12 councils now oppose logging in melbourne's catchments

Great news to hear this week that the Boroondara and Nillumbik Councils have joined with Yarra Ranges in opposing logging in Melbourne's water catchments.

Back in November 2007 I moved a motion to oppose logging of our catchments after concerns about logging in the Armstrong and Cement Creek were raised by a local environmental group, the Central Highlands Alliance. Both of these regions are well within the boundaries of the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

Little did I know that the issue would take hold through the local government sector. Water is a key focus, we see our state government spending billions of dollars on new water infrastructure and yet they continue to allow logging of our water catchments. Studies have shown that the value of water production in our catchments far outweighs that of logging.

Cambarville, a logging coupe near Melbourne's water catchments, how can this be sustainable?





The government is re-examining the value of water versus wood in a project it calls The Wood and Water Project. I am a member of the Sustainability Assessment Stakeholder Reference Group for the project. I have some serious concerns about this project in particular the fact that there is no option to cease logging in 2009/10 as part of the assessment regimes being considered. I was so concerned that that in May I moved a motion to write (to various politicians, DSE bureaucrats and consultants) detailing the case for including as part of the assessments for the Wood and Water Project the option of ceasing logging in Melbourne's water catchments by 2009/10 and including reference to the 8 councils who have recently opposed logging in Melbourne's water catchments.

It is imperative that the option of ceasing logging by 2009/10 is included as one of the regimes for sustainability assessment. I was very concerned that all the suggested regimes did not consider an immediate end to logging of Melbourne's water catchments, with 2030 being the regime with the earliest cessation of logging being assessed. Our water catchments cannot cope with another 22 years of logging, not if we want to harvest water from them.

The municipalities now opposing logging in Melbourne's water catchments represent a population of over 1.4 million Melbourne residents. There is a growing groundswell of concern about logging of our catchments in a time of critical water shortage, with grave concerns about biodiversity and climate change too.

Yarra Ranges is still waiting for a response to our request, if the government is genuine about the Wood and Water Project it will include the cease logging by 09/10 option, if it isn’t included I question the value of the project.

It is foolhardy to continue the practice of logging in our water catchments. Eleven other municipalities agree with Yarra Ranges. I hope you’re listing Mr Brumby, Mr Holding and Mr Jennings.

am: gm - pm:logging

Thursday 28th February

The GM Free rally outside parliament house.

I attended the GM rally at the steps of Parliament House, many concerned citizens where there lamenting Premier Brumby's decision to lift the moratorium on GM Canola.

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Bob Phelps from GeneEthics and Greg Barber, Greens MLC both address the rally.

The Rally was well attended by members of the upper and lower house, the public, concerned advocacy groups, chefs, the slow food group, organic farmers, the list goes on and on.

I had the great pleasure of speaking at the rally. I urged the people there to talk to their local councillors about becoming GM free municipalities. It is not too late to turn this around.

On the 26th February, I moved a motion (which was supported unanimously) to ask Premier Brumby to make the Shire of Yarra Ranges GM Free, lets hope he fulfills our request.

The symbolic release of GM canola pollen into our environment, we all know that pollen knows no bounds, once it's out its everywhere.

That night I attended a public meeting in Warburton to discuss the implications of logging in Melbourne's water catchments. The meeting was very well attended with around 200 people packing the memorial hall. The Central Highlands Alliance and Wilderness Society talked the science, I spoke of the political imperative.

Me, Sarah Rees (The Central Highlands Alliance) and Luke Chamberlain (The Wilderness Society).

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Warburton's past was as a timber town, but that industry has been well and truly eroded by the woodchipping industry, local mills do not get work pulping our native forests.

It was a very positive meeting with locals, environmentalists and loggers more understanding of the issues around logging in water catchments. The community now understands that this an issue is about Melbourne's water supply into the future.

brumby's backward gm decision

YARRA RANGES condemns government gm decision - below is a media release issued 28/11/07 in response to Premier Brumby's decision to lift the moratorium on GM Canola.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges has condemned the state government’s decision to lift a ban on the growing of genetically modified canola, with deputy mayor Samantha Dunn (that's me) calling on the new federal government to convene a meeting of the Gene Technology Ministerial Council to consider the matter nationally.

Cr Dunn criticised the decision, during a council meeting last night (27/11/07), saying it would open the flood gates for other genetically modified crops to be grown in the state, destroying Victoria’s clean and green image.

“This is the most retrograde decision I've seen from the Brumby government to date,” Cr Dunn said. “The assertion from the Premier that the lifting of the moratorium is of economic benefit to Victoria is misguided. The majority of farmers, consumers and the food industry do not support genetically modified crops being grown in Australia; yet the Premier has chosen to disregard this.

“Ending the GM bans is a national, permanent and irreversible decision as GM pollen knows no borders. It threatens the entire organic farming industry in Australia and weakens our market position as a clean and green primary producer.”

In pushing for federal government intervention, Cr Dunn also criticised the lack of transparency around the decision.

“The submissions to Sir Gustav Nossal's review are not publicly available. This is poor process and fails the test of open and transparent government,” she said.

Cr Dunn said the council and the Yarra Ranges community had been vocal in saying not to GMO’s. Just last year the council collected more than 1000 signatures on a petition calling for a ban on a trial to grow a genetically modified blue rose in the shire.

The council adopted a policy in February 2001 opposing the introduction of GM crops into the shire. “Yarra Ranges’ agricultural produce is regarded as some of the finest in the world. This decision threatens our agricultural and horticultural producers and the region’s precious biodiversity.”

Cr Dunn said horticultural production in the shire was worth an estimated $710 million per annum with the nursery and cut flower sectors worth about $390 million and the orchard and berry fruit industries about $110 million (source Centre for eBusiness and Communications Swinburne University).

“The council’s objection to GMOs is not just based on philosophical concerns; we have major concerns on scientific grounds and the potential impact on our farmers and horticultural industries.

“Not enough is known about the potential effects of genetically modified crops on insect life including native and exotic pollinating insects, its potential for recombinant viruses and the level of gene flow between other crops,” Cr Dunn said.

WHAT’S AT STAKE Some of the state’s most significant biodiversity with important flora and fauna. A thriving agricultural sector renowned for its premium quality food and produce and a major employer of the region’s people.

Yarra Ranges Agricultural Sector Stats
The agricultural sector employs about 4000 people on a permanent basis with a further 6000 seasonal employees. It is a major generator of jobs and money in the local, state and national economies.
Nursery sector 93 businesses generating a Gross Value of Production of $290M per annum (“Farming Real Estate” Centre for eBusiness and Communications Swinburne University)
Cut Flower sector 73 businesses generating GVP of $100M per annum
Orchard Fruit Industry 50 businesses generating GVP of $50M per annum (industry sources)
Berry Fruit Industry 93 businesses $60M per annum (industry sources)
Wine grapes 113 businesses generating approximately $150 to $200million per annum
Vegetable Growers 47 businesses $10M per annum

Sources: Centre for eBusiness and Communications Swinburne University 2000 and ABS Shire of Yarra Ranges Economic Development Profile 2005.