❓ Mr Masters questions the impact of native forest logging on salinity. The Minister acknowledges public concern but asserts scientific evidence shows minimal long-term risk, highlighting government initiatives to mitigate potential temporary increases in specific rainfall zones.
AnsweredQoN 845Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What research has been conducted by Government Agencies into the impact of native forest logging, especially clear felling, has on salinity on our forests?
(2) Will the Minister table the relevant reports or provide the authors names and report titles?
(3) Is there any scientifically based research that shows a long term rise in salinity levels within forested areas as a result of any logging or forest management practices?
(4) What is the Government’s formal response to the claim that clear felling of nature forests will increase salinity in the South West Forest Region?
(2) Will the Minister table the relevant reports or provide the authors names and report titles?
(3) Is there any scientifically based research that shows a long term rise in salinity levels within forested areas as a result of any logging or forest management practices?
(4) What is the Government’s formal response to the claim that clear felling of nature forests will increase salinity in the South West Forest Region?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 November 2001
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
77 days
(2) A list of reports, mostly by Government agencies, that are relevant to understanding salinity in south-west forests and the impacts of timber harvesting on salinity, is tabled. (See Paper No. ) (3) Clearing of forest for agriculture may lead to a long-term rise in stream salinity. However, if the forest is regenerated following timber harvesting the scientifically based research shows that a long-term rise in salinity levels does not result. (4) Such claims are a reflection of the concerns and perceptions of people. However, the scientific evidence shows the risk of timber harvesting causing long term increases in stream salinity is very low. There are risks of temporary and small increases in stream salinity in the intermediate rainfall zone (900 mm -1100 mm average annual rainfall) and forest management practices are now designed to minimise the potential for these increases. Given the important nature of the concerns in relation to any possible link between timber harvesting and long term increases in salinity, the Government has fulfilled a number of policy commitments to address this issue. This includes an assessment of the impact of logging on salinity in Palmer and Leach blocks near Collie and Helms block near Nannup. The Water and Rivers Commission has also undertaken a comprehensive review of stream and river logging buffers to ensure their adequacy in protecting our waterways from salinity, degradation and turbidity. These reports will be released as part of the new forest management planning process.
(3) Clearing of forest for agriculture may lead to a long-term rise in stream salinity. However, if the forest is regenerated following timber harvesting the scientifically based research shows that a long-term rise in salinity levels does not result. (4) Such claims are a reflection of the concerns and perceptions of people. However, the scientific evidence shows the risk of timber harvesting causing long term increases in stream salinity is very low. There are risks of temporary and small increases in stream salinity in the intermediate rainfall zone (900 mm -1100 mm average annual rainfall) and forest management practices are now designed to minimise the potential for these increases. Given the important nature of the concerns in relation to any possible link between timber harvesting and long term increases in salinity, the Government has fulfilled a number of policy commitments to address this issue. This includes an assessment of the impact of logging on salinity in Palmer and Leach blocks near Collie and Helms block near Nannup. The Water and Rivers Commission has also undertaken a comprehensive review of stream and river logging buffers to ensure their adequacy in protecting our waterways from salinity, degradation and turbidity. These reports will be released as part of the new forest management planning process.
(4) Such claims are a reflection of the concerns and perceptions of people. However, the scientific evidence shows the risk of timber harvesting causing long term increases in stream salinity is very low. There are risks of temporary and small increases in stream salinity in the intermediate rainfall zone (900 mm -1100 mm average annual rainfall) and forest management practices are now designed to minimise the potential for these increases. Given the important nature of the concerns in relation to any possible link between timber harvesting and long term increases in salinity, the Government has fulfilled a number of policy commitments to address this issue. This includes an assessment of the impact of logging on salinity in Palmer and Leach blocks near Collie and Helms block near Nannup. The Water and Rivers Commission has also undertaken a comprehensive review of stream and river logging buffers to ensure their adequacy in protecting our waterways from salinity, degradation and turbidity. These reports will be released as part of the new forest management planning process.
Given the important nature of the concerns in relation to any possible link between timber harvesting and long term increases in salinity, the Government has fulfilled a number of policy commitments to address this issue. This includes an assessment of the impact of logging on salinity in Palmer and Leach blocks near Collie and Helms block near Nannup. The Water and Rivers Commission has also undertaken a comprehensive review of stream and river logging buffers to ensure their adequacy in protecting our waterways from salinity, degradation and turbidity. These reports will be released as part of the new forest management planning process.
This includes an assessment of the impact of logging on salinity in Palmer and Leach blocks near Collie and Helms block near Nannup. The Water and Rivers Commission has also undertaken a comprehensive review of stream and river logging buffers to ensure their adequacy in protecting our waterways from salinity, degradation and turbidity. These reports will be released as part of the new forest management planning process.
(3) Clearing of forest for agriculture may lead to a long-term rise in stream salinity. However, if the forest is regenerated following timber harvesting the scientifically based research shows that a long-term rise in salinity levels does not result. (4) Such claims are a reflection of the concerns and perceptions of people. However, the scientific evidence shows the risk of timber harvesting causing long term increases in stream salinity is very low. There are risks of temporary and small increases in stream salinity in the intermediate rainfall zone (900 mm -1100 mm average annual rainfall) and forest management practices are now designed to minimise the potential for these increases. Given the important nature of the concerns in relation to any possible link between timber harvesting and long term increases in salinity, the Government has fulfilled a number of policy commitments to address this issue. This includes an assessment of the impact of logging on salinity in Palmer and Leach blocks near Collie and Helms block near Nannup. The Water and Rivers Commission has also undertaken a comprehensive review of stream and river logging buffers to ensure their adequacy in protecting our waterways from salinity, degradation and turbidity. These reports will be released as part of the new forest management planning process.
(4) Such claims are a reflection of the concerns and perceptions of people. However, the scientific evidence shows the risk of timber harvesting causing long term increases in stream salinity is very low. There are risks of temporary and small increases in stream salinity in the intermediate rainfall zone (900 mm -1100 mm average annual rainfall) and forest management practices are now designed to minimise the potential for these increases. Given the important nature of the concerns in relation to any possible link between timber harvesting and long term increases in salinity, the Government has fulfilled a number of policy commitments to address this issue. This includes an assessment of the impact of logging on salinity in Palmer and Leach blocks near Collie and Helms block near Nannup. The Water and Rivers Commission has also undertaken a comprehensive review of stream and river logging buffers to ensure their adequacy in protecting our waterways from salinity, degradation and turbidity. These reports will be released as part of the new forest management planning process.
Given the important nature of the concerns in relation to any possible link between timber harvesting and long term increases in salinity, the Government has fulfilled a number of policy commitments to address this issue. This includes an assessment of the impact of logging on salinity in Palmer and Leach blocks near Collie and Helms block near Nannup. The Water and Rivers Commission has also undertaken a comprehensive review of stream and river logging buffers to ensure their adequacy in protecting our waterways from salinity, degradation and turbidity. These reports will be released as part of the new forest management planning process.
This includes an assessment of the impact of logging on salinity in Palmer and Leach blocks near Collie and Helms block near Nannup. The Water and Rivers Commission has also undertaken a comprehensive review of stream and river logging buffers to ensure their adequacy in protecting our waterways from salinity, degradation and turbidity. These reports will be released as part of the new forest management planning process.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.