RCMP have been notified and harvesters have been asked to halt wood cutting in the South West River Valley near Port Blandford following threats made on social media.
The Department of Fisheries and Land Resources says they have been made aware of threats to the safety of wood harvesters in the area.
The alleged threats were made on social media and the department says appears to be part of attempts to thwart wood cutting in the area.
The provincial government issued permits in the area last year. That led to protests in the region from people opposed to commercial clear-cutting.
Government is asking harvesters to consider refraining from harvesting until they have more information on the threats.
Archived Story from VOCM News
Port Blandford Residents Won’t Give Up the Fight
April 2, 2018 | 2:07 pm
The residents of Port Blandford say they won’t give up the fight to save the Southwest River Valley from clear-cutting.
A boil-up and peaceful protest held over the weekend is being termed a success as local residents gathered in the woods to show their opposition to a proposal to clear cut timber in the area.
Garfield White was among them.
He told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly that 75 per cent of the land in question is inside the town’s municipal boundary and he says the provincial government needs to listen to its citizens when it comes to projects that will affect people’s way of life and the enjoyment of their surroundings.
He says even larger municipalities need to listen to what the people have to say.
Morley Garrett says Port Blandford is reaping the benefits of its pristine surroundings through tourism.
He says it’s a growing community and an anomaly in central Newfoundland with a 24 per cent increase in population.
