❓ Mr Waldron raises concerns about sawmillers excluded from future jarrah allocations and the potential for ground salvage. Dr Edwards acknowledges the issue, commits to working with relevant ministers, and indicates the Forest Products Commission is open to selling salvageable timber.
AnsweredQoN 907Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Given that nearly 40 sawmilling families in the South West have been excluded from the minister’s future jarrah announcement, putting at risk the future of entire communities such as the Northcliffe Timber Technology Cluster, I ask - (1) Is the minister aware that there is very usable timber on the floor of state forests that could be salvaged by timber workers without the need for another tree to be cut down? (2) Will the minister commit to working with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to ensure that ground salvage licences are awarded to those sawmillers, who believe that they can continue to live and work in timber communities by accessing timber left on the floor of all state forests? Dr EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. This is a difficult issue, particularly for the families and people who are involved. Anyone who saw the picture in The West Australian today of the member for Wagin and another person standing on a log would have heartfelt concern for those families who are affected. I have had discussions about this issue. It relates to another issue as well, which is access to craft wood, and, in a sense, those two issues start to run into each other. The message I have got back from the Forest Products Commission is that it is happy to reach out and try to work with these people. The message I am getting strongly from the Forests Products Commission today is that if there is salvageable timber that it can sell, it is very keen to do that. I have also sought further information from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Obviously it depends on which area of the forest people are looking at. National parks or areas that are about to become national parks are out of bounds. However, more can be done if they are looking at state forests, particularly coupes in which people are currently active. I give a commitment that I will work with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to try to sort out this issue with the people who are affected.
(1) Is the minister aware that there is very usable timber on the floor of state forests that could be salvaged by timber workers without the need for another tree to be cut down? (2) Will the minister commit to working with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to ensure that ground salvage licences are awarded to those sawmillers, who believe that they can continue to live and work in timber communities by accessing timber left on the floor of all state forests? Dr EDWARDS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. This is a difficult issue, particularly for the families and people who are involved. Anyone who saw the picture in The West Australian today of the member for Wagin and another person standing on a log would have heartfelt concern for those families who are affected. I have had discussions about this issue. It relates to another issue as well, which is access to craft wood, and, in a sense, those two issues start to run into each other. The message I have got back from the Forest Products Commission is that it is happy to reach out and try to work with these people. The message I am getting strongly from the Forests Products Commission today is that if there is salvageable timber that it can sell, it is very keen to do that. I have also sought further information from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Obviously it depends on which area of the forest people are looking at. National parks or areas that are about to become national parks are out of bounds. However, more can be done if they are looking at state forests, particularly coupes in which people are currently active. I give a commitment that I will work with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to try to sort out this issue with the people who are affected.
(2) Will the minister commit to working with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to ensure that ground salvage licences are awarded to those sawmillers, who believe that they can continue to live and work in timber communities by accessing timber left on the floor of all state forests? Dr EDWARDS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. This is a difficult issue, particularly for the families and people who are involved. Anyone who saw the picture in The West Australian today of the member for Wagin and another person standing on a log would have heartfelt concern for those families who are affected. I have had discussions about this issue. It relates to another issue as well, which is access to craft wood, and, in a sense, those two issues start to run into each other. The message I have got back from the Forest Products Commission is that it is happy to reach out and try to work with these people. The message I am getting strongly from the Forests Products Commission today is that if there is salvageable timber that it can sell, it is very keen to do that. I have also sought further information from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Obviously it depends on which area of the forest people are looking at. National parks or areas that are about to become national parks are out of bounds. However, more can be done if they are looking at state forests, particularly coupes in which people are currently active. I give a commitment that I will work with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to try to sort out this issue with the people who are affected.
Dr EDWARDS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. This is a difficult issue, particularly for the families and people who are involved. Anyone who saw the picture in The West Australian today of the member for Wagin and another person standing on a log would have heartfelt concern for those families who are affected. I have had discussions about this issue. It relates to another issue as well, which is access to craft wood, and, in a sense, those two issues start to run into each other. The message I have got back from the Forest Products Commission is that it is happy to reach out and try to work with these people. The message I am getting strongly from the Forests Products Commission today is that if there is salvageable timber that it can sell, it is very keen to do that. I have also sought further information from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Obviously it depends on which area of the forest people are looking at. National parks or areas that are about to become national parks are out of bounds. However, more can be done if they are looking at state forests, particularly coupes in which people are currently active. I give a commitment that I will work with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to try to sort out this issue with the people who are affected.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. This is a difficult issue, particularly for the families and people who are involved. Anyone who saw the picture in The West Australian today of the member for Wagin and another person standing on a log would have heartfelt concern for those families who are affected. I have had discussions about this issue. It relates to another issue as well, which is access to craft wood, and, in a sense, those two issues start to run into each other. The message I have got back from the Forest Products Commission is that it is happy to reach out and try to work with these people. The message I am getting strongly from the Forests Products Commission today is that if there is salvageable timber that it can sell, it is very keen to do that. I have also sought further information from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Obviously it depends on which area of the forest people are looking at. National parks or areas that are about to become national parks are out of bounds. However, more can be done if they are looking at state forests, particularly coupes in which people are currently active. I give a commitment that I will work with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to try to sort out this issue with the people who are affected.
