Rodney Stevens

As more than 200 timber industry workers and supporters watched, Clarence Valley Councillors voted 7-2 at the October 24 meeting not to pursue a motion brought to council by its Biodiversity Advisory Committee calling for native forest logging on publicly owned land to be phased out.

When council called for public feedback on the proposal, it received 2464 submissions on the issue, with 2358 form submissions and 41 written submissions supporting the industry, and 65 written submissions in favour of phasing out native forest logging.

It was standing room only in the Maclean chambers for the hour-long debate which began as Cr Greg Clancy moved the officer’s three-part recommendation, which was seconded by Cr Jeff Smith, that council:

1. Recognise the significant interest and effort made to present a range of feedback to council from the timber industry, workers, interest groups and the community in relation to council’s consideration of native forest logging activity in state-owned forests and the recommendation to transition away from this practice.
2. Write to NSW Government Ministers and relevant Shadow Ministers responsible for forestry activities, biodiversity, tourism, finance, employment, climate mitigation and water management to request (a). urgent development of a plan to transition the native forest timber industry in state forests to an ecologically sustainable plantation base and (b). enactment of the plan to manage our state forests, in partnership with North Coast communities, including the timber-forestry industry, for their nature-based tourism assets, recreational opportunities, biodiversity values and for carbon sequestration and
3. Write to Local Government NSW seeking advice on the status of their advocacy following the adoption of Motion 100 moved by Shoalhaven City Council at the 2022 Local Government NSW Conference” That Local Government NSW advocates for the end of logging in NSW (public) native forests”.

Cr Debrah Novak then foreshadowed a motion, which was seconded by Cr Allison Whaites that council:

1. Note the 2464 submissions received on this matter and thank those who contributed.
2. Note the support for the native forest sustainable harvesting industry in the Clarence Valley and its significant economic contribution, directly and indirectly.
3. Acknowledge the importance of the international ecological values of the Clarence Valley’s biodiversity and native forests.
4. Invite State MP Richie Williamson to facilitate a workshop with Regional Development Australia Northern Rivers, the Clarence Valley timber industry, the Clarence River Environmental Centre, and other interested groups.
5. Establish terms of reference for a new CVC Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Advisory Committee and report back to Council no later than February 2024 meeting.

This was followed by Cr Ian Tiley foreshadowing another motion, which was seconded by Cr Bill Day “That given the native forestry logging importance to the Clarence Valley economy and noting the long term environmentally responsible approach of the Clarence Valley industry, Council support the continuation of selected native forest logging and take no further actions in this matter.”

Cr Clancy said his motion called on the state government to develop a plan for the future of the timber industry and its stakeholders, he was not calling for native forest logging in state forests to be phased out.

“If we don’t do that then the timber industry will not have a future,” he said.

“You can’t keep logging forests forever and expect the same timber resource that you got previously.”

Cr Smith and several other councillors thanked the timber industry workers and representatives for being respectful throughout the entire process, but he said council didn’t really have a part in the issue and they should concentrate on council matters.

Cr Bill Day said this council must realise the value of the timber industry to the economic wellbeing of the Clarence Valley.

Cr Tiley said the native forest timber industry is a vital industry to the Clarence Valley “that’s a no brainer”.

“I believe this matter should not have come to council,” he said.

Cr Steve Pickering said the local timber industry had been operating for generations, employing hundreds of people, generating millions of dollars, which helped to establish local family businesses in the industry, and he was disappointed the motion came before council.

Cr Allison Whaites said the timber industry not only in the Clarence Valley, but the whole of Australia needed support, and the industry was of vital importance to the valley with 15 sawmills in the Grafton region.

“The Greens party need to stop pushing their agenda as this has nothing to do with us,” she said.

Cr Karen Toms said she would be supporting Cr Tiley’s foreshadowed motion, and “to say that we don’t have a plan to transition the timber industry was just scaremongering”.

“It’s not our decision, it’s a state government decision, we need to get out of that realm,” she said.

The vote on Cr Clancy’s motion saw it defeated 8-1, then Cr Novak moved her foreshadowed motion which was seconded by Cr Whaites.

Cr Toms said she could not see the point of a workshop between Mr Williamson and industry reps and could not see the point in establishing a new council committee.

Cr Novak’s foreshadowed motion was lost 6-3, with Cr’s Novak, Smith and Whaites in support, then Cr Tiley moved his foreshadowed motion.

When councillors voted 7-2 to support Cr Tiley’s motion, with Cr’s Clancy and Smith voting against, cheers and applause erupted from the gallery.

After the vote, Marshall Notaras Hardwoods General Manager and Vice President of Timber NSW, Donna Layton celebrated the victory for the industry with more than 200 supporters, but it isn’t the end of the fight.

“The timber industry is back on, we can continue with our work, there is no other committees, there is nothing else going on it’s finished,” she said.

“The council says get on with your work, we shouldn’t have been there, we shouldn’t have done this, everything is good, so it’s a really great result.

“Now we have to go to state government, because the state government at the end of the day can still close the industry, so this is a great support locally for the industry and now we can do the same thing with the state government and give them all the information.”

Chants then erupted of “We are the workers, the mighty, mighty workers, the hardwood timber workers, here to stay, here to stay,” as the elated workers and supporters celebrated their victory.