FORMER NSW premier Nathan Rees fulfilled a long-held dream of his predecessor Bob Carr when he rushed though the formation of a national park to preserve river red gums on the Murray River.
But the local timber industry says his decision will hurt regional communities who depend on logging.
Critics of Mr Rees's decision last week to establish a 42,000ha national park near Deniliquin in southwest NSW say it shows NSW Labor does not care about jobs or regional communities.
Ian Danckert, owner of the Gulpa sawmill near Deniliquin, fears communities such as nearby Mathoura will be devastated by the plan.
Yesterday Mr Danckert said he was shocked and "emotionally devastated" by the decision to establish the national park.
"My family have had a business for 70 years and I'm third generation," he said. "My son and daughter are fourth generation."
Mr Danckert is urging new NSW Premier Kristina Keneally to make a proper "scientific" assessment about whether she will continue with the plan.
He said drought and low dam levels had already taken their toll and many businesses were leaving the area.
"We've lost the abbatoir (and) we lost a rice mill, which is a big employer," Mr Danckert said.
Russell Ainley, executive director of the NSW Forest Products Association, said the decision would wipe out more than 500 jobs in the region. "This decision takes out all of the major milling companies that have the fixed saw mills and timber processing plants in the main towns," he said.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett and conservation groups have encouraged Ms Keneally to implement the plan.
"It was a great decision that was taken by the NSW government," said a spokeswoman for the National Parks Association of NSW.
NSW opposition spokeswoman for climate change and environmental sustainability Catherine Cusack said Mr Rees had pre-empted the final report of the Natural Resources Commission on red gum forests.
