A MAJOR sawmill in Northern Victoria has lashed out at the Victorian Government's decision to reduce timber harvesting in the river red gum forests.

Arbuthnot Sawmill managing director Paul Madden said the forests were being locked up due to the drought, not the effects of the timber industry.

Acting on advice from the Victorian Environment Assessment Council the government has declared 83,000ha of new and extended red gum national parks.

Mr Madden said VEAC’s report did not include timber harvesting as a threat to the survival of the red gum forests.

He said the industry did not harvest large old trees and were only allowed to harvest regeneration timber on a sustainable level.

Mr Madden said the real reason for “locking up” the red gum forests was to win green preference votes in the Melbourne’s marginal electorates.

“It is politically based decision and in no way is in the best interests of the red gum forests or the community as a whole,” Mr Madden said.

He said the requirement for timber for rail, bridges and wharves was the highest level the industry had experienced for many years.

“The question needs to be asked – where is this timber supposed to come from?”

Mr Madden said his sawmill at Koondrook would reposition itself to maintain employment in the town.

The New South Wales Forest Products Association has also condemned the move to expand the National Forests.

Executive director Russ Ainley said the decision flew in the face of rational community, conservation and economic outcomes as “it was a deal with Greens at the last election.”

“It is proof that country towns can be sold down the drain to meet political ambitions in major city electorates; forest based communities can be easily sacrificed to catch green preferences.”

Mr Ainley said drought was a major problem for the forests and silvicultural management was the only way of ensuring forest health.

He said without active management large areas of regrowth and habitat trees on Gunbower Island had been allowed to die.

“Reserving the forest now will not bring it back to life,” he said.

Mr Ainley said the government’s decision did not have the support of the communities on the Murray.

“For hundreds of people this decision seals their fate,” he said. 

“Their livelihoods, entire communities and long standing industries will be destroyed.”