The Economic Value of our Old Growth Forests in the Eurobodalla Shire
By Fiona McCuaig
I strongly agree to the motion being put forward to end Old Growth Forest Logging (Native forest logging) in Eurobodalla.
The main points of my talk will be as follows:
1. Tourism is the main revenue stream on the South Coast. It is the life-blood of many businesses in Eurobodalla – and visitors come to experience our natural beauty, pristine and mostly in-tact environment.
2. Plantation forestry is the solution to solving wood supply shortages and it’s also a business opportunity on the South Coast.
3. Nature is our Business – and any destruction to our natural environment is a DIRECT THREAT to local businesses, employment and economic prosperity of this region.
4. We are geographically in a fabulous location in NSW where were are in the centre triangle of Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne and tourist flock here to experience our beauty – and the tourist numbers are growing as the word spreads about our natural environment. Other areas such as north of Sydney have less natural habitat, less birdlife, less creeks where the water is so clean you can drink straight from it. We need to keep our Differential Advantage which is our pristine natural environment and that means protecting it.
5. We have good motels and restaurants – but we don’t have the top in NSW with Michelin star restaurants etc… but that is OKAY – because that is not our core business – our business is showcasing our incredible beauty and this is what we have to offer – something which is unique and not many other regions have or have been smart enough to protect.
6. Short term resource extraction has no benefits to our community – it only threatens jobs in tourism now and also for the next generations by eroding our image of “clean & green.” It’s ludicrous that our precious hardwood timbers are being sent to Japan as woodchips and made into palettes which have an average lifespan of 3 months.
7. Our incredible spotted gums which are not only carbon sinks but habitat for native animals are being made into cardboard – the industry supports a handful of people on the south coast and our tax payer money is subsidising it. It’s a no-brainer of what we must do.
8. With a significant marketing campaign for the Eurobodalla Shire Region strongly and proudly communicating we have ended native forests logging (like Victoria and WA have) and we have an incredible Marine Park with a network of marine sanctuaries, this: - WILL attract more visitors, WILL bring more money to the region, WILL employ more people and will ensure we have a sustainable business model moving forward.
9. We need to think Smart – we need to act Now.
10. I sincerely hope that all Councillors today will vote in favour of this motion – it’s a no brainer. We need it for a strong economic future.
