A Report compiled by
the Boycott Woodchipping
Campaign

NORTH LTD CORPORATE PROFILE

Corporate Profile
May 1997-August 1999
Summary

Local Burnie residents demonstrate outside NORTH Forest Product's pile of Myrtle rainforest woodchips, 1997. NORTH is Australia's only exporter of rainforests (Photo: The Wilderness Society)

(Please note that dates given are taken from media reports and hence are written one day after the actual events. Profile includes very little information about the effects on indigenous people and the environment at North Ltd's iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and Canada or North's gold/copper operations - Stay tuned!).

• (1/5/97). Wilderness Society protest action at Burnie wharf, against export of pine logs.
• (2/5/97). More than 1000 hectares of rainforest woodchipped by North Forest Products (NFP) at their Surrey Hills estate and replaced with plantations. Federal Government gave NFP additional licence to woodchip an extra 45000 hectares of 'degraded forest'. Federal Environment Minister Senator Robert Hill said clearing native vegetation for plantations was a good thing as it took pressure off native forests (Surrey Hills covers 83500 hectares, 35000 of which had been replanted).
• (7/5/97). Protest by Wilderness Society at Burnie wharf against woodchip exports.
• (10/5/97). Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) steering committee options paper slammed by scientists and Greens. Paper did not address the issue of funding to ensure reservations and about 90000 hectares of forest on private land, rejects clearing controls on private land and failed to recommend an option that satisfied all the conservation criteria identified as the object of the process.
• (23/5/97). North's talks with NSW Government over the Lake Cowal gold mine development stalled. NSW Government vetoed the project on environmental grounds - thousands of birds were poisoned by North at their Northparkes gold mine in 1995.
• (27/5/97). A compromise plan put forward by conservationists gets Lake Cowal talks back underway. The compromise plan would see North buy the lake and its immediate surrounds and then hand the land over to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, with the exception of the mine itself. There would also be limits on the mine's size and further talks over the siting of a tailings dam and the amount of cyanide to be used at the mine.
• (31/5/97). Senator Brian Harridine votes with Federal Government to end Commonwealth controls on mineral export licences, except for uranium and blocked an attempt to retain a ceiling on the export of whole logs and woodchips from native forests.

June 1997. Share Av: $5.011

• (1/6/97). Wilderness Society concerned about Counsel River Beech Creek region - The Valley of the Giants (90 - 100 metre tall eucalypts) which could be felled and the region clearfelled and burned as a result of the forthcoming RFA.
• (2/6/97). NSW Premier Bob Carr under strong pressure from unions and industry, says that a new development application by North for the Lake Cowal gold mine proposal would be treated with due process and 'given a fair hearing'.
• (13/6/97). Lack of consultation over Tasmanian RFA angers Deloraine Aboriginal Cultural Association. Spokesperson Darlene Mansell said the RFA was not comprehensive because the Aboriginal view had not been included.
• (13/6/97). Forestry Tasmania lock out public in north east forest coupe between Welborough and Derby. 100 people protested at the site which contains some of the tallest Eucalyptus Regnans in the state . . . people had found wedgetail eagles, anaglypta snails and hoplagonis beetles.
• (18/6/97). A final environmental effects study finds that the Jabiluka mine in the Northern Territory would have no detrimental impact on Kakadu National Park, would not affect the health of workers or disturb significant cultural or biological sites. Energy Resources of Australia, 68% owned by North Ltd applied for mining licence in April 1997.
• (19/6/97). Tasmanian Greens want to ban political donations. Revealed that 4 woodchip companies had donated $1 million to Labor and Liberal.
• (21/6/97). Allegations that specialty timber had been illegally woodchipped in Upper Derwent Valley. Leaked papers cast doubt on whether the Commonwealth should have issued NFP with a licence to export woodchips from cleared company land at Surrey Hills, near Burnie. Leaked briefing paper from Environment Department said that it was impossible to determine whether much of the land was degraded at all!

• (1/7/97). Blue Green Algae found in Tasmania.
• (9/7/97). Tasmanian woodchip production for March 97 quarter fell 13.4% on March 96 figures to 829 200 tonnes.
• (9/7/97). North Chief Executive Officer Campbell Anderson says that the Lake Cowal gold mine would not go ahead if the gold price remained at its current level - $US313.
• (11/7/97). Tasmanian Government announces plans to clear 150 000 hectares of public native forest for conversion to plantations over next 10 years.
• (31/7/97). Nixon Report finds that Forestry Tasmania is subsidising crown licenced sawmillers.

