SAVE OUR JARRAH

ALANNAH MACTIERNAN MLA

MEMBER FOR ARMADALE

MEDIA STATEMENT

24 June 2010

NO ECONOMIC CASE FOR LOGGING MUNDLIMUP FOREST

The drop in demand for timber by sawmillers means that the Government can afford to spare Mundlimup forest and turn it into Jarrahdale’s Kings Park said Alannah MacTiernan MLA.

Further, the costs of regeneration, uncovered in Budget Estimates indicates that it could well cost Forest Products Commission more to log than they earn from wood sales.

Ms MacTiernan said she obtained information in Budget Estimates that showed over the last two years sawmillers have not taken the volume of logs they are entitled to under the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) because of declining demand for their products.

Indeed two of the major sawmills are only taking 50%-60% of their entitlement and overall the demand over the last two years is down by more than 23% from the contracted allocation under the RFA.

“The Barnett Government cannot continue to argue that it cannot save the 300 hectares of Mundlimup that have been earmarked for logging because of their contractual obligations.”

“At most the 300 hectares will yield 4,500 tonnes of first and second grade logs. Yet the demand for these logs over the last two years is 80,000 tonnes less than allocated under the RFA, giving plenty of capacity to liberate Mundlimup from logging while still meeting the requirements of the industry.

Further, the Minister for Forestry has refused to allow the Forest Product Commission to release details of the costs and revenues for the Mundlimup forest. However, we were able to get general costings, which indicate that the work done by the Department of Environment and Conservation on Mundlimup would cost the Forest Products Commission around $140,000.

“This cost means expenditure is likely to exceed revenue on this exercise”

So the people of Jarrahdale will lose a quality forest for no benefit at all and despite there being no contractual necessity for doing so.

“This refusal to remove Mundlimup from the logging programme in this circumstance amounts to environmental vandalism.”

Media Contact: 9495 4877 or 0439 043 030

Delights & Devistation Walk July 2010

The delights and devistation walk was a delight. Many people arrived for the walk (despite the weather). Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLA and Mundlimup supporters posed for a photograph sitting on a wasted Jarrah log.

The Jarrahdale Forest Protectors are still campaigning and raising awareness throughout the wider community. Despite meeting with these people and organisations:

• Minister Redman
• Forest Products Commission
• Dept of Environment & Conservation
• Conservation Commission
• Water Corporation
• Serpentine-Jarrahdale Shire
• Tony Simpson MLS
• Alison Xamon Greens MP
• WA Forests Alliance & Concervation Counsel

... (a lot of people, eh?)... the logging has been DEFERRED to Sept or October, but the ROADS are set to be built in MARCH and APRIL (Yes, that's now!)  The Jarrahdale Forest Protectors are hopeful that the new CEO of the Forest Products Commission will see the value of keeping our native forests intact.

Delight at Dardanup at LOGGING HALTED. Celebration in the Dardanup local community as the logging of their LOCAL FOREST by the FPC STOPS as a full environmental investigation begins!  These Dardanup Forests (forests that contain five-hundred year old trees) were going to MAKE the taxpayers $160,000, after all!  The community are delighted as the Government recognises the value of ancient forests as not only ANCIENT FORESTS, but as living, breathing parts of the community and are more valuable an asset left where they are.

THE FOREST RESCUE, who have been welcomed by the Jarrahdale Community at large, have seen this as the beginning of the campaign to save the NATIVE FORESTS in WA.  They have moved their camp to Mundlimup where they have continued to be vigilant in case the roading begins.  The local community has become empowered to continue to fight to save our forests.

On a STATE LEVEL, Independent MP Janet Woollard has introduced a motion into the Legislative Assembly calling on the House to have the Standing Committee on Economics and Industry inquire into the costs and benefits of Native Forest Logging under the Existing Forest Management Plan and to place a moratorium on logging until the Government responds to the Committee's Report.

The JARRAHDALE FOREST PROTECTORS have begun a COMMUNITY SURVEY of Jarrahdale Residents to demonstrate the commitment of the entire community to cease logging of the Mundlimup Forests adjoining the Town.