SUSAN WEIL, protest leader: Forestry Corporation commenced clear fell logging in the Tarkeeth forest on Monday 18th July. As stipulated in the harvest and haulage plan they were meant to notify local residents of this commencement and failed to do so. They were also meant to install speed limit signage of 25km/ph which was not put in place and trucks were videoed travelling down Sweedman's lane in excess of 50 km per hour causing a threat to local residents travelling on that dirt road. 

In Forestry Corporation's harvest and haulage plan only Sweedman's lane was listed as the haulage route for timber. Haulage along South Arm road is not permitted, other than a 300m section bye week Fells Rd and Twin pines trail. We have heard rumours that Forestry intend to commence timber haulage this week via Fells Rd and South Arm road. Recent road works (last week) on Fells Rd and Jabaru trail indicated that this would happen. 

We do not want to see yet another breach of the harvest and haulage plan as no residents have been notified of these changes, no signage is in place indicating speed limits and residents have not seen any permits permitting these changes. 

Local residents would not support this change given the dangerous conditions of these roads for trucks of that size. Fells Rd is narrower then Sweedman's lane, it is a single lane road with blind bends. Also, the intersection with South Arm Rd is not easily visible, particularly when approached from the west on south arm road, making this a very dangerous intersection for local residents travelling along this road. 

There has been no communication with residents from the harvest contractors, no consultation with road users, no speed limits in place, no traffic management plan or safe access plan in place as stipulated in Sections 5 and 6 of the harvest and haulage plan which was signed off on the 30th May 2016 and is still current as per their website. 

This haulage plan states:

1. Haulage along south arm is not permitted ( other the a 300m section between Fells Road and Twin Pines Road)

2. A 25km/ph speed limit applies on Fells Road and there must be speed limit signage in place 

3. The contractor must contact the school bus company and develop safe working procedures prior to haulage on South Arm Road. 

4. The harvesting contractor in consultation with airs, crew and adjacent neighbours must develop and implement traffic control plans to ensure public access to adjacent private property during road and harvesting operations. 

5. Neighbours who use the road to access their property should be notified immediately prior to any harvesting or reading works to ensure that the appropriate arrangements for access are made. 

We expect all of these conditions to be met and that all residents are properly consulted prior to any commencement of haulage operations. Residents expect the following safety measures to be in place if haulage is granted. 

1. A 25 km/ph speed limit should apply for all vehicles on fells road 

2. Stop-Go signs to be managed by staff or automated traffic lights on both fells road and south arm road intersection as well as at fells road and Jabaru trail. 

3. Correct convex mirrors on all blind spots 

4. Widening of the road to allow for dual access along fells road. 

5. No haulage to Commence  before 7am or after 3.30 pm

6. Log truck warning signs to be set up along fells road and south arm road. 

In one week of harvesting, Forestry Coropration has engaged in the following onsite breeches. 

1. They have harvested on slopes with a gradient of more than 30 degrees this is not permitted in the plan.

2. They have engaged in clear felling from 25-30 degrees when it is not permitted. 

3. They have not followed the plan in relation to 22-25 degree slopes. 

In light of these breeches we want FC to stop work immediately until the DPI investigates these onsite breeches. 

Forestry Corporation has violated their harvest and haulage plan, putting both the environment and communities safety at risk. We want a full enquiry into these breeches and we want the entire work site shut down until such time as this matter has been resolved. 

NSW Forestry Corporation: Forestry Corporation commenced harvesting in the timber plantations in Tarkeeth State Forest last week and work in the forest has continued uninterrupted.  Several loads of timber were supplied to local mills before haulage was postponed during the second half of last week due to wet weather. Forestry Corporation was hoping to recommence timber deliveries today but a small protest on the Crown road outside the forest has blocked the haulage route. We want to ensure local sawmills continue to receive the timber they need to keep their businesses operating, so Forestry Corporation has asked the protestors to remove their blockade to allow timber deliveries through. Forestry Corporation sought Police assistance as we were unable to reach an agreement with the protestors to resume deliveries.

The area Forestry Corporation is working in is solely plantation – planted specifically to grow a crop of trees to be harvested for timber on former agricultural lands. The plantations in Tarkeeth State Forest were all thinned over successive years between 2000 and 2002 and several areas of plantation were harvested and replanted in Tarkeeth State Forest in 2012. This year we plan to harvest a further 100 hectares for replanting in the next planting season. 

Forestry Corporation is continuing to exceed the requirements of the Plantations and Reafforestation Act and Code in all aspects of our activities in these plantations, as outlined in the detailed plans available on our website.  We remind the community that safety is a priority, so some areas of the forest are closed for the operations.

We have used sophisticated LiDAR imagery and data to map all of the slopes within the plantation so we know exactly where the steep areas are. These steeper slopes have been included on our operational maps, which can be seen on our website. The harvesting machinery operators use GPS systems in the forest so they have the best possible controls in place to ensure that harvesting avoids any areas that we require to be protected. We have put strict limits on harvesting timber on steep slopes in this plantation, which go above and beyond the requirements of the Plantations and Reafforestation Act and Code, and our contractors have been carefully adhering to these limits.

The community’s safety is a priority, so some areas are closed for the operations and we have set a 25 kilometre an hour speed limit for all trucks and forestry vehicles. This speed limit has been signposted throughout the forest and all operators are required to comply. Forestry Corporation undertook significant safety improvements on the roads in the areas prior to harvesting, including on public roads, to ensure that the safety of all road users.

Neighbours were provided with written notice that road works and harvesting were expected to begin within two weeks. Due to a range of logistical issues including weather and progress of other operations in the area, Forestry Corporation is never able to advise of an exact start date for its operations, such is the nature of working in the natural environment.

There is fairly detailed information and a few videos available on our website here http://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/management/our-forests/case-study-tarkeeth

Local Tarkeeth residents Paul and Adele Hemphill: As of 6pm tonight there were no speed limit signs in place on Fells Road, and I am perplexed by Forestry Corporation’s claim to the contrary! 

We have written to Forestry Corporation seeking clarification with respect to log trucks on Fells Road and the necessary safety measures. Receipt of our communication has been acknowledged, and our requests are being considered.

Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham: I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the community today undertaking direct action to stop this unnecessary logging. It makes no sense to log this forest for no economic gain, when there is so much value in keeping it intact for its biodiversity and cultural values. This forest sits between the Bellinger and Kalang rivers and is critical to the preservation of water quality and local Koala and Quoll populations. The future of this region is sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism not clearfell logging which has had its day.