• (6/8/97). Traditional & Recreational Land Users Federation (Wise User's) and Forest Protection Society (National Association of Forest Industries front group) announce they will rally against proposals of a National Park in the Western Tiers.
• (11/8/97). Huon Valley residents angry over having their water supply sprayed by NFP with Round-Up & Brush-Off. Simazine was also used by helicopter without warning residents. 10-80 also used.
• (21/8/97) A new report, The Kakadu Region Social Impact Study, finds that over the past 20 years, the Aboriginal communities of the Kakadu region had received virtually no benefit from mining and tourist developments in the park.
• (22/8/97). NFP looking to expand into Uraguay with pulp and paper manufacturer Fanapel.
• (23/8/97). NFP's new $5 million tree nursery opens at Somerset - concerns about genetic engineered trees also being herbicide resistant.
• (23/8/97). North looking to increase co-operation with other woodchip exporters such as Boral - this would include a share in plantation development research.

• (5/9/97). Forest Protection Society organises protest about RFA. 600 protesters come from all over the state.
• (7/9/97). Agenda of privatising state forests revealed by Tasmanian Green MP Peg Putt. Could affect one million hectares in Tasmania.
• (8/9/97). Deputy Mayor of Meander, Kim Booth, calls for the Western Tiers to be made a reserve from logging which upsets pro forest industry mayor Greg Hall.
• (9/9/97). ANZ Banking Group announces that major Australian resource companies, such as North, would be exposed to the Asian economic downturn because of falling exports to the region and lower commodity prices. North has 44% exposure to Asia.
• (15/9/97). Tasmanian woodchipping industry seeking $6 million to build another road into North Arthur region (north west Tasmania).
• (18/9/97). Tasmanian Greens question whether an $80000 donation by North Ltd to the Liberal Party had any influence on a decision to pay compensation to North for loss of land for $5 million Ridgely Road at Burnie.
• (19/9/97). 1200 people rally in Hobart to stop extension of logging operations in Tasmania.
• (22/9/97). ANZ Securities forecast a 10% decline in industrial production growth in 1998 in Asia. This will be felt in Australia by companies including North.

October 1997. Share Av: $4.461

• (8/10/97). Prime Minister John Howard and Tasmanian Premier Tony Rundle meet for an hour deciding differences in the RFA.
• (9/10/97) The Federal Resources and Energy Minister, Senator Warwick Parer, approves Jabiluka, Australia's third uranium mine (Nabarlek now exhausted), subject to ERA complying with environmental, Aboriginal and safety requirements recommended by the Environment Minister, Senator Robert Hill.
• (9/10/97). Prime Minister John Howard eludes protesters in Hobart.
• (25/10/97). SBC Warburg say there are 3 stocks likely to be affected by downturn in Asian economies. Bulk commodity exporters such as North are mentioned.
• (25/10/97). RFA likely to mean that Federal Government would face some financial penalty if it later decided to walk away from pact. RFA will override Australian Heritage Act, remove the ceiling on woodchip quotas and present additions to World Heritage Area.
• (28/10/97). $13 billion wiped from Australian Stockmarket due to Asian crisis.
• (29/10/97). Panic selling has stripped $58 billion in 4 days.
• (30/10/97). Market recovers some ground.
• (31/10/97). North net profit for September quarter $42.5 million, up from $27.2 million. North's first quarter sales more than doubled to $530.2 million from $235.6 million. NFP did well.

• (1/11/97). At North AGM, Michael Deeley (North Chairman) and Campbell Anderson (CEO) claim that NFP won't be sold. Mr Deeley said 'the alarmist comments and frequency of demonstrations against the forest products business have diminished considerably'.
• (2/11/97). North announce at AGM to raise non-plantation woodchip exports by 1 million tonnes after the RFA - that would mean an extra 25000 extra log truck movements annually.
• (7/11/97). Tasmania will receive $100 million in compensation when RFA is signed. Conservation movement want the Southern Forests, Tarkine and Great Western Tiers protected.
• (8/11/97). RFA to be signed. Federal Government believes its $57 million plantation and forest management program will create 1000 jobs.
• (9/11/97). TV cameraman run over by Prime Minister's security car and protesters injured as Prime Minister was blocked in Perth (north Tas). Protesters draped the PM's car with banners, one green jumped on bonnet. PM in Perth to sign RFA. Under the pact the Federal Government will pay $110 million over 3 years for intensive plantation and thinning operations. RFA is the first legally-binding intergovernmental pact between the Commonwealth, State or Territory. It does not stop the Commonwealth from in future acting to protect environmental values, it guarantees that if the Commonwealth later repudiates any part of the RFA, it will be obliged to pay financial compensation for any loss of forest or mining production. Beech-Creek made a National Park, but only one third of the Beech Creek-Counsel river region is protected. The RFA also abolishes woodchip quotas.
• (14/11/97). Greens drape huge banner from roof of Parliament House in Hobart 'Rundle's Forest Atrocity'.
• (17/11/97). Angry Aboriginal and conservation groups protest in a Western Tiers forest to be opened up for woodchipping. The area was initially protected under the RFA agreement. Aboriginal community know the area as Kooparoona Niara 'Mountain of Spirits'.
• (19/11/97). NFP Project Greenleaf sponsored walkway on banks of Elizabeth River at Campbell Town.
• (25/11/97). Burnie Port Corporation says its cargo throughput for October 97 reached new highs, as a result of substantial shipments of woodchip exports.
• (26/11/97). Greens warn of protests in the Tarkine, Great Western Tiers and southern forests. One million hectares of old growth will be chipped under the RFA. 70% of Tasmanian old growth remains unprotected.
• (27/11/97). Tasmanian scientists say that the RFA was hijacked by politics. 'The RFA got perverted in its later stages into a political process which had nothing to do with science' Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick said. 'The RFA was based on alot of good scientific data, but in the last couple of months it was just politicians and upper level bureaucrats drawing lines on maps' he said.

