NSW: Protesters continue fight to stop logging and save koalas

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2010
NSW: Protesters continue fight to stop logging and save koalas

SYDNEY, April 8 AAP - Conservationists will protest on Friday in yet another bid to
stop woodchip logging near the last known koala colony on the NSW south coast, near Bega.

Greens state MP Lee Rhiannon will join the coalition of conservation groups planning
to stage a blockade at the Mumbulla Forest, where it's believed logging will resume after
an 11-day stoppage.

The activists say the operations will destroy koala habitats and lead to the extinction
of a 30-50 strong colony.

They are due to assemble at 5.30am (AEST) on Clarke and Mumbulla Trig roads, vowing
to block trucks from entering the site.

The NSW government, which signed off on the logging, denies any koalas are at risk,
saying the area is out of the iconic marsupial's range.

But Forests NSW suspended logging in Mumbulla late last month after discovering evidence
of a koala near the logging zone more than 20 years ago.

The government agency says it found no further signs of koala activity and plans to
resume the six-month logging operation, but hasn't said when this will occur.

The activists say it will begin on Friday.

Harriett Swift, spokeswoman for the coalition, which includes Chipstop and Chipbusters,
says local residents are determined to stop the logging.

"Our last koalas are far more important than a logging operation that will yield 95
per cent woodchips," she said.

Ms Rhiannon said she would visit the blockade on Friday, and planned to take the matter
directly to parliament.

"I will be putting forward a motion calling on Premier (Kristina) Keneally to quarantine
this area from these ill-conceived logging operations which jeopardise the continued existence
of the Far South Coast's dwindling koala population," she said in a statement.

Forests NSW Southern Region manager Ian Barnes has warned that penalty infringement
notices may be issued to anyone contravening the closure and they may also be subject
to police action.

The compartments planned for harvesting have a gross area of 441 hectares, of which
243 hectares are available for harvesting, the agency says.

This represents 3.9 per cent of Mumbulla State Forest, it added.

AAP bzs/cdh

KEYWORD: KOALA

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