By Mitch Gaynor
THE STATE Government has refused to reveal why it reversed a decision to log Ferny Forest or why it took 12 months to make that decision.
Last week the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries announced it would not proceed with a decision to log about 50 per cent of high value hardwood trees at the 129-hectare site, also known as Beerwah State Forest. The decision came 12 months after it announced it would be logging the site ahead of the forest’s transfer to national park status in 2024.
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said it was “great news” after a year of grassroots campaigning by groups concerned about the loss of the forest, which was a natural koala habitat.
The area is a significant cultural site for the Kabi Kabi people and an important link from Ewen Maddock Dam to Mooloolah River National Park with vegetation that prevents soil erosion and therefore improves the water quality of the dam and surrounding waterways and rivers, the petition states. Advocates for the forest said logging of any scale would have had a devastating impact on the site with fungi, invasive weeds and climate change adversely affecting native forests. “This is a fantastic outcome that is a great win for our community,” Mr Hunt said.
Sunshine Coast Environment Council liaison and advocacy officer Narelle McCarthy said the decision was “a fantastic first step toward the protection that our Sunshine Coast native forests and wildlife need”.
“This win is testament to what can be achieved with people power. The community rose up to fight the planned logging, and fight for local people and visitors to enjoy this amazing forest into the future.
Asked by GC&M News for the specific reasons that logging was now deemed inappropriate and why it took 12 months to reach that decision, a DAF spokesperson said: “The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has decided not to proceed with selective timber harvesting in Beerwah State Forest.” “The area has been identified for inclusion in the Queensland Government’s commitment to transfer up to 20,000 ha of State Forest in the South East Queensland Regional Plan Area to the conservation estate by the end of 2024.”
The Government had been under constant pressure to reverse its decision with regular protests, a state parliamentary petition signed by 2800 and a change.org petition signed by over 20,000.
Save Ferny Forest spokesman David Wiggins said: This campaign win shows that if ordinary people join forces and do what they are good at, what brings them joy and what needs doing, huge successes can be achieved.”
“We are delighted that our grassroots movement, working with existing environmental organisations at local, regional, state and national levels, all adding their voices to this campaign, has contributed to saving this forest from being logged.”
