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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 467 asked in the Legislative Council on 23 August 2017 by Hon Diane Evers

Parliament: 40 Session: 1


LOGGING — BARRABUP FOREST
      467. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the area of Barrabup forest near Nannup that the Forest Products Commission proposes to log. I would like to acknowledge the suggestion we heard earlier that the Nannup mill may close and sincerely request that the government supports the community to deal with this closure. I would like to add that the outcome of the decision on whether the Barrabup forest is logged has not been suggested as a reason for the mill closure.
(1) Does the minister agree that this is high conservation value forest?
      (2) If no to (1), why not, given it has been previously identified in a Conservation Commission report as high conservation value forest?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I want to point out that the question I have in front of me does not have the preamble the member gave. I make that clear in case the member is looking for an answer to that. The following information has been provided to me by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
      (1)–(2) The ''Forest management plan 2014–2023'' is the key policy document for managing Western Australia's south west native forests. This forest management plan ensures that forests with high conservation value are adequately represented in reserves and other areas set aside from timber harvesting. There are a number of reserves in close proximity to the Barrabup forest block such as the proposed St John Brook conservation park and the Milyeannup and Easter National Parks.
      Under the forest management plan, the Barrabup forest block is state forest and available for a number of activities such as recreation, beekeeping and timber harvesting. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is currently undertaking a review of the old-growth status of an area of forest in the Barrabup forest block as a result of a public nomination.