NSW
Greens MP and Forest spokesperson, Dawn Walker has criticised the
Government’s ongoing logging operations in the Eden region
and called for new National Parks to be created in the area, after
obtaining new figures that reveal declining royalty returns for pulp
logs.
“Figures
obtained by the Greens have revealed that the royalties per cubic metre
paid on pulp logs from Eden was $20.43/m3 in the
year 2000, and now it’s just $18.90/m3 in 2018. This means that our
precious forests are being sold off for 7% less than they were in 2000.
What’s more, the overall royalties from pulp logging in the Eden area
have declined by more than $2 million since 2000”
said Dawn Walker MP.
“This
drop in price makes something very clear; there is no economic
justification to keep logging our forests. With increased deforestation
and climate change, it is shocking that the Government continues to
pursue and subsidise an industry that is both economically and
environmentally reckless.
“Logging
of native forests for wood chips in southeast NSW has historically been
unprofitable and it’s time the NSW Government stopped
subsidising this destructive industry with relaxed harvesting rules and
poor royalties that rip off NSW taxpayers.
“The
Greens want the precious forests and wildlife around Eden recognised
for their true worth and protected in new National Parks,
such as the Great Southern Forests proposal that would generate new
jobs and revenue in tourism, wildlife protection, recreation and forest
restoration.
“We’re
at a crossroads when it comes to our native forests. The Regional
Forest Agreements (RFA) which governed forest management
for the past 20 years are coming to an end. It should be a time to
transition to a sustainable plantation sector to meet our timber needs
and preserve our precious forests for future generations.
20.09.18
Background:
The royalty rate per cubic metre paid on pulp logs in the Eden Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) Region.
2000 – $20.43⁄m3
2010 – $18.70⁄m3
2018 – $18.90⁄m3.
See: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/p
The overall royalties paid on pulp logs in the Eden region:
2000 - $5,873,503
2010 - $3,793,685
2017 - $3,780,855
See: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov
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