The timber industry calls for "constructive" input into future harvesting rights in state-owned forestsThe NSW government has committed to creating a Great Koala National Park, which will take in existing state forests that span from the Clarence Valley to south of Coffs Harbour.
Farm forester Andrew Hurford, who also runs a large timber milling operation near Lismore, says the situation in other states has led to a lot of unease about what is going to happen next."We are keen to engage government on that and have a constructive discussion. The north-east hardwood industry covers an area from the Hunter to the NSW-Queensland border, contributes $700 million to the NSW economy and employs about 3,800 workers across the sector from primary production to distribution.
Hardwood logs are processed at about 100 sites across the region, including at Hurford's Timber mill at Tuncester."We are hoping to add to the existing resource to meet future demand.