It followed a controversial visit by Australian Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon to Nullica and Glenbog state forests last week.

Managing director of Blue Ridge Hardwoods Eden Allan Richards said the Greens were promoting an agenda that did not take care of the people.

“Eden sits in the bottom five towns in NSW in terms of socio-economic status,” Mr Richards said. 

“Without the timber industry, we’d be at the bottom.”

As reported in the Eden Magnet last week, Senator Rhiannon traveled through a number of South East forests and consulted with environmentalists during her three day visit from October 4 to 6. 

The visit raised concern about the status of species such as the spotted-tail quoll and bare-nosed wombats, and concluded species were made more vulnerable due to “serious weaknesses” in regional forest agreements.

Mr Richards argued that stopping logging won’t save species.

“The national parks are the most unprotected pieces of property on the Australian landscape because of their policies restricting regular fuel reductions occurring,” Mr Richards said. 

“State forests have better strategies in place for fire management than national parks, and I’d say quolls are vulnerable to fire.”

Mr Richards’ family has been in the timber industry since 1948, and has operated and owned over 25 mills around Australia.

“Ten have closed down due to government decrees and declarations of national parks,” Mr Richards said.

“I’ve been in the game for about 50 years. I could retire now. But I care about Eden, not me. 

“I want to sit this out and make sure the timber industry here is given every opportunity to survive.”

Mr Richards estimated the Eden timber industry provides 150-plus jobs to people in the region.

“That’s right down the timber food chain, from cradle to grave,” Mr Richards said. 

“By that I mean from environmental research through to eating dinner at a wooden table. 

“The Greens and the government keep creating myths about ‘alternative employment’ for these people, but it doesn’t work. Not in a town that’s already suffering major unemployment.”

Blue Ridge Hardwoods is working under a 20-year licence that expires in 2018. 

The licence entitles the company to receive and process hardwood eucalyptus logs sourced from many sites including the Nullica and Glenbog state forests, the two focus forests of Senator Rhiannon’s visit. 

Mr Richards said the wood is provided by logging contractors employed and managed by Forestry Corporation and South East Fibre Exports, and turned into flooring, decking, weather boards, bridge timbers and for general construction.

Forestry Corporation was asked by the Eden Magnet to confirm the status of Nullica and Glenbog Forests, and plans for the future.

“Nullica and Glenbog state forests total approximately 27,100 hectares,” a Forestry Corporation spokesperson said. 

“Of this, 7600 ha is unavailable for harvesting as it is protected for wildlife habitat, waterways and other key forest features. 

“Of the remaining area, only approximately 400ha, or less than two per cent, is being harvested this year.”

Forestry Corporation said it is “passionate about protection of threatened species”, and that “detailed environmental surveys are completed before a single tree is touched.” 

Like Mr Richards, Forestry Corporation was keen to highlight the important role of logging in both Eden’s history and contemporary society. 

“The NSW timber industry adds around $2.4 billion value to the economy each year,” the Forestry Corp spokesperson said. 

“In the Eden area alone, it is estimated that almost 10 per cent of direct employment stems from the forestry industry and over $20 million from this industry flows through the local economy.”

As the fight over forests promises to intensify during the countdown to the next federal election, Mr Richards vowed to stand strong and try to allow that common sense and science would be included in the debate. 

“In Eden they suggest timber workers find alternative employment in things like tourism,” Mr Richards said. 

“But why can’t we have tourism and logging? They should be able to go ahead together, side by side.”