AN OFFICIAL BUNGLE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 109, 9 May 1923, Page 5

AN OFFICIAL BUNGLE

DESTRUCTION OF TREES

WORTH £200,000.

(FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, 2nd May. On© of the most amazing official bungles that has occurred in Sydney is disclosed regarded the clearing of the site for the immense Cordeaux dam, for increasing the Sydney water supply, which is in course of construction. The area to be submerged is densely covered with beautiful timber of a marketable value of at least £200,000>, but, owinj to the failure of the authorities to make arrangements for its disposal when they were ui'ged to do so over six years ago, when the dam was decided upon, the great trees are now being ruthlessly burnt down. Not only is the whole of the timber, for which, there was a ready market at the adjacent South Coast coal mines and elsewhere, being lost commercially, but the cost of destruction will amount to at least £60,000.

The timbered land comprises altogether about 2000 acres, which, with the exception of about 250 acres, is virgin forest. The 250 acres are only partially celared. The area includes the valleys of the Cordeaux River, and Kentish, Goondarin, Kembla, and Sandy Creeks. Timber of all varieties is to be found in these valleys, both hard wood and soft wood, and the whole of the millions of trees possess commercial value.

In 1891, after a delay of practically five years, tenders were called for the timber rights, but eevn then only for the clearing of the lower portion of the Cordeaux River area, consisting, in all, of 996 acres. Tenders closed on 3rd December, 1921. The specifications in relation to the clearing were of such a nature, however, that few tenderers were attracted by the conditions imposed. In the first place, the maximum* period allowed was 18 months. With this restriction it would have been impossible to dispose of the timber—even had it been possible to mill it—within the time allotted. The timber would, of necessity, have to be stacked and sold as opportunity offered. Not only would very large capital have been required to work the area under these conditions, but there was also the risk involved, of losing the stacked timber as the result of bush fires. Unable to secure contractors to clear this first portion of the reservoir bed, the Public Works Department carried out the work by means of day labour. The cost to the Government is stated on reliable authority to have been £40 an acre. The Government again called tenders in March of this year for the 'completion of the area. The conditions were the same as those appearing in the specifications of 1921. It is understood, however, that, no applications have as yet been received. The only alternative, therefore, appears to be for the Public Works Department to utilise day labour again. The total loss, therefore, may be stated to be about £260,000.

It is stated that it will be at least five years before the water reaches the higher levels of the area to be submerged, so that if the Government alters the time limit for those parts to allow time for cutting and milling it is possible that the loss, though still severe, may be minimised.