Alan Fairley is Guest Speaker impact of industry by Graham Collier of Environment Exhibition Guest speaker at our October general the EPA. There will be multiple work- Katoomba Civic Centre,11-20 October meeting will be Alan Fairley, co-author shops to choose from, such as The Role The Exhibition will include an open of “Native Plants of the Sydney of Education in Preventing Pollution; section to exhibit works of the Society’s District”. Alan will talk about rare plants Climbing the Sustainability Tree and members. You don’t have to be an of the Blue Mountains. Making an Environmental Impact, established artist to submit your work— “Native Plants of the Sydney Boosting Your Chances for Action. enter images, sculptures etc of your District”, produced in association with Sat 12 October: Hon. Bob Debus favourite places and bushwalks and the Society for Growing Australian will conduct the Official Opening of the promote the beauty of the mountains. To Plants, contains colour photographs and Conference. Robyn Williams from ABC book your work into the exhibition descriptions of over 1500 species and is Radio Science Show will give the Allen phone Carolynne Skinner 4757 4001. the most comprehensive coverage of Strom Lecture. Becoming an Ecological The Society will exhibit drawings native plants in the Sydney basin, an area Citizen, by Prof Stuart Hill, UWS, and a painting from the office, petalura which extends from Newcastle to Nowra promises to be a lively and stimulating gigantean—the giant dragonfly and west to the Great Dividing Range. talk following the opening. There will sculpture, and our World Heritage Alan Fairley had his first book be afternoon talks and workshops, and a Display. The opening will be conducted published in 1972, a pioneering work on Bush Dance with the Gang Gangs will by Prof Stuart Hill, a lively speaker from bushland walks in national parks around follow the Conference Dinner. University of Western Sydney at 6pm on Sydney. Since then his interest in the Sun 13 October: Ian Brown, Friday 11 October. environment, walking, education and speaking about World Heritage, will photographs have resulted in books open the day at 9am. Field Trips during Original Message Stands ranging from nature books for children to the morning include Kedumba In BM Gazette 18.9.02, Councillor field guides of national parks of NSW Catchment Walk and an Interpretive Jim Angel referred to our published and Victoria. Walk with Jim Wallace. The conference information about Councillors’ voting The meeting will be held at the closes at 2 pm. patterns as false, misleading, defamatory Conservation Hut, Wentworth Falls, on The conference is open to all those and politically biased, but offers no facts Friday 25 October, starting at 7.30pm. interested in the natural environment to substantiate his claim. Visitors are welcome. as well as professional educators. 3 days Council's recent Community Survey registration without accommodation is reports that "Controlling development to Environmental $125, 1 day is $45. Members who do minimise environmental impact" is the Education Conference volunteer work will have free community's "major concern overall for ‘Echoes into the Future’ is the theme admission—phone Jenny Hill on 4782 the city" of this year’s conference, to be held at 1303 if you can volunteer some time. In the lead-up to the Ward 4 by- the Christian Convention Centre, Cliff Application forms can be obtained election, the Society felt it was important Drive, Katoomba. from Jenny Hill on 4782.1303, or that the community have information on Friday, 11 October will open with a Jasmine Payget, BMCC, on 4780.5739. voting patterns of Councillors on recent talk on Reducing the environmental Art of the major and controversial developments. We reported the voting by 12 Draft Local Environment Plan 2002 Councillors on 17 developments and one If you are concerned about urban sprawl and overdevelopment of the Blue application for deferral (216 votes in Mountains you need to take an interest in Draft LEP 2002. It is coming soon. all). Unfortunately we erred with one Local Environment Plans are the means of addressing the issues of development vote and failed to note three occasions and the environment by establishing the rules for all future developments. It is far where Councillors had left the better to get involved now, than wait till the bulldozers move in down the street. chamber. We reported Councillor Angel Council is asking residents to have their say about the draft plan, which will be as voting 'for 16' and 'against 1' on these on public exhibition at Katoomba and Springwood Council offices from 16 October developments. Correct figures were 'for to 13 December. There will be a series of public meetings and displays before and 15' and 'against 2'. We regret these during the exhibition period—the first two meetings at Springwood Civic Centre on errors, but submit that they make no Wednesday 9 October, 