A small group of protesters blockaded a State Forests’ bulldozer, which was there to upgrade roads in preparation for a logging operation.

A senior State Forests’ official repeatedly asked the protesters to leave the forest but they refused to go.

After a two hour standoff, penalty notices were issued to some of the protesters who then decided to leave the area.

Others who refused to leave, were arrested by police.

After ten years of protest and negotiation the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) was signed earlier this year.

This agreement gives the timber industry access to guaranteed supply of timber for the next 20 years.

The RFA process had input form all stakeholders including environmentalists.

This agreement ceded 194,000 hectares of State Forest and crown land into national parks and formal reserves, on the South Coast including 80 per cent of Monga State Forest, but the greens are still not satisfied as they want 100 per cent.

The timber industry has lost its most productive forests ie Kioloa and Benandarah, to national parks and is not about to concede any more.

While we respect the rights of greens to peaceful protest, they must also respect our right to work.

Yours etc Rob Davis Milton