Letter to the editor, Bega District News, 26 Jan 2011
Chipmill Boss wrong on Roads

Dear editor
Peter Mitchell (BDN 21/1/11) writes in praise of the road network through Tanja State Forest used in last week?s Bega to Tathra Bridge Bike Bash and wonders ?how many made the connection with the timber industry that constructs and maintains these roads.?
As General Manager of the Eden chipmill, Mr Mitchell should be well aware that Forests NSW, whose woodchipping operations in the south east cost NSW taxpayers roughly $5million each year, only maintains those roads because it has to keep them nice for the heavy logging machinery and logtrucks that are scheduled to come in and woodchip Tanja State Forest later this year. When the log trucks and machinery have finished with them, the roads will be a lot less praiseworthy.
And far from making the area safer from bushfire, after logging, a forest becomes a greater fire hazard. Its drier, denser, even aged regrowth is far more likely to pose a fire hazard than an older moister forest.

Yours sincerely

Harriett Swift

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Bega District News 21 Jan 2011
Connection made?
 
CONGRATULATIONS to the organisers and participants in last Saturday's Bega to Beach mountain bike ride. Many participants were very complimentary of the sections of road traversed in Tanja State forest, but I wonder how many made the connection with the timber industry that constructs and maintains these roads. I also wonder how many recognise that in the event of wildfire threatening communities such as Tathra, the road system and die fire fighting resources of Forests NSW and the logging contractors will be our most effective weapon. I'm sure our community would be better advised to put its trust in the people that populate our working forests, than say, a NIMBY fashion designer, or habitual protester with political aspirations.
Peter Mitchell Eden