7.30pm, and Wentworth Falls School of Arts on Thursday 10 difference to the conclusions that can be October, 7.30pm. Watch the Council page in the Gazette for more information. drawn about voting patterns. The Blue Mountains Local Environment Plan has been 18 years in the making. We fail to see how our comments can Council voted to prepare it in 1984. The first half was completed in 1991. A lot of be construed as misleading or environmentally destructive development has occurred which could have been defamatory. We are equally at a loss to prevented by having a good LEP in place. see any political bias. All we have done Members are asked to look at the proposals and assess how good these are for the is summarise information that we Blue Mountains environment in the long term. The committee wants feedback from obtained from Council's minutes. members on how the draft will effect each town. We are urging you to look at the Our original message stands. Seven- draft before the end of October so there is time to give us your feedback and allow us teen controversial major subdivision and to compile a Society submission. other multi-unit development decisions It is inevitable that there will be loud opposition to the draft LEP from people came before Council between October whose speculative ventures may be threatened. It is essential that the good aspects of 1999 and December 2001. All except the DLEP are supported by letters from each of us as individuals as well as the one were supported by all Liberal, two Society as a whole. Independent and most of the Labor Those of us who care about the long term future of the surrounding World councillors. Those are the facts. We Heritage Area will need to get informed and speak up about the positive and negative leave it to the public to draw their own aspects of the Plan. It is critical that we are not drowned out by the shouts of those conclusions. with their own short term financial motives. Contact the Land Use subcommittee with your ideas and questions: phone 4782.1635 or email [email protected]. Hut News, No. 183, October 2002 — Page 1. “Hut News”, the newsletter of But is it a fair option to put anyone’s life reviewed with the knowledge that there Blue Mountains Conservation Society at risk? Inc. is common ground. An update from Much of the Blue Mountains is a Council on the draft VMO would be able P.O. Box 29, Wentworth Falls, 2782 bushfire prone area. Former planning Phone47571872 Fax47571753 to quash fears and inform people of the Email: [email protected] laws have allowed many of us to build process. Web page: http//www.pnc.com.au/ on fire prone land. The new legislation Please contact Council if you believe ~bmcs will allow Council to refuse develop- that there should be more consultation President: Robin Mosman ment or to impose conditions which will with the community. 4757.1354 provide satisfactory protection. The (e-mail) [email protected] (fax) Rural Fire Service has been given a No Easy Solution 4757.4503 formal role in providing this advice. The wind generators at Hampton First Vice President: Heather Hull All councils must produce maps to have attracted great interest among 4739.1493 define where bushfire prone areas are. (e-mail) [email protected] environmentalists as an example of how Second Vice President: Tony Towers These maps are to be released soon by we might produce renewable energy in Council. Proposed developments in order to reduce our reliance on fossil (phone/fax these areas need to have approved Asset fuel. Our interest in these 4757.1321 Protection Zones (ie cleared and fuel generators needs to be in context. (e-mail) [email protected] reduced areas) and also need to The two Hampton generators are Treasurer: Bart Beech incorporate design features to give 4739.9947 'rated' at 600kW. This means that when (e-mail) [email protected] protection (ie. comply with the wind conditions are ideal they will Correspondence Secretary: Joy construction standards in AS 3959). produce electricity at a rate of 600 kW. McDonald Many proposed new dwellings in the Many generators in other parts of the (phone) 4757.2725 (fax) 4757.2729 mountains have slopes within 100m and world are larger, rated at 1000kW, and (e-mail) [email protected] will require Asset Protection Zones of 60 they may be 90 metres high. Membership Secretary: Elizabeth van or 70 metres. These are outlined in the Reyswoud This sounds like a huge quantity of (phone) 4757.2694 (mobile) guidelines produced by Planning NSW. power but it needs to be placed in 0418.206.899 Councils will be able to assess the context. Suppose 1000 of the larger (e-mail) [email protected] environmental impact of the proposed generators were constructed on various Meetings Secretary: (VACANT) clearing in the APZ, but will they refuse high points in this area, yielding one Meetings Convenor: Jim Wallace development on this basis? million kilowatts when wind conditions 4784.3305 Native plants and animals