Activists target Bioenergy Australia's annual talks

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Activists protesting against native forest logging in south east New South Wales have gathered at a Sydney conference demanding answers.

Bioenergy Australia held its major annual talks yesterday, where scientists, government officials, and the timber industry discussed the future of biomass power.

Members of ChipBusters approached Planning Department representatives about the pending decision for a generator at Eden fired by woodchip waste, but they say there was no response.

Spokesman, Noel Plumb, says the bioenergy group should distance itself from forest industry players.

"They've been infiltrated by some of the worst players in destroying forests around the country," he said.

"New South Wales Forests, Forests Tasmania, VicForests, and the National Association of Forest Industries are all members, and they all have agendas to burn native forest wood in power stations under the guise of clean, renewable energy."

Mr Plumb says activists were ignored.

"The first woodchip-fired power station from native forests may be at Eden," he said.

"The Planning Minister will make that decision shortly.

"We attempted to get him to talk to us at the conference, we asked him when he expected to be making a decision.

"He refused to talk to us."

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