A Coastline of Forests and Rivers
Tomakin sits along the south coast of New South Wales where the Tomaga River flows into the ocean at Tomakin Beach. At low tide, thousands of soldier crabs emerge across the sandflats, while nearby forests contain ecological communities including lowland grassy woodlands and dry rainforest. The surrounding region supports forest red gums and diverse coastal forest ecosystems that campaigners feared would be impacted by expanded logging tied to charcoal production.
The Threat
In 2001, a company called Australian Silicon proposed building a charcoal factory in the Eurobodalla Shire. The proposal immediately alarmed local communities and conservation groups, who feared the factory would drive increased logging across south coast forests. When Wilderness Society campaigners attended an emergency meeting in Tomakin in August 2001, they expected only a small gathering of environmentalists. Instead, hundreds of local residents arrived concerned about the proposal and its impact on forests, air quality and the broader region.
The Campaign
The campaign rapidly expanded across the south coast. More than a dozen public meetings were held, with some attended by up to 600 people. Large public rallies and community protests followed. The Wilderness Society pursued multiple legal appeals against government approvals for the project. One major breakthrough came when legal action forced the release of the Timber Supply Agreement connected to the proposal. The documents revealed that despite government claims the factory would rely only on “waste wood”, it would actually be supplied with logs from native forests. The revelation intensified public opposition. The campaign drew support from across the community, including the NSW Greens, the Charcoalition, the Environmental Defenders Office, Far South Coast Land Councils and the Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Victory
On 24 September 2002, Australian Silicon announced it would abandon the proposed charcoal factory rather than continue a prolonged legal battle. The project was discontinued and the immediate threat to south coast forests was removed.
Legacy
The anti-charcoal campaign became a powerful example of grassroots environmental organising on the New South Wales south coast. It combined public mobilisation, legal action and community pressure to challenge industrial development proposals tied to native forest logging. The campaign also demonstrated how local communities could rapidly organise to defend forests and coastal ecosystems from industrial expansion.