are (e-mail) [email protected] were suitable. This amount of power is Education: Jenny Hill confined to limited areas in the the DIFFERENCE in Sydney's 4782.1303 landscape of NSW. They face the electricity consumption between a warm (e-mail) [email protected] greatest risk of population loss or winter's night and a cold one. In other Plant Nursery Manager: David Coleby extinction through too frequent words, if coal fired plants were (phone/fax bushfires, hazard reduction burns and producing enough electricity for a warm 4784.1395 clearing of native vegetation and need to Land Use: Lyndal Sullivan night and the weather changed, the wind 4782.1635 be considered in the ‘bushfire debate’. turbines could cater for the extra (e-mail) [email protected] Members interested in the changes to demand—provided wind conditions were Bushcare: Clive Heywood-Barker the assessment process should read suitable. If conditions were not suitable, 4787.5574 “Planning for Bushfire Protection” either of course, the wind generators might (e-mail) [email protected] by obtaining a copy from Planning NSW contribute almost nothing. Publicity: (VACANT) or looking at a copy at Council offices. Around the world 'wind farms' Walks Convener: Bill Tocher produce on average about 20% to 50% of NOTE: Please send editorial items for New BMCS Brochure their 'rated' power when measured over a November Hut News by 21 October, 2002 We have a new brochure to help period, with some months falling as low promote the society. The brochure as 15%. Winter in this district is usually Planning for Bushfire Protection was prepared by the Education very windy but in some weeks, had we Opposition to the new planning subcommittee. Very special thanks to all been dependent on wind generation, legislation has been vocal. Firefighters Barbara Harley who volunteered many we would not have watched much TV and conservationists have been saying many hours of her time and expertise to and would have done a lot of hand for years that it is madness to continue to create the brochure and to Meredith washing. allow development in bushfire prone Brownhill who put the ideas together. Most of us give little thought to our areas. Not only are the lives of the future Draft VMO dependence on fossil fuel, and do not residents in danger, but so are the lives of stop to think what life might firefighters who have little choice but to Two members of the Society met recently with the Mid Mountains Garden be like when it is exhausted. Being able attempt to protect these people and their to use electricity only when the wind is property. Club to discuss the draft VMO. The outcome was very positive. Garden Club blowing or the sun is shining would By having more people living in high cause an enormous difference to our risk areas there is also more pressure to members who were present recognized the importance of such an instrument to daily lives, economy and society. undertake hazard reduction burns. Jill Curnow. Frequent hazard reductions have an protect our local native vegetation. They Western Woodlands adverse effect on flora and fauna, can too had horror stories of unchecked over- clearing on nearby properties. Earlier this year five of our members cause soil erosion and can open up visited the Pilliga scrub in western NSW bushland for weed invasion. Hazard BMCS and MMGC agreed that the VMO should protect remnant native and wrote of its beauty. Unsustainable reduction is also a dangerous activity and logging of this area provides firewood fire fighters have been injured, and vegetation in the urban area but not include exotic vegetation. If this for Blue Mountains homes. Support the sometimes killed. Western Conservation Alliance in their In addition to avoiding putting more amendment were made to the draft VMO it would bring the focus back to the campaign for improved conservation and people and their properties at risk, there an environmentally sustainable future for is also the issue of the cost to the original purpose which is to protect all levels of native vegetation. what is left of the western NSW community. The Christmas 2001 fires woodlands. A brochure is enclosed. cost the community $106 million. It Public meetings organised by Coun- makes good sense to prevent building in cil on the VMO demonstrated that there areas of extreme danger. There is of is wide support for this position. Membership Enquiries course the issue of those people who Council’s inaction since then has led to Contact Elizabeth van Reyswoud have bought land and may be unable to many misleading statements and Phone 4757.2694 build – fair solutions need to be found. unnecessary attacks being made. Email: [email protected] The draft VMO is currently being Post: PO Box 29,Wentworth Falls 2782 Hut News, No. 183, October 2002 — Page 2. Blue Mountains Swamp Dweller huge area, but a pool with at least one Travelling in a ‘Carfree’ Manner Southern Water Skink, Eulamprus gradual side so the frogs can