• (2/12/97). NFP will spend $14 million to increase plantation establishment in Tasmania. It claims the move will create over 40 new jobs, in addition to the 30 contracting jobs which have been created in the past 3 months as it gears up to meet new customer demand. $17 million will also be invested in equipment. North aims at lifting its plantation establishment rate to 7500 ha per year within the next 2 years, up from 4800 ha in 1997 . . . NFP expects to export an extra 500 000 tonnes of woodchips a year. 'Our long term customers in Japan are indicating that the 20 year resource security which the RFA has brought to the industry will result in increased exports' Deputy Managing Director Malcolm Broomhead said. 'Already our major customer Nippon Paper has agreed to bump up its purchases from NFP'.

• (7/1/98). North's iron ore exports from Robe River increase by 5 million tonnes.
• (11/1/98). Clearfelling in native forests, partly blamed for low water levels in Tasmanian rivers during dry summer.
• (13/1/98). Woodchipping production in Tasmania increased in 1997 September quarter, compared with the same period in 1996. Up 22% to 936 100 cubic metres.
• (17/1/98). Australia could face uranium bans after the European Parliament yesterday passed a motion condemning the controversial Jabiluka uranium mine. The Parliament voted 115 - 85 and also questioned the input of traditional Aboriginal owners (The Mirrar people) before the Federal Government's approval of the mine in September.
• (22/1/98). Australian iron ore producers negotiate 3% increase from Japanese Steel mills, they wanted a 6% increase.
• (23/1/98). Forestry Tasmania and NFP to establish eucalypt plantations in a joint venture. 600 hectares each year.
• (23/1/98). Federal Labor condemns the Howard Government for approving Energy Resources of Ausralia proposal for a uranium mine at Jabiluka.
• (24/1/98) Energy Resources Australia (North owns 68%) announce a 28% fall in interim profit; due to lower uranium prices. ERA posted an after tax profit of $11 million, down from $15.2 million.
• (31/1/98). Interim profit leap for North. 43% rise in hardwood woodchip sales, although softwood sales to North Korea suspended, due to Asian crisis. Uranium earnings fell 13%. Half year interim net earnings $74.9 million, up 50%.

February 1998. Share Av: $4.099

• (10/2/98). ERA said developments of its Jabiluka uranium mine would start as early as May, regardless of whether it was allowed to change the original mine plan.
• (12/2/98). In the Federal Court, Justice Ronald Sackville rules against Yvonne Margarula (the senior Aboriginal owner of the Jabiluka mine area), who had tried to stop the federal Minister for Resources and Energy from granting approval for the export of uranium from Jabiluka. Anti-uranium protesters and traditional Aboriginal landowners plan to blockade the site of a uranium mine in Kakadu National Park.
• (16/2/98). Greens call for halt of road building at Mother Cummings Peak in Great Western Tiers. Important area because of beautiful sphagnum swamp surrounded by King Billy Pine, Myrtle and eucalypts in mosaic pattern which had never been logged. Roading for forestry has caused a series of huge landslips in the Great Western Tiers. Slips occured over past 4 years, with slips in Western Creek area affecting water supply last winter. Less than 1 km from the Mother Cummings site, a huge landslide extended over 5ha down the side of a mountain.
• (17/2/98). Forestry Tasmania admits that two recent slips have been influenced in part by forestry roads.
• (20/2/98). Aboriginal and environmental movement gathering international support for a planned blockade of the Jabiluka uranium minesite within Kakadu featuring a national day of action on April 5 when activities will be held throughout the country.
• (27/2/98). Protesters vow to stop road at coupe HU307 near Mother Cummings Peak. 45 people gathered to stop the logging.