939 regrowth trees after the Noojee fires were harvested when they were 55 years old,” he said.

Mr Blackwood said he fully supported a transition to plantation-based supply but there currently was not enough plantation forests available for that to occur in 10 years and HPV forests were already committed.

“There is no reason to transition out of native forests when only six per cent is available for timber production,” he said.

VicForest native forest harvest levels show 450,000 hectares (six per cent of the state’s 7.1 million hectares of forest areas) is available for timber production each year.

VicForests harvests 0.04 per cent of the available forest each year, which is about 3000 hectares.

In Noojee, VicForests’ three coup areas identified in the current timber release plan are 30.8, 57.1 and 55 hectares in size.

Mr Blackwood said the decision would have far-reaching implications beyond regional towns and communities.

“Suppliers and retailers will now be forced to source low grade product from overseas to replace high quality home grown timber which will be locked up.

“The hypocrisy of this decision staggers me. Currently the Native Forest Industry injects around $590m into the Victorian economy and employs 2000 directly and at least another 4000 providing goods and services to industry.

“Surely it is far more responsible to harvest a small area of the public native forest estate (six per cent) on a sustainable basis whilst maintaining our parks and reserves (94 per cent) rather than import timber products from precious rainforest and forests in countries that do not replant after harvesting,” Mr Blackwood said.

The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath said the government’s forestry plan was a “serious kick in the guts for hardworking Gippslanders.”

Ms Bath said the decision would be economically devastating for Gippsland.

“Thousands of local jobs are set to go – good, hardworking Gippslanders with families to support will be out of work.”

Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party Member for Eastern Victoria Jeff Bourman said the plan would destroy the livelihoods of people who relied on the timber industry.

“It was only two years ago that the Victorian Government took action to save the Heyfield Timber Mill and the 250 jobs that were at risk. Singing their own praises following the announcement that they had secured the future of the mill; saving jobs, protecting the timber industry and ensuring the local Heyfield economy is supported into the future.

“Now two years later, they are announcing the closure of the entire native timber industry,” he said.