Source: Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning - Minister for Housing

North East Forest Decision Reinforces Balance

Thursday, 12 November 1998

The decision on the upper and lower north east forests is a fair and balanced outcome in that it protects jobs, provides certainty and significantly increases forest reserves, the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning, Mr Craig Knowles, said today.

Mr Knowles said the agreements were based on the most comprehensive scientific, environmental, cultural and social assessment of the north east region ever undertaken.

The Comprehensive Regional Assessment (CRA) of these areas was conducted in full consultation with the key negotiating parties.

"Our prime objective — both here and in the south east forests — was to achieve a balance between the competing interests," Mr Knowles said.

"To achieve this, we implemented an inclusive and transparent process which has involved more than three years of hard work and detailed examination of the land use in this region."

The NSW Government has used sophisticated modelling and thorough scientific studies of flora and fauna to determine the selection and design of the reserve system. This significantly exceeds other Australian states — namely Victoria, WA and Tasmania — which have based their forest assessments on basic targets with limited definitions.

Mr Knowles said it would be difficult for anyone to sustain an argument that the Government had "not met conservation targets" given that the process set up by the Resource and Conservation Assessment Council (RACAC) had already been recognised as "world-leading" by conservation groups.

Mr Knowles again paid tribute to the members of RACAC, the negotiating parties and local communities for their commitment and dedication to the process.

"Never before have all the interest groups been brought to the table to resolve what has historically been a volatile and highly sensitive policy debate," Mr Knowles said.

Further information: Helen Wiloughby 9230 2312

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