An  Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Forests NSW timber harvesting and  associated road works in south-western NSW went on public exhibition on 1 June  2009.

The EIS, prepared by  independent consultants, covers red gum forests in the central Murray, lower  Murray and Murrumbidgee, and includes the towns and surrounding communities of  Deniliquin, Barham, Balranald,  Narrandera and Darlington Point.

It also includes white cypress forests around  the towns of Forbes, Narrandera and Condobolin.

NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, said the government was committed to  transparency and continual improvement of  forestry environmental management in  the Riverina red gums.

The assessment considers a  wide range of areas such as sustainable timber supply, flora and fauna, air  quality, noise, cultural heritage, water quality, traffic and transport, and  socioeconomic impacts.

The EIS concludes there  is unlikely to be a significant impact on the majority of threatened species,  populations or endangered ecological communities or their habitats which are  known to occur in the study area.

Mr Macdonald said Forests NSW maintains a  clearly defined, externally audited and accredited management framework to  ensure that all prescriptions are implemented, monitored and audited.

This includes an  Environmental Management System certified to international standards and  independent third party certification under the Australian Forestry  Certification Schemes Australian Forestry Standard, he said.

Mr Macdonald said the timber industry had  operated for more than 150 years in the area.

The EIS can be viewed here.

This article appears in the Spring/Summer 2009 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.