Federation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW March 1989. Further additions were nominated by Canopy Committee of the Total Environment Centre in September 1992.
Nominated
Existing NPWS estate (Oct. 1993)
Deua National Park 67,700 ha
Deua N.P. (WASA and 1992 nom.) approx. 6,000 ha
New NPWS estate (Oct. 1993 to Sept. 1999)
Former Dampier State Forest 740 ha
Other tenure
State Forest 15,008 ha
State Forest (1992 nom.) approx. 33,916 ha
Crown land (1992 nom.) approx. 100 ha
Leasehold land 3,500 ha
Freehold land 300 ha
Freehold land (1999 WASA) approx. 1,000 ha
The area has a diverse geology. Ordovician sediments outcrop on the Kybeyan Range at the western edge of the area, and in a large band centred on the Deua River. Siluro-Devonian granites are found along Woila Creek and the middle parts of Burra Creek; Devonian sediments along the Minuma Range and Tabletop-Mother Woila area; and Silurian sediments at Bendethera Caves. Devonian-aged "Comerang" volcanics form the ridges leading to the Deua River, east of Bendethera Caves and at the Mountains of the Moon, near the eastern part of the area. At the eastern edge of the area the sediments of Merrimbula Formation are exposed. Small areas of Quarternary alluvial sediments occur along the Deua River.
The area is drained mainly by the Deua River. In the south, however, Woila Creek flows out to the Tuross River. The wilderness contains a number of significant water catchments including the headwaters of Buckyjumba Creek, the Georges Creek catchment, the Upper Deua catchment and the Diamond Creek catchment. Diamond Creek, in Dampier State Forest flows into the Burra-Oulla Creek system within the National Park. This catchment is considered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to be one of the largest pristine catchments in NSW.
Partly because of the rugged topography and remoteness of the Deua area, knowledge of the area's vegetation is limited. The area supports a diverse range of plants communities due to the varying topographical and geological features. Dry and wet sclerophyll forests predominate, however significant areas of heath as well as wet and dry rainforest are also found. Twenty three of the plant communities within the area are considered significant. Thirty of the plant species existing in the area are considered rare or endangered, including a number of endemics such as the recently-discovered Deua Teatree (Leptospermum deuense).
Almost pure stands of Lilly Pilly (Acmena smithii), up to twenty five metres high, are typical of Diamond Creek at altitudes of 560 - 730 metres. Diamond Creek was reserved primarily to protect this inadequately conserved forest type. A large range of animal species typical of the forested lands of the south coast of New South Wales are present, including significant species such as the Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus), White-footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis leucopus), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), the Australian Grayling (Prototroctes maraena) Australia's rarest native fish, and the Non-parasitic Lamprey (Mordacia praecox), the Southern Hemisphere's only freshwater, non-parasitic eel.
Of the thirty five mammal species listed as occurring or expected to occur in Wandella-Dampier, nine are listed in Schedules 1 and 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, including the Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus).
A survey of the butterfly species present in the Deua area undertaken in December 1991, identified 16 species and host plants that could support an additional 12 species. Two rare species were seen: Anderson's Skipper (Toxidia andersonii) and the Silvered Skipper (Hesperilla crypsargyra). This survey concludes "proposed logging operations to be carried out by the Forestry Commission of NSW (FCNSW, now known as State Forests) would almost certainly effect a decline in the population density, distribution and relative abundance of a wide spectrum of Lepidoptera species.
The area is situated in territory traditionally occupied by the Walbanga Aboriginal People.
As a result of the Robertson's "Free Selection" legislation of the 1860's a number of small subsistence farms were established on the Upper Deua, the most significant being Bendethera, ruins of which still exist. By the early 1920's, only one farm on the Upper Deua, Cermulee, was still being worked.
A number of goldfields to the north and south east of the wilderness area were worked between 1851 and 1900. Mining towns were established at Araluen (1851), Mogo (1859), Nerringundah (1861) and Mount Dromedary (1881).
1897 First Reserves for timber and water preservation established - 1,500 ha west of Bodalla and Narooma.
1914 Mungerarie, Moruya and Corunna State Forests dedicated.
1917 Bodalla State Forest dedicated.
World War II Sassafras removed from rainforest areas within Wandella-Dampier for rifle butts.
"All these forests covered the Spotted Gum (E. maculata) type, which were logged to the near-exclusion of all others. Over cutting of Spotted Gum during the timber shortage which followed the Second World War resulted in a decline in its availability by the 1950's. As a consequence, areas carrying species other than Spotted Gum were investigated".
