By Susan Braun
DORRIGO — Wild Cattle Creek State Forest on the Dorrigo Plateau in northern NSW is currently the centre of a major dispute between the Wild Cattle Creek Action Group and the Dorrigo Residents and Business Association.
On September 21, about protesters concerned about the logging of compartment no. 546 held up a log truck for up to two hours behind a tripod. Two protesters were arrested.
Spokesperson for the Wild Cattle Creek Action Group David Julien said "We are calling for a moratorium on further logging in compartment no. 546 until a proper scientific assessment can be carried out".
In compartment no. 546 some of the brushbox trees located in the rainforest are known to be in excess of 1000 years old — with a larger circumference than any previously recorded in the world (according to the Forestry Commission's own reports).
In the commission's Harvesting Plan for Wild Cattle Creek Compartment no. 546, the southern angle-headed dragon, the glossy black cockatoo, koala and yellow bellied glider are all recognised as being present in the compartment. These are all species that are listed as vulnerable, rare or priority species under schedule 12 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
To assist in resolving the conflict the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) has proposed a "peace plan". The plan calls for a proper assessment of Wild Cattle Creek State Forest. The assessment would identify the extent of old growth forest, the representation of old growth forests in the areas currently reserved from logging and the comparative conservation values of the area.
To ensure that the assessment is done in a proper manner the plan proposes that logging, environment and government groups participate on a steering committee to oversee the assessment.
In response, a spokesperson for the National Association of Forest Industries, Colin Dorber, said the plan had two fundamental flaws. "Firstly, the plan assumes that there is something intrinsically wrong with native forest logging, which is clearly untrue. Secondly, the plan is put up by a group which has no accountable or organisational structure and one that is unable to guarantee that any existing or future environmental group will accept or abide by the plan."
Given that overseas eucalypt forests will render the local native woodchip industry uneconomic in 10 to 15 years, tourism is seen to be one of the main alternatives.
The Wild Cattle Creek Action Group has requested that the state minister for tourism visit the area so that a plan to transform Dorrigo into a ation can be investigated.
The area is renowned for its quality white water rafting, fishing, bushwalking and the Dorrigo National Park rainforest walk. This rainforest walk has drawn 141, 000 visitors in its first year of operation.
Passing through spectacular scenery, the Dorrigo steam rail line, if refurbished along with the railway museum, could generate jobs, revenue and even more diverse interest in the area.