Roadworks have indeed begun in compartments 808, 809, 810 of Monga State Forest in fact they commenced on July 3 and so did the protest. Readers might be interested to know that this wasn’t a case of ‘ferals’ leaping from tree to tree, rather it was a small group of thoughtful and concerned people (ranging in age from mid-thirties to mid-eighties) who had decided to put themselves on the line in a completely non-violent way in order to highlight concerns about State Forests’ continued logging of some of our most precious forests.

Readers will also want to know why protest is continuing in this region after the recent RFA (Regional Forest Agreement) created 320,000 ha of new park.

It’s very simple: the intensive logging that will occur in Monga is inappropriate and destructive. What’s more it’s being heavily subsidised by the NSW taxpayer. It’s becoming ever clearer that our precious native forests are being logged and virtually given away because of the forest industry’s traditionally cosy deal with government. And this despite the fact that there is a huge volume of timber coming on stream from plantations in the Tumut/Oberon/Bathurst region which, if properly utilised, would preclude the need for State Forests to be logging in Monga at all.

Conservationists argued that all of Monga SF should have been turned into National Park. They warned the government there would be protests if State Forests began logging there again. We are now faced with the ridiculous situation of SFNSW making roads into and about to log a large portion of forest (about 400 ha) which is surrounded north south and east by National Park. What will the visitors coming to enjoy our new park think of this?

It’s surely time for a long hard think about the way we want our native forests managed. If the Queensland government can find a solution that suits all parties: the timber industry, conservationists and the public, why can’t NSW follow suit? HARRY LAING, Secretary, FMR.