get out. In About six months ago my beloved heatwolei the warmer months of the year, tadpoles Glenys and I decided to get rid of our car The Southern Water Skink is the will move towards the deeper, cooler water and try life without one. commonest water skink in the upper and in the cooler months they will seek Before I elaborate on some of the Blue Mountains. It uses swamps, but warmer water on the edges. Sand or gravel unexpected benefits, I must say that also creeks, woodlands, etc. (It is at the bottom of the pond will allow plants recently I was pleasantly surprised how likely that many amateur recordings of to take hold. easy it was for me to get from our the rare Blue Mountains Water Skink, Some water loving plants in pots and Springwood home to the Conservation Eulamprus leuraensis, are this species.) partly submersed in the pool or planted Hut using my bicycle and CityRail. The Southern Water Skink is a around the edge can provide the cover I should also add that our children medium-sized skink, length 10-20 cm, required and help the pool blend with the have long since grown up and flown the coppery-brown above with numerous surroundings. Oxygenating aquatic plants nest, and that Glenys and I live within flecks of black on the head and such as water lilies will help minimize walking distance of the Springwood scattered black spots on the body and algal growth and provide food and cover shops and railway station – which takes tail. A pale stripe extends from above from birds. about 25 minutes. We do appreciate that the eye to above the forelimbs. It Create the habitat and the frogs will going carfree is neither practical, viable occurs in central and eastern Victoria find it. It’s frowned upon to collect any or desirable for most people, and and southern NSW to the upper Blue frogs, tadpoles or eggs from any public therefore we regard ourselves as being Mountains where it is moderately lands as all frogs are protected. very fortunate to at least have the option common. Mosquitoes will probably breed in your of doing so. The Blue Mountains Water Skink, pool, but the tadpoles regard them as Apart from the more obvious benefits occurs only in the upper Blue delicious tucker and will demolish the of having considerably reduced our Mountains swamps. It is a similar size, wrigglers before they change and have a travel expenses, getting more exercise dark brown on the back with chance of flying off. Do not introduce any and fresh air, our worldview and sense of conspicuous narrow whitish fish as most species just love tadpoles and time and place has also changed for the longitudinal stripes. There is a wide they will not have a chance of survival. better. Though Glenys and I have long black band with white spotting along If the habitat is good you will almost since regarded ourselves as environ- each side of the body. certainly attract water beetles, snails, mentally sensitive people, after only six The Southern Water Skink is found dragonflies and mayflies and the ecology months of walking, cycling, and train along creeks or seepages and swamps in a wide range of habitats including will become dynamic and balanced. travel, we are literally sensing, and woodland, wet and dry sclerophyll receiving our world from a more Welcome to New Members refreshing perspective. In a way it is as forest, heathland and tussock grassland, James & Rita Corrie, Springwood it is usually seen basking or foraging. if we have returned to the world we Gayle Greenhill, Winmalee knew when we were a lot younger— It feeds mainly on invertebrates but Shelley Greer, Leura occasionally on vertebrates such as prior to owning a car, and that time is on Billie, Cale, Macklin Johnstone, Woodford our side again. Our world has in many small skinks, small fish and tadpoles. Lourdes St. George, Burwood Females produce two to six young. ways become more attractive to us again. References: “Fauna of the Blue Mari Eisenhuth, Maryong Our decision means we are also Mountains”, Judy and Peter Smith; Rachel Swinden, Lawson deliberately walking in the face of “Snakes and Other Reptiles of Australia, Nathan Summer, Katoomba economic rationalism’s rhetoric, and this Gerry Swan, The Australian Museum. Alan, Patricia Cortissos, Wentworth Falls too is proving to be an unexpectedly Inviting the Croakers Home Mary Camden, Springwood enriching experience. With a little Phillip Somerville, Lawson stretching of this and that – physically (An extract of article by Trevor Blake in Lyn Bevington, Lawson ACF’s Habitat Australia, August 2002) and psychologically, there is not only life Clare O’Hagan, Woodford after the car, but there can actually be Sounds around a home can be John & Ingrid Haydon, Wentworth Falls restful and entrancing if they are from more of it. Annette Coulter, Wentworth Falls Taffy Seaborne and Glenys Livingstone. the natural world. Bird calls can add Nicholas Todd, Wentworth Falls another dimension to a garden and so can those