Murray Darling Labor MP Peter Black says he will fight for changes to a draft Private Native Forestry Code, which could cut the region's multi-million dollar red gum logging industry.

The State Government yesterday released its draft code for public comment and people have until August 22 to respond.

Mr Black says the code would restrict red gum logging beside waterways in the Riverina-Murray region when he argues that industry is sustainable.

"I would be arguing that we should be looking at red gum perhaps differently to the iron gum in the Pilliga, for example," he said.

"I recognise there are problems with respect to forestry on the coast, I think we all have to recognise that, but we also have to ... recognise that the red gum industry has been and will continue to be the most sustainable of all our forestry industries in New South Wales."

State Natural Resources Minister Ian Macdonald has stressed the code is only a draft.

Mr Macdonald says forestry is an important source of farm income and there are divergent views on how to sustainably manage the industry.

But Mr Black says the proposed code would restrict red gum logging.

"The report says there's got to be restrictions about harvesting red gum adjacent to waterways, well if we look at the red gum areas of the Wakool Shire, in particular, the waterways are replete with red gums, red gum is everywhere and they again, I stress, have been harvested for well over 100 years," he said.

"That's what the draft code of conduct says, it does limit access and what I'm saying is I don't believe that is appropriate.

"I want the consultations to proceed, I'm again urging people to get back by the 22nd of August with the submissions and in the case of Deniliquin I'd strongly recommend people attend a briefing meeting on August the 2nd, which is next week."