VCAT - let the forest be pulped

In yet another dark day for the shire I have learnt that the application, which council refused back in January 2006, to log 99 hectares of forest in Hoddles Creek has been overturned by VCAT.

One of the key tribunal findings was the environment can recover from logging operations and is therefore sustainable providing sensitive areas are protected.

How out of touch is VCAT, when are ministers in the Bracks Government going to call the tribunal to account? This decision flies in the face of what our community wants and how they want to live their life. It is outrageous that VCAT have made this determination given the application falls so short in achieving the aims of the Regional Strategy Plan, the Shire's Planning Scheme and Vision 2020.

The decision is short sighted and fails to recognise how locals feel about the issue.

It is environmental vandalism - the applicant will be allowed to log such a pristine area for pulp and firewood, of what value is this to our community and our environment?

This is such a waste of resources, does nothing to protect biodiversity in the shire, increases the likelihood of extinction of flora and fauna and it is insulting that VCAT think that logging forests is sustainable because they'll grow back. Logging on this scale is only about a quick buck for the few at the great cost of the environment.

It saddens me that there is such a long way to go educating so many in our community about the devastation of our environment, I can assure my constituents I will do whatever I can to challenge this decision.