marvelous environmental Vale Ewart Collings The Value of Bushcare Many old hands of the Conservation health indicators—frogs. A garden When it comes to Landcare or with frogs almost completes the perfect Society will have feelings of nostalgia Bushcare activities, protecting remnant and loss when they learn that Ewart connection with the natural bush is the best, cheapest and most environment but you will have to do a Collings died at Bodington Nursing effective activity anyone can do. While Home on 20 September at the age of 92. little work to entice and encourage planting lots of plants may make us feel them to stay. If the conditions are Ewart and his wife Betty joined the good, they are in most cases, just that— Society shortly after retiring to right, frogs will move in and spawn plants. Saving your bush, even if it is in eggs. Just what is needed to achieve a Wentworth Falls. As he was a graphic poor condition, means you have an entire artist with the ABC’s publications frog population in your garden? ecosystem made up of countless millions Simply, water. Not necessarily a section his skills were utilized in our of different components, both above and Society in conservation matters when below the ground, all interacting quite design and layout were required. He Point Piper, 29/8/2002 happily together and forming stable took on the job of our newsletter editor ecosystems. Systems that are so in 1985 until 1990, and introduced the Sun-beam-riding road dust complex we can’t even begin to under- classic print of the black cockatoos stand them, let alone create them by which graces the cover of Hut News at lifts a lizard’s view. popping a few plants into the ground. Greenly paused in dragon pose, this moment. The novel illustrations in The average piece of bush will have Graham Alcorn’s “Bird Baths of Umbi- she winks a movement millions of insects, hundreds of gumbi” were his work. He had a of interest through the haze. thousands of arachnids and thousands whimsical sense of humour which of plants on each hectare of land. endeared him to members. I never heard Car-riding walkers, colourfully clad Indeed, each hectare of land (an area him pass an unkind word about anyone. in fleece and poise, measuring 100 metres x 100 metres) Our sympathies go out to Betty, his blink a moment of contact has at least 4.5 million spiders alone loyal and staunch helpmate of 67 years with their lizard-lovers gaze. living in the trees, shrubs, grasses and standing, herself very active in the underground. (from: Bush remnants— Society’s work, taking on various Bernadette. can you afford not to protect them? By Rae committee positions during those years. Glazik. Found in Citizens Wildlife Corridors newsletter, July 2002) Lloyd Jones. Hut News, No. 183, October 2002 — Page 3. Tenth Anniversary of Monday DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Leisure Walks Oct 19 (Sat) Management Meeting, 9am, Mid Mtns Community Centre, Lawson. This month ten years ago, Christine Oct 25 (Fri) General Meeting at The Hut, 7.30 pm. (See page 1.) Davies, with the help of Ruth Milton, Oct 11-13 Environmental Education Conference (See page 1). started the Monday Leisure Walks Oct 11-20 Art of the Environment Exhibition (See page 1). through the Blackheath Area QUOLL CLUB (Activities for 12 and under)  Jessica 4757.3686 for more info. Neighbourhood Centre. The walks became part of the Society’s walks BUSHCARE (Tools provided — bring morning tea and gloves.) program six years ago, and have become Oct 12 (Sat) Valley of the Waters Bushcare Group. (9 am, 2nd Saturday of an institution. every month) Tools provided. Bring morning tea, gloves and We are dedicating the walk on drinking water. Contact Karen on 4757.1929 for the meeting place. Monday, 11 November and follow-up BUSHWALKS: lunch at the Bacchante Rhododendron Monday Leisure Walks: Usually half day walk unless noted, leisurely pace. Gardens to celebrate the anniversary. Oct 14 Newnes Historic Ruins Bus Trip. Book now with Kees 4759.1958. Members and friends are invited to 8am start from Katoomba Council Depot. Full day. Easy. join in the walk (meet 9am at the Oct 21 Evans Lookout to Grand Canyon. Meet Evans Lookout, Blackheath Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre), or if 9am.  Kees 4759.1958. Medium. unable to come on the walk, meet for Oct 28 Glastonbell Circuit Walk. Meet Mt Vic Station 9am.  Allan lunch at the Bacchante Rhododendron 4739.2767. Medium. Gardens at 12 noon. Bring a plate of Nov 04 Porter’s Pass. Meet Blackheath commuter carpark finger food. 9am.  Kees 4758.1958. Medium/hard. We would especially like to hear Nov 11 Tenth Anniversary Walk. (See story on this page). Meet for walk at from people who participated in the early Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre 9am.  