A record high number of trucks were monitored entering the Eden chipmill last week in the latest truck count by conservationists.
An unprecedented 191 trucks were counted last Thursday up to 7pm. One truck with a full load of logs broke down north of Merimbula and this would have brought the tally to 192.
Spokesperson for the conservationists, Ms Harriett Swift said that the previous record count had been 167. A typical day was about 160, she said.
The record number of trucks did not include pine trucks; the 192 carried only native forest logs and chips,” she said.
Ms Swift said that the shockingly high numbers put a question mark over South East Fibre Exports claims that once pine chipping commenced, native forest logging would drop.
“This has clearly not happened and in fact, at this rate we would have to fear another record year for native forest woodchip exports.”
“It also challenges SEFE statements that only smaller trees and regrowth forest are now chipped.
“Almost 70 percent of log loads were from multi aged forest and of those about sixty percent contained some split logs.”
“The very large logs are split in the forest before being loaded onto trucks.”
She said that the monitoring group had been joined for the day by the Walk Against Woodchips, Ms Keri James and her daughter, Clover who are walking from Canberra to Hobart to protest against native forest woodchipping.
28 September 2008
Forest Policy Research » Blog Archive » 409 SE Asia & Australia Tree News said,
October 3, 2008 at 4:05 am
[...] 21) A record high number of trucks were monitored entering the Eden chipmill last week in the latest truck count by conservationists. An unprecedented 191 trucks were counted last Thursday up to 7pm. One truck with a full load of logs broke down north of Merimbula and this would have brought the tally to 192. Spokesperson for the conservationists, Ms Harriett Swift said that the previous record count had been 167. A typical day was about 160, she said. The record number of trucks did not include pine trucks; the 192 carried only native forest logs and chips,” she said. Ms Swift said that the shockingly high numbers put a question mark over South East Fibre Exports claims that once pine chipping commenced, native forest logging would drop. “This has clearly not happened and in fact, at this rate we would have to fear another record year for native forest woodchip exports.” “It also challenges SEFE statements that only smaller trees and regrowth forest are now chipped. “Almost 70 percent of log loads were from multi aged forest and of those about sixty percent contained some split logs.” “The very large logs are split in the forest before being loaded onto trucks.” She said that the monitoring group had been joined for the day by the Walk Against Woodchips, Ms Keri James and her daughter, Clover who are walking from Canberra to Hobart to protest against native forest woodchipping. http://woodchipwalk.com/2008/09/29/record-high-chipmill-log-truck-numbers/ [...]