The logging of native timber is banned in WA and Victoria, and now questions are being raised about the future of the industry in NSW. Timber workers are waiting to find-out the details of a new national koala park that was promised before the state election.
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00:00 The sprawling forests across the state's north coast are coveted for both their timber and
00:07 their wildlife.
00:09 In New South Wales we have 88% of the state's native forest already fully preserved. We're
00:15 working in 12% only of the remaining forest that's used for production of timber.
00:22 With logging in native forests set to end in Victoria and WA, the local industry is
00:29 worried about what's ahead.
00:31 Our harvest year contracts are just being omitted so we've got five years. That's if
00:37 we don't get the plug pulled on us early.
00:39 The New South Wales Government has committed to a Great Koala National Park near Coffs
00:44 Harbour. The area is a source of quality timber and also a biodiversity hotspot.
00:51 We do have commitments in terms of timber supply and there are jobs involved in that
00:56 right now. But we are committed to the Koala National Park.
00:59 So if we genuinely want to roll up our sleeves and talk about how we best manage koalas,
01:03 I don't know that through the political sphere is the best way to do that.
01:08 Forestry operations, everything from ecological surveys to harvesting contracts, are overseen
01:14 by the government owned Forestry Corporation, who weren't given approval to speak on record.
01:21 Conservationists claim forests are logged too intensively and come at a cost both to
01:28 the taxpayer and the environment.
01:31 I think we just got to get it out of logging. We need to give our wildlife a chance to recover.
01:36 For timber workers, their future hangs in the balance.
01:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]