Illegal logging cheerleaders David Joss and Vic Eddy continue to present misleading information regarding globally significant river red gum wetlands forests.

Selectively quoting a couple of recent reports, Mr Joss fails to mention that the Natural Resources Commission found that major reductions are required to the red gum logging industry even without any new national parks.

The forests have been over-cut and they are not growing back. This is a definition of unsustainable.

They also fail to acknowledge last week's ruling by the NSW Magistrates' Court that logging is unlawful due to failure to get the proper approvals under NSW law.

They then use the example of the recently created national park at Yanga, claiming that most of the forest is dead, dying or stressed.

Up until recently the area was extensively logged.

It is misleading to suggest that somehow, virtually overnight that the decline in condition was due to national park status.

In actual fact, as the NRC report found, some of the areas in worst condition in NSW red gum forests are areas that are currently being extensively logged.

Conservation groups do, however, welcome calls for more environmental water for these wetland forests from the National Party and logging interests.

Unfortunately though, the red gum logging industry does not pay for any of the water it benefits from.

In fact, it is the only industry in the Murray-Darling Basin that gets access to free water.

Unlike private agro forestry growers, they don't pay other business oncosts either.

Charge this industry for the water it uses and it would become unviable virtually instantly.

Victoria has shown that it can deliver good conservation outcomes, protect threatened species and create jobs by creating new red gum parks in this state.

NSW must follow with a comprehensive package that includes new parks and agro-forestry regional development including the $48 million package already committed to the industry.

Nick Roberts

Red Gum Icons Project

Victorian National

Parks Association

Pisa, Nathalia: something's not straight

I couldn't help but think from the smaller of the two photos re: "Sleeper Cutters" ( Country News December 1) that a copper monument won't be all that Nathalia is renowned for.

It would seem to my eye that Pisa is not the only place with a leaning tower, or is my eyesight off, or did the photographer use trick photography?

I will have to stop and take a photo myself next time I travel through Nathalia just to prove I'm not seeing things.

Chris Cleary

Ballendella

Editor's note: We have taken measurements and Nathalia residents can be assured the tower is not leaning, although we don't want to scotch rumours as this could be another tourist drawcard that the enterprising residents could no doubt promote.