1951 Dedication of Dampier State Forest of 48,920 ha. The area included the Upper Deua and Diamond Creek catchments. By 1970 some 1,900 ha of eucalypt hardwood had been logged for house frames.
1970 Intensive logging of Wandella-Dampier State Forests begins due to development of a low quality sawlog market. By 1979, 2,770 ha had been intensively logged and 140 ha selectively logged for mining timber and other local needs.
1973 Subsequent to the construction of a number of fire trails, roading and harvesting of Upper Deua catchment begins. According to the Forestry Commission 3,253 ha or 43% of the 7,622 ha of State Forest included in the Deua wilderness nomination had been logged by 1989 .
1977 November 16: FCNSW and NPWS come to an agreement regarding the incorporation of the whole Diamond Creek catchment, during negotiations concerning the boundaries of Deua National Park.
1978 August: As dedication of the park draws near, FCNSW advises NPWS it has reappraised timber resources along eastern border of park and withdraws its agreement to revoke Diamond Creek from Dampier State Forest. Logging reaches its highest yearly cut of 56,000 cubic metres gross.
1979 Further logging operations in Wandella-Dampier suspended under the provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 subsequent to the production of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Logging operations in the Coastal Working Circle increased to cope with this shortfall.
1981 Harris-Daishowa begins receiving "heads and butts and reject logs" from Narooma Management Area. This represents an average yield of 28,000 cubic metres, or 3% of total annual export volume and 4% of their Eden woodchip mill export volume.
1983 Environmental Impact Statement produced. FCNSW reveals its intentions to log 93,360 cubic metres net from Wandella-Dampier to 1989.
Logging is planned for a 30 year cycle with the ultimate logging of 35,500 ha planned.
The Forestry Commission claims Diamond Creek (740 ha) contains 21,090 cubic metres net of loggable timber and the Deua catchment contains 53,337 cubic metres net. Net financial returns of 30 year cutting cycle are estimated at a paltry $193,233 for logging Diamond Creek and $455,057 for the Deua River catchment.
9km of roading was to occur in Diamond Creek at a cost of $25,650; 48km in Deua at a cost of $165,150.
Diamond Creek's future to be re-examined in 1986 with the production of the revised Narooma Management Plan.
Georges Creek is included in logging plans.
Small sections of Undeveloped Natural Forest (Category 1.3, of low commercial timber value) is recognised in all three catchments, but these will still be subject to burning and trail construction.
FCNSW Order of Working is as follows:
Georges Creek: Romney Park Sawmill Pty Ltd, Comerang, 14,400 cubic metres net (cmn), 2002-2006;
Little Sugarloaf Road Extension, which runs along the headwaters of Georges Creek: Coastline Timbers, 20,350 cmn, 1986-1996 and Romney Park Sawmill, 9,650 cmn, 1997-2010.
Diamond Creek: Coastline Timbers Pty Ltd, 21,100 cmn, 1997-2010.
Extracted sawlog residues will be supplied to the pulpwood (woodchip) market (i.e. Harris-Daishowa, Eden).
NPWS expresses its concern over system of appraisal of timber resources and recommends against further logging of the Upper Deua, and planned logging for Diamond Creek and Georges Creek, arguing for inclusion in the National Park.
1986 Narooma Management Plan produced. Directly related employment is claimed to be 124, with 11 new jobs coming from Harris-Daishowa pulpwood increases.
"The Diamond Creek catchment shall not be scheduled in the order of working without specific Commission approval".
1987 FCNSW advises Department of Environment and Planning that logging of Diamond Creek is "essential for the long-term stability of the local timber industry". FCNSW seeks approval for construction of Little Sugarloaf Road Extension.
1989 September 8: Minister for Natural Resources, the Hon Ian Causley expresses view that Diamond Creek should be logged as FCNSW reviews of the limits of sustainable yields are revised downwards, thus decreasing available sawlogs.
Mount Dromedary is removed from logging due to the objections of the local Aboriginal community. It is claimed this will necessitate increased yields elsewhere. However, Mount Dromedary supplies different sawmills and contains different timber.
September 21: Environment Minister, Mr Tim Moore asserts FCNSW "has agreed to delay all operations in the area for the next ten years" and continues "I have requested the National Parks and Wildlife Service to investigate all possible avenues for acquisition of the land and its addition into the Service estate".
