A Notice of Motion (NoM) put forward by Clarence Valley Councillor Allison Bryant last week which called for the local government body to formally oppose the Minns Government’s September 7 announcement to end native forest harvesting and establish the Great Koala National Park during the Monthly Ordinary Meeting of Clarence Valley Council (CVC) was carried 7-2.
The decision was met with resounding applause by several employees of the timber industry who were seated in the public gallery of the Maclean Council Chambers on November 20.
The NoM proposed Council:
- Oppose in full the NSW Government’s proposal to transition 176000 hectares of State Forest to National Park.
- Note the immense community concerns over job and business loss and increase in bushfire risk.
- Write to the Premier, Minister Sharpe, and Local Members of Parliament to convey Council’s opposition and concern to the park going ahead.
- Write to City of Coffs Harbour, Bellingen Shire, Nambucca Shire, Kempsey Shire, and Port Macquarie Hastings Shire councils to seek support in joint opposition to the proposal due to its immense negative impact to our region and its communities.
- Work closely with the member councils of the Mid North Coast Joint Organisation to urge the NSW Government to establish a North Coast Timber Industry Manufacturing Revival plan.
It followed an earlier Deputation by Donna Layton, representing South Grafton based business Marshall Notaras Hardwoods, who spoke passionately as a supporter of the timber industry in favour of Cr Bryant’s NoM.
“I was on the Industry Advisory Panel for the Great Koala National Park Assessment and went through the process of meetings with National Parks as the facilitator,” Ms Layton revealed.
“This decision by the Minns Government will not only affect local timber mills, it will also affect everyone in our community.
“The consequences are far reaching for other business and industries (throughout the region).
“A compensation package for displaced workers has been negotiated, which will assist them in the short term, but these workers want to work, and the timber industry is their life.
“To have Council support us, it is really important because we are fighting for the timber industry and for the people whose livelihoods depend on it.”
CVC Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy and Councillor Lynne Cairns spoke against the NoM, with the Deputy Mayor describing it as not a fair or honest one.
He also said its title was totally incorrect.
“‘Labor Shut Down on NSW Timber Industry’, this is not what it is about,” he stated.
“It is about the impacts of the Great Koala National Park on the local timber industry.”
The Deputy Mayor went on to explain that the Great Koala National Park, a 2023 State Election promise, “is going to happen”, adding the NoM tabled by Cr Bryant gave false hope to those impacted by its establishment.
While Deputy Mayor Clancy did acknowledge there would unfortunately be job losses within the timber industry, he spoke optimistically about new opportunities to seek employment with National Parks and within the tourism industry, which he emphasised as being long-term options.
Councillors Shane Causley, Debrah Novak, Cristie Yager, and Karen Toms spoke in favour of Cr Bryant’s NoM before it was put to the vote.
Mayor Smith, Crs Causley, Novak, Bryant, Toms, Yager, and Johnstone voted in favour of the NoM while Deputy Mayor Clancy and Cr Cairns voted against it.
Speaking in support of the Great Koala National Park and its tourism value in relation to the local economy, Clarence Valley resident Barbara Winters was hopeful Cr Bryant’s NoM would be lost and said while there will unfortunately be some local job losses in the timber industry, it is only temporary pain for a long term gain.
“We need this (Great Koala National Park) for our future,” she revealed.
“I really love nature, and I think it is very precious that we still have koalas here (in the Clarence Valley).”
Cr Bryant later told the media she remains hopeful the Minns Government will reverse its decision, adding she will continue to advocate for and fight for the timber industry, its employees, and her local community.
A number of local timber industry employees who were present when Cr Bryant’s NoM was carried told the Clarence Valley Independent, they were extremely thankful to her and the other councillors for their support, adding there is “still a lot of campaigning to do” as they continue to fight for their future.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 26 November 2025.
Related stories: Great Koala National Park; koala.
