Source: NSW Minister for the Environment

Eden Agreement Ensures World Class Reserve System

Monday, 26 October 1998

The Eden Forest Agreement announced today was described by the Minister for the Environment, Pam Allan, as a resolution no-one but the Carr Government could have achieved.

"Most importantly 14 new jobs will be created in the National Parks and Wildlife Service and it hands the whole nation a world class reserve system in the State’s South East Forests," Ms Allan said.

"It is no exaggeration to say that the rest of the world will take notice of the decisions that we have made for conservation here in New South Wales."

"One central feature already commands international attention: our establishment of a 150 kilometre conservation corridor along the Great Escarpment in the South East Forests National Park. We have now consolidated and expanded it with links to the Snowy Mountains and coastal areas."

"This agreement ends 27 years of uncertainty and conflict in the South East Forests, consolidates the future of the timber industry and achieves conservation objectives dramatically in excess of the Carr Government’s original goals."

"The Agreement is a reassuring blueprint for the future," Ms Allan said.

""With it the Carr Government has brought the total area of reserves in the South East Forests to 243,000 hectares adding, since it came to office in 1995, 76,000 hectares of new reserves — a more than 30 per cent increase in reserved lands in the region."

"The Agreement achieves the protection of 80% of all remaining old growth forest on public land."

"The new areas directly protect 31 threatened and endangered species, including koalas. They also include almost all of the known habitat of the Long-footed potoroo, the rarest mammal in the State."

"As well, a koala advisory committee consisting of a broad range of stakeholders will be created to provide advice to the Government on koala issues in the Eden region," Ms Allan said.

"The Agreement adds significantly not only to South East Forests National Park, but to Biamanga, Bournda, Ben Boyd, Mt Imlay and Mimosa Rocks National Parks, Coolumbooka Nature Reserve and Davidson Whaling Station Historic Site."

"It expands wilderness areas and protects the catchment areas of most of the Sapphire Coast’s tourist towns including Eden, Merimbula and Bega, as well as the Bega Valley’s important dairying industry."

"It introduces new opportunities for the growth of tourism in region with spectacular new destinations becoming accessible in the new reserves. Already new facilities have been established at 6 Mile Creek, White Rock River, Pipers Lookout and Myamba Creek Falls, with picnic and camping facilities now planned at Brown Mountain."

"Overall it protects forest ecosystems, old growth and rare forest communities, rain forests and threatened flora and fauna - either within the existing reserves or, in forestry harvest areas, through the implementation of threatened species conservation protocols."

"Australia is one of the 12 most biodiverse countries in the world and the South East Forests are an example of outstanding biodiversity. On a continental scale they enclose an important region of Tall Eucalypt Forest as well as an extensive suite of other outstanding Australian species."

"This historic agreement guarantees their future. Future generations will look back on this day and applaud the decisions made by the Carr Government.

"The National Parks and Wildlife Service is to be congratulated on its role and performance as the leading agency in the negotiations."

Ms Allan said the outcome was also a measure of how carefully the Carr Government had listened to and discussed and consulted with the community and all stakeholders involved in the negotiations."

"Peace has finally come to the South East Forests. And with it economic certainties and a world-class forest reserve system," Ms Allan said.

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