Forestry Commission begins driving its Little Sugarloaf Road Extension along the headwaters of Georges Creek.
Selective logging, snig tracks and offshoot roads follow. The logging indicates a change in planned working order (see above).
FCNSW: "This programme became essential with the deferment of logging in Diamond Creek".
1990 Former Premier, Mr Nick Greiner indicates that "logging is to be deferred in the Diamond Creek area and possibly reviewed at a later date. Any review will be undertaken in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Service".
1991 11th September: After highly successful local media campaigns, and with looming local council elections, Eurobodalla Shire Council agrees to the demands of the Deua Wilderness and Catchment Protection Group and recommends suspension of logging in Diamond Creek and Georges Creek catchments.
1992 TWS identifies "illegal" logging within Deua Wilderness. A log dump is established within the catchment of George's Creek. Logging within the upper Deua catchment continues.
1993 The Forestry Commission undertakes not to proceed with logging in Georges Creek and Diamond Creek catchments pending determination of the Deua Wilderness nomination.
May: Logging contractor for Badja State Forest, Mr Don O'Reilly tells members of The Wilderness Society (TWS) that he will commence work on upgrading Balook Rd, and logging its surrounding forests, within the month.
1995 Parts of the Georges Creek catchment in the identified wilderness are logged.
1996 Government advises that the completion of the Southern Region Comprehensive Regional Assessment (CRA) will not be until July 1999. This will delay the decision on proposed additions to the Deua Wilderness which is incorporated into the forest assessment process.
1998 Logging continues in Dampier State Forest within the nominated wilderness, particularly the Buckyjumba Creek catchment area. Logging in Badja State Forest within the wilderness nomination is also proposed but later the compartments are withdrawn from logging operations.
1920 Myles Dunphy and Roy Davies visit Deua Valley on a mammoth bushwalk to Victorian Alps.
1937 Through the National Parks and Primitive Areas Council (NPPAC), Dunphy considers a "Moruya Ranges Primitive Area Reserve", consisting of the Moruya Ranges, the Deua Escarpment, Deua or Moruya River sources, Bendethera Caves, Wyanbene Hole, Big Badja Mountain". Unfortunately a final document never materialised.
Early 1960's National Parks Association (NPA) prepares and submits its Deua-Tuross National Park Proposal to the NSW Government.
1976 Helman et al Report identifies Deua as one of twenty areas which satisfied its definition of wilderness.
1979 After lengthy negotiations, Deua National Park of 80,300 ha gazetted. By 1990 this had been increased to 81,762 ha.
1986 Wilderness Working Group, appointed by Minister for Planning and Environment release their Report, naming Deua as one of thirty-six identified wilderness areas in NSW.
1989 Federation of Bushwalking Clubs submits its Wilderness Nomination.
1991 March: NSW NPWS releases The Deua Wilderness Assessment Report.
1992 Terry Metherell MLA (Ind), holding joint balance of power in NSW with non-aligned independents, announces on 13/2/92 his Wilderness (Declaration of New Areas) Bill 1992 which includes the Deua Wilderness nomination, less any freehold or Crown Leasehold land, for protection as wilderness under existing legislation.
March: The Timber Industry (Interim Protection) Act 1992 (TI(IP) Act) places the forests within the Deua wilderness under logging moratorium until a EIS for logging operations is prepared and also requires that the Deua wilderness assessment be completed by 30 Septermber 1994.
Metherell's Bill is a crucial factor in triggering the decision by the Minister for Environment, Tim Moore, to announce on 9/4/92 a public exhibition and submission process from 19/4/92 to 19/8/92 for an NPWS assessment report of the nominated Deua wilderness (and similarly with different dates for twenty two other wilderness areas in NSW) The Metherell Bill is shelved at the close of 1992 following Metherell's resignation from Parliament but the wilderness assessment reports were eventually published in a manner similar to the timetable laid out by Mr Moore and the TI(IP) Act.
September: Canopy Native Forest Committee of Total Environment Centre publish "Deua Wilderness - Recommendations for Wilderness and National Park". This submission to NPWS endorses the Federation's Deua Wilderness proposal, and proposes extensions to Deua National Park by including sections of Dampier, Big Badja and Tallaganda State Forests and certain leasehold/freehold lands. These additions would cover a total area of 65,765 ha. The Canopy submission was also accepted by the NPWS as a nomination for the Deua Wilderness.
