SAVE  DEONGWAR  STATE  FOREST

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(Insert title and name of recipient eg politician/influencer) 

RE: Save Deongwar State Forest - Protect our large old habitat trees and wildlife.

Dear .........................................

(Insert title and name of recipient),

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I am asking the state government to immediately transition Deongwar State Forest to a conservation estate now that logging has ceased.

This will align with the Queensland State Government's 2019 commitment to transition 20,000 hectares of State Forest prior to 31 December 2024.

After a long history of logging and bush fires, Deongwar State Forest needs to be protected so it can grow back to maturity and regain its forest structure and achieve its full potential to provide the abundant and diverse ecological resources to support the native species that have traditionally called it home.

 

Deongwar Forest contains live large old hollow bearing trees essential for powerful owls, glossy black-cockatoos, greater gliders, squirrel gliders and yellow bellied gliders. These species are vulnerable to local extinction due to the loss of essential habitat present in this forest.

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Deongwar Forest is a large intact remnant forest with good connectivity to adjoining nature reserves and nearby national parks.
 

All 4871 hectares of Deongwar State Forest need to be dedicated to a conservation state immediately.

 

This forest will also ultimately contribute to the Commonwealth Government's International commitment to protect 30% of our lands by 2030.

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​This high value conservation forest contains:

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• 4871 hectares of intact native forest including extensive scenic rocky creek systems and associated rainforest

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• habitat for at least 146 protected native animals including the long-nosed potoroo, powerful owl, black-breasted button-quail, white-throated needletail, glossy-black cockatoo, koala and greater glider​​

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• 2661 hectares of koala habitat which represents 55% for its total area 

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• 311 hectares of endangered blackbutt woodland

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• 4700 hectares of greater glider habitat which represents 100% of its total area

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• at least 94 native plant species

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• a critical wildlife corridor connecting adjacent National Parks and other State Forests

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• ecological resilience within the broader landscape offering refuge to wildlife when conditions in other areas may be less desirable, for example during and after bushfire

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• culturally significant areas for the First Nations people

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• an important central node of high elevation climate change refugia within the South East Queensland Biodiversity corridor

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• a young forest that will sequester carbon at a linear rate for hundreds of years

 

 

Now is the time to protect this forest forever and let it recover. 

Kind Regards,

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Decision Makers Contact List

(Current as of 16th December 2023)

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Contact those listed below to express you concerns and ask for an immediate end to the ecologically unsustainable logging of Deongwar State Forest.

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COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT
Currently logging within Queensland State forest is technically exempt under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999. (EPBC). 

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP (ALP)
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Tel: 02 6277 7700

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The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP (ALP)
Suite M1 48
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Minister.Plibersek@dcceew.gov.au
Tel: (02) 6277 7920

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The Hon. Shayne Neumann (ALP)
Member for Blair (Elected to the House of Representatives for Blair, Queensland)
PO Box 2579 North Ipswich LPO, QLD, 4305
shayne.neumann.mp@aph.gov.au
(07) 3201 5311
Toll free: 1300 792714
Canberra phone number (02) 62774755

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QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENTARY MINISTERS
As part of the 1999 South East Queensland Forest Agreement the Queensland State Government committed to transferring up to 20,000 hectares of State forest into the conservation estate prior to 31st December 2024. The Queensland State Government must be held to account to ensure they fulfill that commitment.

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Update - 30 October 2024.
On 1 October 2024, a Proclamation from the Governor was received dissolving the 57th Parliament and
issuing a writ to a general election to be held on 26 October 2024.
Following the election, details will be updated for the 58th Parliament as and when formal notification of
results for each individual electoral district is received from the Electoral Commission of Queensland.
The Save Deongwar State Forest (SDSF) community group will update the decision makers list and their
contact details promptly once the Ministers have been assigned their portfolios and the Ministers have
been sworn in for the next 4 year term of Queensland parliament.
Stay tuned.

