Koala numbers in NSW have doubled since the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2012 according to a new report from the CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.
According to Timber NSW Chief Executive Maree McCaskill, ‘These numbers are the actual science that should have informed Minister Sharpe before partially shutting down the north coast timber industry, instead of using political science and blatantly ignoring evidence.
‘Koalas are not going extinct in NSW and their numbers have doubled, even using the lowest probability figures from the CSIRO.
‘Politicians like to tell voters that their decision making is evidence based and yet we can see clearly now that the NSW Government’s urgent need to destroy livelihoods, businesses and communities in the forestry industry was based on a flimsy and inaccurate belief when the science was clearly available.
‘While the decision to destroy forest industries has already been taken by Minister Sharpe it is worthwhile recording that the park area has been sustainably managed and harvested for over 100 years and during this time there has been no threat to koalas from the timber industry.
‘Now lives and businesses have been destroyed, and the NSW Government is failing to offer adequate support, particularly to workers over 45 with very limited prospects in struggling communities.
‘Timber NSW calls on the NSW Government to acknowledge the CSIRO report on Koala numbers so that future decisions can be based on science not belief” said Maree.