The Prime Minister and the Premiers of all Australian states, except Tasmania, sign National Forest Policy Statement. This Statement declares "until the assessments (of forests for conservation values) are completed, forest management agencies will avoid activities that may significantly affect those areas of old growth forest or wilderness that are likely to have high conservation value".
1993 January: NPWS seeks from the Forestry Commission a voluntary stop work for the specific compartments 216a, 218 and 276 in the Upper Deua Catchment.
February: A peaceful protest in Deua wilderness organised by TWS and the Deua Action Committee succeeds in preventing logging for two days. Colong Foundation and Total Environment Centre request from NPWS a stop work order on logging in the Deua Wilderness under the Endangered Fauna (Interim Protection) Act 1991. This stop work order is rejected.
April: TWS requests from NPWS a stop work order for Badja State Forest.
23 December: Fahey Government announces 350,000 ha of wilderness within 7 of the 10 areas nominated by environmental groups. A Deua Wilderness Area of 41,101 ha was to be declared wilderness, fragmented into three areas to allow Off Road Vehicle (ORV) and horseriding access. A further 9,734 ha was to be referred to the Natural Resources Audit Council (now defunct). On announcement, the reservation is blocked by a Coalition backbench members revolt.
1994 2 March: Premier Fahey announces that a further assessment process for wilderness declaration is needed and that the Surveyor-General be involved in investigating wilderness boundaries already defined by NPWS. Director General of Cabinet commissions the Surveyor-General to investigate Deua, Macleay Gorges and Goodradigbee wilderness areas.
9 September : Premier Fahey announces his final determination of new areas to be gazetted as wilderness. This determination has decreased to 6 wilderness areas totalling 113,000 ha. The Deua Wilderness was reduced to 33,900 ha by the exclusion of the Deua Valley - the core of the wilderness proposal.
22 September: Bob Carr, Leader of the Opposition, censures the Premier for breaching his promises on wilderness and commits NSW Labor to the declaration of twelve new wilderness areas.
30 November: Government gazettes the 740 ha upper catchment of Diamond Creek in Dampier State Forest as an addition Deua National Park.
1995 March: ALP release its wilderness policy as part of the 1995 election campiaign. The platform includes the declaration of 7 new wilderness areas and 9 additions in their first year of Government. This includes additions to the Deua Wilderness.
May: Labor Government ceases logging in all NPWS identified wilderness areas and on May 11 logging ceased within the NPWS identified Deua Wilderness Area. A further 30,450 hectares remain available for logging, mainly in the nominated sections of Dampier State Forest.
1996 July: Close of public submissions on proposed interim deferred forest areas for the eastern forestry regions of NSW. Around 16,000 submissions in support of the conservation movement’s Forest Reserve Plan which recommends protection for all of the proposed additions to Deau National Park.
23 September: Government announces its interim forest decision which creates national park additions in the north-east NSW and a logging moratorium over 680,000 ha of state forests plus all NPWS identified wilderness. Through this process, a further 5,880 ha of Dampier State Forest in the Donalds Creek catchment, in Canopy’s 1992 wilderness nomination, were protected.
1998 June: South East Forest Alliance (SEFA) produces a Greater Deua National Park proposal as part of a renewed southern forests campaign.
1999 19 March: The Government commits to the completion of assessment and exhibition of the Deua proposed additions by the end of 1999.
31 May: The National Parks and Wildlife Service undertake an assessment of wilderness values in the southern forest regions. The Deua Wilderness assessment study area includes the parts of Badja and Dampier State Forests nominated in 1992 and other adjacent areas.
Between 1973 and the end of 1989, 3,253 ha of the 7,622 ha included in the 1989 Wilderness Nomination were logged in the Upper Deua catchment, adjacent to Georges Creek catchment. As of October 1989 a further 2,335 ha of wilderness had been set aside for logging.
The environmental impacts of logging are well documented. Logging results in: soil compaction and erosion; water pollution and excessive runoff; escaped regeneration burns and excessive production of CO2; introduction of noxious weeds and dieback; loss of biomass; destruction of flora and fauna; and general ecosystem degradation.
A number of forestry related fire trails and logging roads are currently in existence within the Wilderness Area of Dampier State Forest. These include: Deua River Fire Trail (approx. 7km), much of which has been overlain by the Little Sugarloaf Road extension for logging purposes, although 1km is contained within the National Park; Short Cut Fire Trail (approx. 7km); Belimbla Fire Trail (approx. 20km); an unnamed trail that runs along Diamond Creek (approx 3km); and a number of dry weather, loose surface roads that run off Sugarloaf, German Creek and Comerang Roads.
