River Red Gum National Parks under threat

The Wilderness Society Sydney Inc.
Media Release
23 February 2010

There are real concerns that the River Red Gum National Parks promised last year by the NSW Government are under threat. The combined NSW environment groups have joined together to urge the NSW Government to deliver on their promises.

“There will be widespread and lasting community outrage if the River Red Gum National Parks that have been promised are not delivered” said Felicity Wade, Campaign Manager for The Wilderness Society Sydney.

“Opposition to National Parks from the Minister for Forests, Ian MacDonald, should not be allowed to bring down this exceptional conservation decision. It would send a very bad signal as to who is running this Government” Ms Wade said.

“The protection of these national icons is the single biggest test of the conservation credentials of Premier Keneally and the NSW Government” said Mr Jeff Angel, Director of the Total Environment Centre. 

“It will be the only major nature conservation initiative of this term of Labor Government in NSW and needs to be delivered in full. The environmental reputation of the NSW Government is on the line” he said.

We have seen the problems caused in other policy areas when the NSW Government ignores technical advice. They need to implement the recommendations of the Natural Resources Commission in full” said Mr Kevin Evans, Executive Officer of the National Parks Association of NSW

“We believe the full protection of the magnificent Millewa forest is under threat. Millewa is the green heart of the Murray River floodplain and any further logging in this area will be yet another attack on the future of the Murray River” he said.

"We won't accept Labor trick of creating 'transitional' parks where logging is phased out over many years. These phoney parks will only deliver damaged goods. They have already made the hard decisions - logging needs to stop now in these national icons" said Mr Keith Muir, Director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

“The whole environment movement around NSW and Australia is united in the fight to protect the River Red Gum wetlands” said Prof Don White, Chairman of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.