Clarence Valley Council meeting on native forest logging ban draws huge crowd to chambers on Tuesday afternoon

Clarence Valley Council has dumped a push to phase out native forest logging on public land after a mass show of strength by loggers and union reps. See how it came to this.

The large pro-timber industry protest outside council chambers. Picture: Odessa Blain

Calls to phase out native forest logging on public land have been met with fierce opposition by “irate” Clarence workers.

The area outside the Maclean Council chambers was packed with hundreds of loggers, CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining And Energy Union) members and industry supporters on Tuesday.

Those who argue native forest logging should be phased out were few and far between.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said many anti-native forestry advocates left early because they felt unsafe and alleged some had been abused and heckled.

Adam Curlis, from Glenreagh, said he showed up because he was concerned about the loss of koala habitat from logging.

“I firmly believe we need to begin to act now to develop a plan for the future of the logging industry in this state - we are at a tipping point,” he said.

The contentious issue was first raised in front of a packed public gallery at a Clarence Valley Council meeting in June.

Then, councillor Debrah Novak moved a council resolution to delay debate until October.

All councillors except for Karen Toms voted to postpone the debate because she wanted to “kill the motion on its head then and there”.

Adam Curlis outside Maclean Council Chamber.

Outside of council chambers, pro and anti-logging views have raged through the Clarence Valley community.

In August, forestry industry supporters met with former mayor Ian Tiley.

Led by Marshall Notaras Hardwood general manager Donna Layton, the vice-president of Timber NSW, the group handed over piles of paperwork, stating they had already received 2242 submissions rejecting the proposal.

Despite the fierce divide in the community, councillor Greg Clancy was the sole voice supporting the motion at today’s October 24 meeting.

The crowd outside Clarence Valley Council chambers on Tuesday. Picture: Odessa Blain

He said the motion had been misunderstood by many who believed it was about closing down the timber industry. Instead, he said it was a proposal calling on the state government to develop a long-term plan for forestry.

“The motion is not about closing down the timber industry,” Cr Clancy said.

Signs outside Maclean Council Chambers.

“We can’t keep logging forest forever and accept they’ll last,” he said.

But his fellow councillors disagreed, noting the importance of the timber industry to the Clarence Valley’s economy and the regulations already put in place by the state government.

In a heated moment, Cr Toms said Cr Clancy was “scaremongering”

“This is a Greens push and it’s happening in other councils and it’s sad that it’s happening in ours today,“ she said.

Cr Clancy was the sole vote in favour of the motion.

The room erupted in cheers when the motion was defeated.