The environmental impacts of trails on wilderness areas are well known. These include: soil compaction and erosion; rubbish dumping; weed invasion and dissemination by motor vehicles and horses; encouraging the ingress of feral animals; assisting arsonists to set wildfires in remote areas; and other adverse environmental impacts related to off-road vehicle use and horseriding.
Recommendations: That NPWS recommend the inclusion within the National Park sections of state forest contained in the wilderness nomination by Canopy Native Forest Commmittee of Total Environment Centre. Logging should cease upon NPWS identification of these wilderness areas. Areas affected by logging within the nominated area should be rehabilitated and allowed to recover to a natural condition.
During the early 1970's, and prior to the gazettal of the National Park, the South Coast Bushfire Prevention Association bulldozed an extensive network of over 150 km of fire trails throughout the entire wilderness area. These traversed most of the major peaks in the wilderness, including Bendethera, Deua and Dampier Mountains. These have lead to massive increases in use of the area by off-road vehicles and horse riders. Bendethera Caves Walking Track has become a major route for such vehicles. Several cases of arson have been reported within the wilderness area, where the arsonist has used fire trails for access to light fires .
In December 1997 fire control activities had a severe impact on the Deua Wilderness. A new 4km road was bulldozed south from Dampier Trig to the ridge overlooking Mother Woila. The construction served little function other than to link two helipads. The road was pushed through rare and threatened plant species areas, including Woila Gum (E. olsenii) and Nana heath. Rehabilitation of this road is imperative and urgent due to the potential for unauthorised vehicular usage patterns to develop.
Over burning causes severe damage to rugged wilderness catchments. The ground cover that binds the soil is burnt leading to massive sheet erosion, as the next rains will strip away the thin soils of these areas. Streams then fill with gravel and silt. Fires also a wipe out fauna populations and destroy the old growth vegetation. Often it is these very oldest plants that provide most of the nesting and roosting places. The assertion that Australia’s forest land was once all some sort of grassland, and that it should be burnt more often to mirror Aboriginal burning practices, is incorrect. Dr John Benson is adamant that "most forests and woodlands of Australia would not have been subject to frequent (less than ten-year) burns".
Recommendations: In addition to their severe environmental impacts, maintenance of management trails in wilderness areas does not comply with the management principles laid down in the Wilderness Act 1987.
Fuel-reduction burns should be undertaken where they are most effective, that is close to the assets being protected (e.g. towns and rural districts). Most wildfires burn into parks, not the other way around, and broad-area control burns of wilderness are ineffective in controlling such external fires.
Effective fire fighting in wilderness requires constant aerial or satellite surveillance in bushfire danger periods to enable rapid detection and response. Such an approach eliminates the need for fire towers in wilderness areas. To tackle fires in remote areas while they are still small, more fire fighters need to be trained as ‘smoke jumpers’ and helicopter crews. Where absolutely necessary, helicopter landing areas could be cleared for fire control.
The protection of wilderness values in fire management plans needs to be a priority. During fire emergencies bulldozers should not be allowed to scar the scenery by cutting fire control lines on steep slopes. All too often these measures fail to contain a wildfire. Decisions on damaging suppression practices should be addressed during management planning, not in a fire crisis. Except for fire trails in perimeter areas, trails constructed during fire fighting operations should be closed and rehabilitated immediately following the operation.
The Wilderness Area is currently surrounded by perimeter trails and these should be adequate. The best prescription to avoid fires in wilderness areas is to confine management trails to the edge, to prevent the spread of fire from outside. External management trails will prevent it spreading to adjoining areas.
Colong Bulletin 131 p1 "The Wilderness (Declaration of New Areas) Bill."
Colong Bulletin 133 p3 "Support the Wilderness Nominations"
Colong Bulletin 134 p8 "Anti-Conservationists Rampant"
Colong Bulletin 135 p6 "Wilderness in the Balance"
Colong Bulletin 143 p1 "How to eliminate Wilderness without seeming to try"
Colong Bulletin 146 p1 "Wilderness Minimised"
Colong Bulletin 147 p5 "The Fahey Government’s Wildernesses"
Colong Bulletin 151 p6 "Labor’s Wilderness Moratorium"
Colong Bulletin 157 p3 "Forest Reserve Plan"
Colong Bulletin 166 p5-8 "Wilderness Delayed and Diminished"
Colong Bulletin 169 p3 "Bob Carr’s Wilderness Protection Program"