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

NSW Forestry Process Achieves Positive Result for Eden

Monday, 26 October 1998

The Eden Forestry Agreement takes a critical step towards resolving the long-running forest debate in New South Wales, the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning, Mr Craig Knowles, said yesterday.

Mr Knowles said the Agreement — the first for NSW — followed a Comprehensive Regional Assessment (CRAs) of the Eden forest region. He said the Eden CRA had delivered "the most thorough scientific, environmental, cultural and social assessment of the forests ever undertaken".

"This assessment was conducted in full consultation with the key negotiating parties with the aim of achieving a balanced outcome for the Eden community," Mr Knowles said.

"It represents the most inclusive and transparent process ever undertaken in Australian forests."

The Eden Forest Agreement also sets a valuable precedent for other forest regions that have been subject to the CRA process in recent years.

Mr Knowles paid tribute to the members of the Resource and Conservation Assessment Council, the negotiating parties and the Eden community for their commitment to such a "positive resolution".

He said the Eden decision justified the Carr Government’s decision of three years ago to adopt a new approach to the forest debate by bringing old adversaries to the negotiating table.

"We have essentially given all the interest groups and the local communities a key say in the outcome of their region’s Forest Agreements," Mr Knowles said. "That has never happened in the past, nor has it occurred anywhere else in Australia.

"And while it has not been without its hiccups, the approach taken by the NSW Government has been essential in achieving the outcome we see here today."

Further information: Helen Willoughby 02-9228-4499; 0149 239 178

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