Timber ban anger
Hardware chain Bunnings has banned hardwood sourced from Victorian native forests.
The company’s decision was in response to a Federal Court ruling in May that VicForests had breached environmental laws by approving logging in 26 timber coupes in the Central Highlands region. VicForests has appealed the decision.
Bunnings merchandise director Phil Bishop said that as of last Wednesday it would no longer stock timber from VicForests. VicForests has said it will appeal the Federal Court decision.
Mr Bishop said Bunnings believed that customers and team members have the right to expect that timber they buy is sourced from responsible and lawful forestry operations.
He said the hardware chain acknowledged the decision “may have an impact” on the industry and would work closely with affected suppliers on a transition plan.
Timber industry bodies and the State Opposition have attacked Bunnings’ action.
Member for Narracan and Shadow Forestry Minister Gary Blackwood described Bunnings decision as “knee-jerk” and premature in light of the pending appeal.
It would cost local jobs and undermine employment in regional Victoria, he claimed, suggesting Bunnings had been “influenced by a handful of inner-city Greens”.
The Victorian Hardwood Sawmillers Association also said Bunnings had acted prematurely but added that the company had been targeted for years by activist anti-forestry groups’ misinformation campaigns.
Spokesperson Leonard Fenning said the State’s native timber industry generated some 2500 jobs and many thousands more indirectly and generates annual revenues of $770 million.
He claimed Bunnings’ locally sourced timber would be replaced with imported timber from countries with poor environmental records and working conditions.
The latest battle over native timber harvesting comes as VicForests opens public consultation on changes to its Timber Release Plan in response to last summer’s bushfires in northern and eastern Victoria.
About 59 burned forest coupes are involved in the consultation that runs until July 10.
Vic Forests chief executive officer Monique Dawson said the changes to the Timber Release Plan were all in fire impacted areas containing fire-killed Ash forest.
She said harvesting would comply with salvage standards as well as VicForests’ own adaptive management procedures.
“The management approach protects habitat and forest regeneration”.
It would also help VicForests meet its supply commitments, keep hundreds of regional Victorians in jobs and maintain timber supply to local customers and contractors in accordance with Victorian government policy, Ms Dawson stated.
VicForests claims it harvests about 25003000 hectares each year representing only 0.04 per cent of Victoria’s public native forests, or four trees per 1000.