Bellingen Courier Sun: EPA fines Forestry Corporation of NSW $30,000

Sediment pouring into a stream in the Gladstone State Forest in March (2018)

 

The Forestry Corporation of NSW has been fined $30,000 for allegedly breaching their environment protection licence and causing water pollution during harvesting operations at Gladstone State Forest during March 2018.

Following reports from the North East Forest Alliance and the Bellingen Environment Centre about water pollution in the forest, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) inspected the area on  March 9.

Read full story in Bellingen Courier Sun

See also the exceptional film below about Forest Corporation harvesting practices in the Gladstone State Forest Pollution incident.

"And of course the current industrial logging practices impact our water supply and the well being and health of forest neighbours in addition to threatening native species." Carol Vernon Facebook

"Ryan Jasper Film is with National Parks Association of NSW and 2 others.

This week, the NSW Forestry Corporation were fined $30,000 by the Environmental Protection Authority for misconduct in logging forests of the Bellingen Shire. Many threatened animals and an extremely rare ecosystem are at stake. I produced this film between February-July 2018 explaining the issue and showing Forestry's breaches of code.

These fines are potentially the largest known in this category. 

After 12 months of lobbying and campaigning by conservation groups, the Environmental Protection Authority have now finally stepped up." Ryan Jasper Film