CTC, Connected to Country
HERMIONE WATSON
Good morning, I'm Hermione Watson reporting from PLC, Armidale. Welcome to CTC, Connected To Country. Do you have a pine forest in your local area? Does Robin Hood or Cadel Evans hang out there? In Armidale Pine Forest, they do. Let's join Maddy on location as she discovers what really happens in the Armidale Pine Forest.
Maddy in the Armidale Pine Forest
MADDY
Hello, I'm Maddy. Today, you'll be hearing an 'On the Pine Forest' sequence. The Armidale Pine Forest is located 3.5km north-east of Armidale. The 170 hectares are a very popular destination for walkers, mountain-bikers and picnickers. The New England Medieval Art Society is a historical re-enactment group who re-create arts and crafts such as woodworking, blacksmithing, tanning, spinning and weaving, as well as armour constructions. Adam Caferella, the president of NEMAS, tells us how his organisation uses the forest.
ADAM CAFERELLA
There is funding for the plantings that have been done out there, they've just put in an amphitheatre, which they got funding for too.
MADDY
We met up with Mark, a competitive Australian cyclist who uses the Armidale Pine Forest for his training grounds.
MARK
I think all the groups that use the pine forest can use it together. Nobody really impacts on any of the other groups.
MADDY
We met up with Jennifer Butler and Jenny Moore, local pine forest users who walk in the forest regularly. You live close to the state pine forest, and we are interested in your thoughts. Is it a good idea if they cut down trees and put in a septic system?
WOMAN
I don't like the idea of the trees being cut down but I do understand that they would have to cut down trees in order to make room for the facilities, the septic tank that they're putting in.
MADDY
Do you think that NEMAS should destroy their buildings after use?
WOMAN
I think if they're able to destroy the buildings in an environmentally sound way that doesn't leave a mess remaining in the pine forest, then yes. Because they're only temporary structures and they don't come under any sort of compliance for safety. And leaving the buildings ground does present a risk to other people.
MADDY
With all this interest in using the area and making it a safe and healthy environment for all, the Armidale Pine Forest Committee was established to coordinate community input, provide advice on the management of the Armidale State Pine Forest. The partnership between Forestry New South Wales, the council and community groups, has been very productive.