(1) Is the minister aware that there is very usable timber on the floor of state forests that could be salvaged by timber workers without the need for another tree to be cut down? (2) Will the minister commit to working with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to ensure that ground salvage licences are awarded to those sawmillers, who believe that they can continue to live and work in timber communities by accessing timber left on the floor of all state forests? Dr EDWARDS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. This is a difficult issue, particularly for the families and people who are involved. Anyone who saw the picture in The West Australian today of the member for Wagin and another person standing on a log would have heartfelt concern for those families who are affected. I have had discussions about this issue. It relates to another issue as well, which is access to craft wood, and, in a sense, those two issues start to run into each other. The message I have got back from the Forest Products Commission is that it is happy to reach out and try to work with these people. The message I am getting strongly from the Forests Products Commission today is that if there is salvageable timber that it can sell, it is very keen to do that. I have also sought further information from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Obviously it depends on which area of the forest people are looking at. National parks or areas that are about to become national parks are out of bounds. However, more can be done if they are looking at state forests, particularly coupes in which people are currently active. I give a commitment that I will work with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to try to sort out this issue with the people who are affected.
(2) Will the minister commit to working with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to ensure that ground salvage licences are awarded to those sawmillers, who believe that they can continue to live and work in timber communities by accessing timber left on the floor of all state forests? Dr EDWARDS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. This is a difficult issue, particularly for the families and people who are involved. Anyone who saw the picture in The West Australian today of the member for Wagin and another person standing on a log would have heartfelt concern for those families who are affected. I have had discussions about this issue. It relates to another issue as well, which is access to craft wood, and, in a sense, those two issues start to run into each other. The message I have got back from the Forest Products Commission is that it is happy to reach out and try to work with these people. The message I am getting strongly from the Forests Products Commission today is that if there is salvageable timber that it can sell, it is very keen to do that. I have also sought further information from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Obviously it depends on which area of the forest people are looking at. National parks or areas that are about to become national parks are out of bounds. However, more can be done if they are looking at state forests, particularly coupes in which people are currently active. I give a commitment that I will work with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to try to sort out this issue with the people who are affected.
Dr EDWARDS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. This is a difficult issue, particularly for the families and people who are involved. Anyone who saw the picture in The West Australian today of the member for Wagin and another person standing on a log would have heartfelt concern for those families who are affected. I have had discussions about this issue. It relates to another issue as well, which is access to craft wood, and, in a sense, those two issues start to run into each other. The message I have got back from the Forest Products Commission is that it is happy to reach out and try to work with these people. The message I am getting strongly from the Forests Products Commission today is that if there is salvageable timber that it can sell, it is very keen to do that. I have also sought further information from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Obviously it depends on which area of the forest people are looking at. National parks or areas that are about to become national parks are out of bounds. However, more can be done if they are looking at state forests, particularly coupes in which people are currently active. I give a commitment that I will work with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to try to sort out this issue with the people who are affected.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. This is a difficult issue, particularly for the families and people who are involved. Anyone who saw the picture in The West Australian today of the member for Wagin and another person standing on a log would have heartfelt concern for those families who are affected. I have had discussions about this issue. It relates to another issue as well, which is access to craft wood, and, in a sense, those two issues start to run into each other. The message I have got back from the Forest Products Commission is that it is happy to reach out and try to work with these people. The message I am getting strongly from the Forests Products Commission today is that if there is salvageable timber that it can sell, it is very keen to do that. I have also sought further information from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Obviously it depends on which area of the forest people are looking at. National parks or areas that are about to become national parks are out of bounds. However, more can be done if they are looking at state forests, particularly coupes in which people are currently active. I give a commitment that I will work with the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to try to sort out this issue with the people who are affected.
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