Terry and Mary 4787.6918, walks, up to the present. If you know of or meet for lunch at Bacchante Rhododendron Gardens 12 noon. any former leisure walkers who may not Very Easy Walks on Thursdays. These walks are conducted at a slow pace to suit read this newsletter please let them the walkers on the day and are usually 2 hours starting at 10am. Lunch follows for know. Contact Bill 4759.1692 or those so inclined. Contact Bill 4759.1692 for any enquiries about the program. Christine 4787.7246 for more info. Oct 10 Blackheath Parks in Spring. Meet as above. BBQ lunch. Thursday Interpretive Bushwalks Oct 17 Dunn’s Swamp (car pool). Meet Blackheath commuter carpark 9am. Interpretive Bushwalks will resume Full day, bring lunch. on Thursday 17 October. Oct 24 Murphy’s Glen Turpentine Walk. Meet Woodford Station 10am. The last two walks of this series were Oct 31 Baltzer’s Lookout and Hanging Rock. Meet Blackheath day walks/trips, the first to Gooch’s Neighbourhood Centre 10am. Crater with Wyn Jones, the second to Nov 07 Mount Annan (car pool). Meet Springwood commuter carpark 9am. Jenolan Caves. Full day, bring lunch/BBQ. At Gooch’s Crater the walkers were Weekend Bushwalks: Bushwalkers are requested to phone the contact before 8 pm stunned by the beauty of the pagoda the day before the walk. The walk may be cancelled if fewer than 4 walkers register. country and the knowledge and passion or if other circumstances make conditions unsafe. Always discuss with the contact if of Wyn Jones who was so generous in the walk you would like to do is medium/hard or hard, before attending. sharing it with them. If this is your first walk, or you are in any doubt, discuss with the contact or At Jenolan we were fortunate to have Bushwalks Convener Bill Tocher 4758.8545. a interesting talk from Grant Commins Oct 12 (Sat) Crossing the Blue Mountains of NSW: Blackheath to Mount who told us about the management of the Victoria. Meet Blackheath Railway carpark (west side of station) karst area and answered our many at 9.13am. A hard challenge. We walk along the Kanimbla questions about environmental and other Valley Escarpment below the cliff top to the old incline railway site. matters in relation to the Jenolan Caves. Lunch is in the vicinity of Fairy Bower, then up to the top of the rail Then we walked past the Blue Lake and site and on to Mt Victoria, passing the old Toll House en route. beside the Jenolan River. The walk was  Jim 4758.6009. Bring extra water and lunch. described as 1½ hours return—perhaps Oct 20 (Sun) Mount Banks. Meet Mount Victoria Station 9.50am.  Bill true for those who don’t loiter to admire 4758.8545. Medium. Bring lunch. the magnificent rock orchids and listen Oct 26/27 No walks this weekend. Bill and others are looking forward to a the birds, and there were so many of 3-day walk along the six foot track this weekend. them! Ron listed 24 species of birds. Nov 02 (Sat) Crossing the Blue Mountains of NSW: Mount Victoria, Mount We sat on a grassy bank for lunch York, Mount Blaxland. Meet Mt Victoria Station 9.50am. Day surrounded by the calls of Bellbirds. It six in the series involves some bus travel as well as approx 12km of was magic. walking. As private cars cannot cross some property and bus seats The next series of walks will are limited, booking is essential. Priority will be given to walkers commence on Thursday 17 October and who have completed the five previous walks.  Jim 4758.6009 continue through to mid December. by 30 October. Bring extra water and lunch. They will be mostly morning walks, Nov 09 (Sat) Glow Worm Tunnel in the old coach road Newnes. Meet Mount expert guests on some, and some day Victoria Station 8.17am.  June 4787.7312. Medium. Bring lunch walks, usually finishing around 3 pm. and a torch for the tunnel walk. The early start is necessary. Numbers are limited. Cost is $20 for the *** NEW VOLUNTEER WALK LEADERS for day walks are essential. series. Contact Christine Davies Phone Bill Tocher 4758.8545 for discussion. 4787.7246 for more information. company claims to be still considering forest ‘residues’ for power plants No Go in MOGO alternative sites ‘on the east coast’. as it would be environmentally Australian Silicon’s announcement This means that conservationists and irresponsible, yet he continues to that it would not be building a charcoal communities in NSW and Victoria are still champion the South Coast charcoal plant at Mogo near Bateman’s Bay has threatened by this archaic proposal despite operation even though the timber been a great victory for forest it having been resoundingly rejected first supply contract was revealed to specify conservation groups and the local in the western NSW woodlands and now whole logs—200,000 tonnes of native community who fought to protect the on the South Coast. forests a year, including mature and old natural beauty of the area and the South Premier Bob Carr recently announced growth forest trees. Coast tourism industry. However, the that he would not allow burning of native This issue of Hut News has been printed on 100% Recycled Paper Hut News, No. 183, October 2002 — Page 4.