Source: Premier of New South Wales

Carr Government Delivers Historic Outcome on Eden Forest Agreement

Monday, 26 October 1998

The Premier of NSW, Mr Bob Carr, today announced a balanced and fair outcome for the Eden Forest Agreement. It delivers a 134,000 hectare National Park and creates up to 49 new jobs in the timber industry.

Mr Carr said the 134,000 hectare South East Forests National Park is 50 per cent bigger than the NSW Labor Party's election commitment in 1995.

"Precious forests, Tantawangalo and Coolangubra, will be reserved under this decision," he said.

"As part of this Agreement, the timber industry will receive a generous assistance package. The package includes $6 million to help build a new recovery mill at Eden and an export operation at Bombala. The recovery mill uses small logs for value-adding.

"It also gives the timber industry a guaranteed 20-year resource supply.

"The NSW Government is committed to the development of a value-adding, export oriented timber industry."

Mr Carr said the Eden Forest Agreement is an historic milestone - clearly the best in Australia.

"It follows more than three years of hard work, negotiating with the community and all interest groups."

Legislation will be introduced in the current session of Parliament to implement the Eden Forest Agreement and subsequent forest agreements.

Key features of the 20-year Eden Forest Agreement are:

• The addition of 37,000 hectares of forests to create a total reserve in the South East Forests National Park of almost 134,000 hectares - an increase of 170 per cent since Labor's election to office;
• Jobs growth for the region with the creation of up to 49 new jobs in the short term;
• A timber volume supply of 25,000 cubic metres of sawlogs for the first five years - 23,000 cubic metres from within the Eden Management Area and 2,000 from outside. This supply quota will reduce to 24,000 cubic metres for the subsequent 15 years of the Agreement;
• The inclusion of most of Coolangubra and all of Tantawangalo into the reserve system;
• The addition of 24,400 hectares to Brogo Wilderness, bringing the total reserve to 56,000 hectares; and
• A $6 million industry package to help build a new recovery mill in Eden with a focus on value-adding. This is expected to be operational in 2000.

Mr Carr said the Commonwealth was not involved in today's decision. The NSW Government urgently needed to provide security to the industry and protection of the forests. I urge the Commonwealth to endorse this decision and participate in future agreements.

The Agreement also meets the majority of concerns raised by the Yurangalo Voluntary Conservation Agreement group - representing private landowners. It protects sensitive catchment areas.

At today's announcement, the Premier launched a community education campaign information about the forest agreements. This follows 20,000 submissions from the community on the South East forest.

The Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning Mr Craig Knowles said the Eden Agreement is the culmination of more than three years of work. It is the most comprehensive data collection ever undertaken in these forests.

"This has been the most thorough scientific analysis ever conducted of the Eden forest region. It is a balanced outcome," Mr Knowles said.

The Minister for Forests, Mr Yeadon, welcomed the decision, saying it would provide long-term security for the forest industry.

"Our position has always been to secure jobs, and create new opportunities for a long-term timber industry," Mr Yeadon said. "This Agreement achieves that goal."

The Minister for the Environment, Ms Pam Allan, said the Agreement was a major win for the conservation movement.

"The Eden Forest Agreement far exceeds the Government's pre-election commitment to create a national park of 90,000 hectares in the Eden region."

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