Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh has slammed the Minns Labor Government for short-changing North Coast communities after virtually no funding was attached to the announcement of the Great Koala National Park.
“The flow-on effects of this decision will impact thousands of jobs and small businesses and it’s impossible to justify how just $6m will help support not only those impacted businesses, but also grow jobs and investment in the tourism sector,” Mr Singh said.
“With no koala zoo or hospital being attached to the park, tourists have no additional reason to visit.
“On top of this, the timber required for building the homes we desperately need, power poles, decking, structural timber for bridges, and hardwood timber for pallets used to freight all of our food to the supermarkets, will become harder to source – and this will mean prices will increase across the board, fuelling the cost of living crisis.
“The Minns Labor Government will also restrict recreational use within the park. Currently, mountain bikers, four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, horse riders, dirt bikers and campers can use many areas of the State Forests.
“Let’s be clear – this isn’t about protecting species. Rather than trusting the science, Labor has made a purely political decision – this is about shutting down the timber industry to appease inner city greens and harvest their preferences ahead of the next State Election.”
