Qindanning jarrah in Commission sights

Close to 660ha of jarrah forest is set to be logged in Quindanning after the Forest Products Commission earmarked it for harvest this summer, despite concerns expressed by a community group.

The area was last harvested from 1960 to 1969 and according to Forest Products Commission communications co-ordinator Melissa Turner the wood is set to become part of a range of solid timber products.

However, the Quindanning Action Group has claimed if logging went ahead regeneration of the wood would be unlikely in the reserve due to declining rainfall.

QAG member Angela Davies said a famer living adjacent to the forest site recorded an average of 527mm of rain a year, which was less than the water requirement for jarrah trees.

“It’s a known scientific fact that jarrah requires 600mm of water at least to regenerate,” she said.

Ms Turner said the forest was in a “mosaic” style, filled with patches of trees at different stages of growth.

“The ages of the trees are variable, since the forest is not even aged,” she said.

Ms Davies said she was concerned the area would be lost for future generations.

“It’s demolishing a natural asset for the future,” she said.

“The area is pristine and has little to no weeds and logging will change it forever.”

Shire of Boddington chief executive Gary Sherry said the 25 per cent of the forest left untouched could still be used by the community as a trail.

“The majority of the tress set to be harvested are from the 1960s and, while I’m disappointed we’re losing this vegetation, the remaining section could be used as trails,” he said.

Mr Sherry said the Shire’s main concern was increased traffic on the Pinjarra-Williams Road.

“It’s a 3.5m wide road which will mean two cars will need to have one wheel on the road to pass each other,” he said. “But the FPC knows this already and has chosen to go ahead nonetheless.”

The QAG will be meeting with Wagin MLA Terry Waldron this week to discuss its concerns about the logging further.