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. (DAF)

Through forest certification, (eg. Responsible Wood), independent audits, (eg. British Standards Institute),
engaging with our stakeholders and working closely with the Department of Environment and Science
(DES), the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) is responsible for the management of
Queensland’s native forest timber resources. The management activities of DES are also included in our
certification, because of the role it plays as the owner of state forests. Our certification,(Responsible
Wood), assures that Queensland’s forests are conserved and responsibly managed, providing social,

environmental and economic benefits now and in the future. (Source: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-
priorities/forestry/state-native/our-responsibilities)

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General Enquiries and complaints.
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
info@daf.qld.gov.au
Tel: 132523

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Bernadette Ditchfield PSM

Acting Director-General

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

GPO Box 46 Brisbane 4001

dafdg.corro@daf.qld.gov.au

Barry Underhill
Director Forestry
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Queensland Government
barry.underhill@daf.qld.gov.au

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RESPONSIBLE WOOD

The Responsible Wood Certification Scheme is underpinned by two Australian Standards – Sustainable
Forest Management (AS 4708) and Chain of Custody for Forest Products (AS 4707)

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Simon Dorries
Chief Executive Officer
Responsible Wood
PO Box 786, New Farm Qld 4005
info@responsiblewood.org.au
Tel: (07) 33591758
Mobile: 0438265975

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Matt de Jongh
Sustainablity Manager
Responsible Wood
PO Box 786, New Farm Qld 4005
info@responsiblewood.org.au
Tel: (07) 33591758
Mobile: 0438265975

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BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTE (BSI)

The British Standards Institution is the national standards body of the United Kingdom. BSI produces
technical standards on a wide range of products and services and also supplies certification and
standards-related services to businesses.

‘If there is anyway we can help please let us know’

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Sabah Dunkley
British Standards Institute
Head Office- Sydney
Suite 1, Level 1/54 Waterloo Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Tel: 1300 730 134
sabah.dunkley@bsigroup.com

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British Standards Institute
Brisbane Office
Level 6, 200 Adelaide Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000
info.aus@bsigroup.com
Tel: 1300 730 134

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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND SCIENCE (DES)

The Department of Environment and Science, (DES), as custodians of the State forest estate and timber
reserves and are responsible for ‘taking care of, and protecting’ Deongwar State Forest.

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DES is responsible for “Code of practice for native forest timber production on Queensland's State forest
estate” 2020, (the Code), and are required to audit native forest harvesting operations authorised by DAF.

‘Decisions about the potential transfer of State Forest areas will be made by DES as the custodial
manager of Queensland State forests’

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Mr Jamie Merrick
Deputy Director-General
Department of Environment and Science
GPO Box 2454
BRISBANE QLD 4001
jamie.merrick@des.qld.gov.au

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QUEENSLAND PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND PARTNERSHIPS (QPWS)

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service are responsible for the as a decision of the Department of
Environment and Science, (DES).

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Damien Head 
Executive Director – Southern Parks and Forests
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships
damien.head@des.qld.gov.au
0407 154 235

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Rachel Chesher
Executive Director – Acting – Southern Parks and Forests
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships
qpwssouthernfwr.corro@des.qld.gov.au

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NEWSPAPERS

Constituents of the Somerset Regional Council area are encouraged to submit letters expressing your
concerns to the editors of the local newspapers for publication.

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The Somerset News
news@thesomerset.com.au

The Somerset Sentinel
admin@sentinelnews.com.au

The Lockyer & Somerset Independent
admin@tlsindependent.com.au

High Country Herald
heradl@highcountrynews.net.au

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SOMERSET REGIONAL COUNCIL

Whilst native hardwood logging of Deongwar is primarily a matter of State Government legislature and
policy the local councillors need to consider the benefits Deongwar has for the regions biodiversity, eco
tourism opportunities and the general well being of local residence.

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Mayor Graeme Lehmann
glehmann@somerset.qld.gov.au
0419799770

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Deputy Mayor Helen Brieschke
hbrieschke@somerset.qld.gov.au
0438149954

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Cr Sean Choat
schoat@somerset.qld.gov.au
0403535035

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Cr Cheryl Gaedtke
cgaedtke@somerset.qld.gov.au
0428408227

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Cr Kylee Isidro
kisidro@somerset.qld.gov.au
0477037462

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Cr Jason Wendt
jwendt@somerset.qld.gov.au
0417843838

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Cr Robert Whalley
bwhalley@somerset.qld.gov.au
0417632102
End.