New Forest Parks for South Coast
Bob Carr and Wilson Tuckey On Notice

The South East Forest Alliance, some 20 local, regional and state conservation groups representing over 100,000 people, today released its proposals for new forest national parks on the South Coast between Nowra and Narooma in the lead up to decisions later this year by the NSW Government on logging and woodchipping of the Southern Forests.

"These reserves are community icons," said South East Forest Alliance spokesperson Noel Plumb. "They are the best of what’s left in the magnificent South Coast forests, and deserve urgent protection from the woodchipping and clearfelling that threaten the South Coast forests. They are the starting point for the comprehensive forest reserve system promised by the Carr government for the South Coast."

The proposed national parks cover towering old-growth forests, rainforests, wilderness areas, sensitive coastal lakes and critical habitat for threatened species. Their fate will be decided this year by the NSW Government’s forest agreement process with the Commonwealth.

"We are putting the NSW and Federal governments on notice that we are not going to stand by and see politicians and bureaucrats impose bad decisions on communities and conservationists behind closed doors. People have fought to protect these areas for many years, in some cases for more than three decades. The areas have clearly established conservation values and are beautiful. "

"We are confident that the public will support our proposals which also protect water catchments and water supplies to rural communities and industries and provide the real base for sustainable jobs growth on the south coast - nature based tourism and recreation."

"We are calling on Bob Carr to stand firm against the Federal Government and the woodchipping industry. NSW does not want woodchippers' mates like Wilson Tuckey playing ironbar politics with forests that belong to the people of NSW. The people of Western Australia have revolted against sham forest decisions and we feel sure that NSW people will not allow the wonderland forests of the South Coast to be sacrificed."

"We will fight to see these forests protected for the people of NSW at all cost and we expect the Carr Government to ensure that no woodchips are sourced from the South Coast forests."

Attached is a briefing sheet and map. For more information or further comment call:

Noel Plumb National Parks Association 0412 975 575 or 9233 4660

Andrew Wong The Wilderness Society 6249 6491

Peter Hudson Bendalong and Districts Environmental Association 4456 4070

MEDIA RELEASE Embargo until 12 August 1999