Citizens group gears up for fight against Port Blandford wood cutting proposal

A newly formed citizens group in Port Blandfordisgearing up to fight government plans to allow commercial wood harvesting near thecommunity.

If a woodpecker flew over it, he'd have to pack a lunch.- Garfield White

The group, which came together last week, has forced a meeting Tuesday with town and provincial government officials to discuss the plans, which opponents say will devastate the countryside.

The proposal is that158,000 cubic metres of wood be harvested from four distinct areas surrounding Port Blandford, including a cabin area and an area near a salmon river.

About eightkilometres of road will need to be built, according to the plan documents, and more road reconstruction will be needed.

"If a woodpecker flew over it, he'd have to pack a lunch," said Garfield White, a member of the citizen's group.

"If he loved the area, he'd have to fly upside down where he wouldn't have to look at it. It's going to devastate the country in here."

White says residents of Port Blandfordhave a number of concerns. They are worried about Pine Marten habitat and a salmon river, and feel there was a lack of consultation with the community.

"I'm no great big fancy feller, or nothing," he said. "But I'd say they put this through quiet because they know what the people here in Port Blandford are like, cause they fight for their rights."

He also fears the woodcutting will have a negative impact on the town's tourism industry.

Meeting Tuesday

Government officials have agreed to attend a meeting Tuesday night in the community. MHA Colin Hollwayhastold the group the he hopes compromises can be found.

The Port Blandford town council alsoput out a statement in support.

"The town has always advocated that no clearcutting take place between the waters of Clode Sound and the ridge lines surrounding the community," the statement said.

White saidthe meeting will be used, in part, to gauge the reaction of the wider Port Blandfordcommunity about the cutting proposal, which is part of the province's Sustainable Forest Management Plan.

He saidhe wants to stop the cutting, delay it or at least get answers.

"Most of the community, we're outdoor people here, and that's where we go. We fish, we hunt, we go in for boil-ups. It's where we go, where we live."