Moratorium and support for timber industry
There is an immediate moratorium on timber harvesting in those state forests in the Great Koala National Park assessment area. View the GKNP State Forests in Assessment Area (PDF 58.94KB).
This means that current harvesting operations in these forests must cease and no new operations will commence.
The cessation of harvesting activities in the GKNP assessment area does not include the removal of timber already felled before the commencement of the moratorium, nor ongoing forest management operations for purposes other than timber production from native forests, including operations for fire management, and road and trail management.
The moratorium will be in place for up to 12 months from Monday 8 September 2025, while the details of transitioning state forests to national parks are investigated and negotiated.
The moratorium only applies to timber harvesting and does not affect operations outside the designated area or on private land. Private Native Forestry remains permitted with appropriate approvals.
During this period there will be no change to existing recreational and commercial uses, including licenses or permit conditions.
The Government recognises there will be challenges as the transition begins and is committed to working with local communities every step of the way.
Moratorium Support Package
A moratorium support package is available to support impacted mills, harvest and haulage operators, and workers to mitigate the impact of reduced timber supply.
The support package will cover salaries and operating costs for the initial phase of working with impacted operators. This will then cover the initial period of the government undertaking detailed work with industry to ensure timber mills and harvest and haulage operators can be supported to adjust.
The NSW Government is working with impacted businesses to fairly determine longer term adjustment support and compensation payments.
More information about the support available during the moratorium is on the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website.
Frequently asked questions
The NSW Government is working directly with businesses and staff that are affected by the reduction in timber supply resulting from the moratorium.
The NSW Government will provide financial assistance to impacted businesses to ensure they can continue to pay their workers as usual during a ten-week transition period.
Mental health and counselling services are also available to impacted workers and their immediate families.
Training support will also be provided to workers through impacted businesses.
For more information on mental health and training support, please email: forestryindustrysupport@dpird.nsw.gov.au or visit the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website.
The NSW Government is currently working directly with impacted businesses that are affected by the reduction in timber supply resulting from the moratorium.
Impacted businesses will receive financial assistance to ensure they can continue to pay their workers and to assist them to access other supports during an initial ten-week transition period.
The purpose of the initial payments is to ensure that workers continue to receive their salaries while the NSW Government works with impacted businesses to fairly determine longer term adjustment support and compensation payments for them and their workers.
Impacted workers and their families will be provided with immediate free access to financial planning services, and mental health support.
The NSW Government is undertaking detailed work with industry to deliver an informed funding package to ensure timber mills are supported through the transition.
To progress this work, the mills are working with the NSW Government during the initial moratorium period to determine a fair adjustment support and compensation payment package.
No. The moratorium does not impact the arrangements for harvesting timber on private land.
Private Native Forestry is permitted with the appropriate approvals from Local Land Services.
The number of workers who will be impacted will be finalised over the next 12 months.
It is estimated that the reduction in timber supply will result in impacts on up to 300 jobs in the industry covering, harvest, haulage, milling and in Forestry Corporation NSW.
More than 100 new staff will be required at NPWS to deliver fire management, feral animal and weed control, ecological rehabilitation and visitor management.
Impacted Forestry Corporation workers will be prioritised for new roles created within NPWS.
The NSW Government will develop a $6 million Community Grants package. The package will support initiatives that grow the region’s domestic and international tourism opportunities and support local businesses to develop and expand, with a focus on manufacturing. The NSW Government will announce further details about this plan soon.
What support is available for impacted workers?
The NSW Government is working directly with businesses and staff that are affected by the reduction in timber supply resulting from the moratorium and will provide payments to support business continuity and ensure staff continue to receive their salaries.
Mental health support:
- Mental health and counselling services are available to impacted workers and their immediate families.
- The TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program offers free, confidential and 24/7 mental health, financial and legal counselling services to affected employees and their immediate family. Contact TELUS Health on 1800 835 871 and reference "GKNP Moratorium Industry Support Program" or visit one.telushealth.com and enter username: "gknp" and password "wellbeing".
Rural Financial Counselling:
- The Rural Financial Counselling Service can provide support to impacted forestry industry businesses. For more information, visit rfcsnr.org.au
Training support:
- Affected workers will also have access to training support. Local Training Services NSW staff will be available to provide tailored skills advice and assist in identifying suitable job opportunities.
- Training Services can provide independent support and advice on NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET). Affected workers considering alternative employment can access training support and advice through Training Services NSW staff. Training Services can support access to a range of training products through their network of accredited training providers. This may include full qualifications or part qualifications (micro credentials / short courses) to fill identified skills gaps and support transition to new employment.
- For more information, visit training.nsw.gov.au or contact your local Training Services Officers Jackie Martinson at Jacqueline.Martinson1@det.nsw.edu.au and Gerard Geerligs at Gerard.Geerligs1@det.nsw.edu.au, or on 13 28 11.