MEDIA RELEASE 13 March 2026

NEFA welcomes the Forestry Corporation being order to pay $450,000 for forest restoration for their illegal logging of six giant, and three hollow-bearing, trees in Wild Cattle Creek State Forest, near Dorrigo, in 2020

“These illegally logged trees are over 300 years old, priceless relicts predating European colonization, they are irreplaceable, said NEFA spokesperson Dailan Pugh.

“In today’s judgement in the Land and Environment Court, in lieu of paying a fine to the Government Justice Pain ordered $450,000 to be paid to the Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) to carry out Court approved restorative justice actions, including a healing ceremony, biocultural site repair plans, cultural mapping and the training of rangers as Gumbaynggirr Guardians.

“Court costs have been reserved, so the final payout is likely to be far greater.

Illegally felled giant tree, over 300 years old, and left to rot

Forestry belatedly fined $16,500 for clearing and logging the exclusion zone of Endangered plant in Gibberagee

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined the Forestry Corporation $16,500 for clearing and logging within an exclusion zone for the nationally Endangered Narrow-leaf Melichrus in Gibberagee State Forest (east of Whiporie) in September 2017, though refuse to acknowledge that it was as a consequence of a NEFA complaint.

The Narrow-leaf Melichrus is named Melichrus sp. gibberagee as it is yet to be formally described. This species was discovered during pre-logging surveys brokered with the Minister for Forests by NEFA in 1997. It is only known from a single population in Gibberagee State Forest, and on adjacent private property. It is now listed as Endangered by both NSW and Commonwealth Governments.

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