The jobs of more than 50 timber workers are on the line, but the Paul family of Gunnedah Timbers can’t get any answers from the NSW Minister for the Environment, Robyn Parker. Source: The Namoi Valley Independent
George Paul said the industry had been struggling in the region ever since 2005, when then Premier Bob Carr converted a huge area of State Forest into National Park.
The family business, which directly employs 55 workers and spends more than $200,000 a month in the region has “less than 12 months to run” unless the State Government delivers on its promise to open up more forest to the industry.
“The decision by the Carr Government to transfer 348,000 hectares – including the best cypress forests in NSW – to National Parks and community conservation areas has closed down eight sawmills and forced hundreds of workers out of the industry,” Mr Paul said.
“Our business has been struggling along ever since. We are working hard to keep things afloat, but slowly becoming increasingly unviable. We will keep going as long as we can, but I give us 12 months at the most, unless the government honours its election promise.”
In the lead-up to the State election last year, Deputy Leader of the Nationals, Adrian Piccoli, Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries and The Nationals candidate for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, met with workers at Gunnedah Timbers.
“Before the last election, the Coalition promised they would protect the timber industry by turning some National Park back into State Forest, which can be managed for timber,” Mr Paul said. “Ever since the election, we’ve been trying to get a meeting with the Environment Minister Robyn Parker to discuss it and we have constantly been rejected.”
The Pauls managed a short appointment with the Minister, but only to sit in as part of a Gunnedah Shire Council meeting.
“After our own request for a meeting had been again declined, Owen Hasler, as Mayor, was kind enough to invite us to sit-in on the council appointment and speak to the Minister,” Mr Paul said. “But I’m sorry to say, we came away with the distinct impression she didn’t want to know us.”
The issue for the forestry industry is that while the areas put away as National Park have no better biodiversity value than what was left for timber management, the timber industry was left with areas that didn’t have the right timber.
It has been claimed this was a deliberate measure to close down the industry, and Mr Paul argues he runs a sustainable business.
