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NSW Government’s revised Koala SEPP strikes right balance for koala protections and primary industries

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has welcomed the NSW Government’s recognition that the Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice, which regulate forestry operations on private land, already provides significant protections to koalas.

AFPA CEO Ross Hampton said Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s announcement today that the Government will be excluding primary industries from the revised Koala State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP) was a balanced decision that should avoid unnecessary duplication for already strictly regulated forestry operations on private land.

“I commend the NSW Government for listening to the forest industries on this important policy reform, and we look forward to seeing the detail of this announcement,” Mr Hampton said.

“The forestry sector takes koala conservation very seriously, which is why the Private Native Forestry (PNF) Codes of Practice already provide significant environmental protections.”

“The new SEPP was always intended to apply to areas where large scale development is underway as our cities and towns expand. That is where it is needed, not in those regions where forest industries and farmers already operate under strict conditions to protect koala habitats, as well as other native species and fauna.”

Mr Hampton said private native forestry was a critical source of sustainably harvested hardwood timber for NSW timber mills producing the quality hardwood timber products that Australians love.

“AFPA will continue to work with the NSW Government to ensure the revised PNF Codes strike the right balance between the environment, landowners and forest industry’s needs,” Mr Hampton concluded.

The original media release is here: Media Release – NSW Government’s revised Koala SEPP strikes right balance for koala protections and primary industries

 

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