TIMBER NSW has hit back at comments made by David Shoebridge MLC on Tuesday during his campaign visit to Tanja State Forest (click here for coverage of the visit).
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Comparing the management costs of national parks to that of native hardwood state forests, Timber NSW quoted figures released this year by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, as well as Forest Corporation data.
“Last financial year it cost the taxpayer $412million for the National Parks and Wildlife Service to manage our national parks, reserves and state conservation areas,” Timber NSW general manager Maree McCaskill said.
“This equates to a cost of $55 per hectare per year or, coincidentally, $55 per year for every person in NSW.
“In contrast it cost the taxpayer $17.6million for the Forestry Corporation to look after our native hardwood state forests, which equates to $8.67 per hectare per year or $2.40 per year for every person in NSW.”
Ms McCaskill said there was “rubbish management in our national parks”.
“I’ve had to question everything to do with national parks since taking this job,” she said.
NSW Forest Products Association became Timber NSW in October last year, a shift that opened membership to all timber producers across the state – hardwood, softwood, native growth and plantation.
Local members include Blue Ridge Hardwoods of Eden, and Wilton Logging of Pambula Beach.
