With the proposed Great Koala National Park likely to be an issue at the next State Government elections in 2019, Nambucca Shire councillors are keen to be informed of the implications.
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The proposal from the National Parks Association would see existing State Forests in the Nambucca, Bellingen and Coffs Harbour local government areas converted into a new Great Koala National Park, adding 175,000 hectares of state forests to the existing 140,000 hectares of protected areas.
Cr Susan Jenvey said she wanted clarification from Forestry Corporation of NSW on the implications for shire forests that contained koala populations in relation to the number of direct jobs, the type of product taken from the forests, the markets they are sold into (local or overseas) and a health assessment of the forests.
“As a member of the ALP, I support jobs as well as koala habitat,” Cr Jenvey said.
“Our forests here are logged at a much higher rate than in the south and the trees are much smaller … there are also a litany of offences against Forestry Corp, who don’t seem to care too much about habitat protection.
“The days of fishing, farming and forestry are over and we are now a service economy. This park would be great for tourism.”
Cr John Ainsworth said the real problem for koalas was wild dogs.
“The tenure of the land won’t make any difference – the dogs are the problem for the koala bears. I am sceptical of this proposal,” Cr Ainsworth said.
Cr Anne Smyth said the park offered massive tourism potential with a lot of associated jobs.
She cited the popularity of the Otways in Victoria, where visitors flock to see koalas in the wild, “in spite of it being freezing down there”.
Cr Martin Ballangarry said koalas were an important part of the identity of the Gumabynggirr people.
“We’ve got so many Dreamtime stories about the koala … I think this park would enhance understanding and be good for tourism,” Cr Ballangarry said.
He moved an amendment that council seek advice from the local Gumbaynggirr people in relation to the proposal.
Cr Rhonda Hoban further requested that advice be received from Planning Staff on whether the declaration of a park would have any impact on the permissible uses of adjoining land.
The motion in its entirety read as follows and was passed unanimously:
395/17 RESOLVED: (Ballangarry/Jones)
1 Council seek advice from the Forestry Corporation of NSW on the implications for Nambucca Shire State Forests that contain koala populations in relation to number of direct jobs, the type of product which comes from the forests, the markets they are sold into (local or overseas) and the health assessment of these forests.
2 That Council seek advice from the three main local sawmills in relation to the proposal.
3 Council seek advice from the NSW Opposition Leader, the Hon. Luke Foley MP on the funding which would be made available to support the proposed Great Koala National Park, including arrangements for funding assistance to any local workers and businesses who might be affected by the conversion of State Forests to National Park as well as the additional jobs which the proposed National Park would create.
4 Council seek advice from the Premier of NSW, the NSW Greens and the NSW Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party in relation to their respective positions’ on the proposed Great Koala National Park.
5 The advice of the Forestry Corporation of NSW, the three main local sawmills as well as the Opposition Leader, Premier, NSW Greens and NSW Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party be further reported to Council.
6 The Council seek advice from the local Gumbaynggirr people in relation to the proposal.
396/17 RESOLVED: (Hoban/Jenvey)
That Council receive advice from Council’s Planning Staff on whether the declaration of a Great Koala National Park would have any impact on the permissible uses of adjoining land.