The Bulahdelah and Manning Valley party branches raised the motion during the NSW Nationals’ State conference held in Broken Hill where it attracted unwavering approval.

The motion stated that the conference “fully supports the action being taken by the NSW Government’s Forestry Industry Roadmap in establishing an independent timber industry and stresses the importance of meeting the roadmap’s timelines” and “reiterates its support for the North Coast hardwood timber industry and the regional towns that rely upon their local timber mills”.

Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead said the roadmap, released in August 2016, represents a clear statement from the NSW Government that it supports the NSW forestry industry, which is critical for many towns in regional NSW.

“Investment decisions in the forestry industry are made over long timeframes – that’s why it’s critical that we are working with industry on a long-term roadmap for growth and ecological sustainability,” Mr Bromhead said.

“In the Myall Lakes in recent weeks we’ve witnessed first-hand how important it is to retain a vibrant and sustainable forestry industry with the retention of jobs at Ironwood Australia’s Pampoolah site.

“Ensuring those jobs remained was a big win for the local industry, as well as the state as a whole,” he said.

The NSW forestry industry has operated for more than 100 years and, including wood and paper manufacturing, employs more than 22,000 people.

It is worth $2.4 billion, with the softwood plantation sector valued at $1.9 billion, and the native forestry sector valued at $465 million.