big picnic for cement creek

Yarra Ranges environment group Warburton Environment are organising a forest picnic to highlight logging that is about to commence in Cement Creek.

Cement Creek, part of Melbourne's water catchment is due to be logged as part of VicForests 2011 Timber Release Plan.

Cement Creek contains some beautiful high conservation forest, habitat to Victoria's endanged faunal emblem, the Leadbeater's Possum, it's destruction for woodchips is a travesty.

It was the potential logging of Armstrong and Cement Creek in 2007 that motivated me to move a motion that the Shire of Yarra Ranges council oppose logging in Melbourne's water catchments. Fourteen other councils followed suit and also opposed logging of Melbourne's water catchments.

Cement Creek had a reprieve in 2008, with local member at the time, Tammy Lobato, announcing there'd be no logging during 2008/09, but as I said at the time it was a hollow victory with no permanent protection of Cement Creek.

Organisers of the Biggest Picnic Ever want to highlight the immediate threat to our forests from clearfell logging for paper and pulp. There'll be guided tours and guest speakers to talk about the values of our forests.

Warburton, essentially a tourist town, relies on its natural assets to support its tourism industry. Those forests also support a wealth of biodiversity, assist in water supply, provide clean air and have enormous value as a carbon store - these forests are the most carbon dense in the world.

When: Sunday 14 August - 11:30am to 2:00pm

Where: Meet at Mechanica in Warburton for carpooling at 11:30. The picnic will be at the coupes approximately 10 kms from the Rainforest Gully Walk (on Donna Buang Rd) along the Acheron Way.
What to bring: a picnic, boots and a jacket

A map is available on request as well as any other info, email keith@warburtonenvironment.org.au.

yarra ranges deliver message on logging

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

..

.

.

Yesterday the people of Warburton presented the Premier with a recycled cardboard forest with messages from across the Yarra Ranges community concerned about logging of Melbourne's water catchments.

The people went to Parliament to highlight the plight of Melbourne's water catchments.

The forest 'grew' on the steps of Parliament and a 30 metre scroll was unfurled with even more messages to the Premier urging him to stop the logging of our catchments.

"Dear Mr Brumby, Our community wants logging in water catchments to stop, this is the will of the people. Cr Samantha Dunn, Shire of Yarra Ranges."

.

.

.

.

..

.

There is no doubt the momentum on this issue is growing. The people of Melbourne need to know their catchments are being compromised by logging activities. I congratulate the Warburton community for bringing their message to the city.

Water is precious, we cannot afford to further compromise supply by logging our catchments.

.

.

Me and Colleen Hartland (Greens MLC for the Western Metropolitan region) enjoying the forest scene on the steps of Parliament. "

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

..

.

.

Today in Parliament, Greg Barber (Greens MLC for the Northern Metropolitan Region), applauded the seven councils who oppose logging in catchments "I commend those municipalities that have joined together to oppose logging in Melbourne’s mountain forest water catchments, led by Cr Samantha Dunn of the Shire of Yarra Ranges. Seven councils have joined this push — the Shire of Yarra Ranges, Bayside City Council, Whitehorse City Council, Moreland City Council, Port Phillip City Council, Yarra City Council and Knox City Council — representing 800 000 Melburnians."

.

To read the full statement on hansard visit http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/downloadhansard/pdf/Council/Feb-Jun%202008/Council%20Feb-Jun%202008%20Daily%2015%20April%202008.pdf

the logging petition

The issue of logging continues to grow across the upper yarra region of the shire, as a response to community concerns a petition has been developed.

The petition reads....

Protect Melbourne’s water catchments from logging to protect our precious water supplies long into the future.
We the undersigned draw to the attention of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria that logging of high conservation forest is occurring at the Armstrong Creek Catchment.
We the people, are outraged that at a time when Victoria is experiencing its most severe drought, logging of this catchment is reducing our water supply.
We are equally concerned at the fact that logging of this catchment is destroying the habitat of Victoria’s endangered faunal species, the Leadbeaters Possum.
We therefore call on the Victorian Government to immediately cease logging of the Armstrong, Thomson, Cement, McMahons and Starvation Catchments.

If you would like a copy of the petition to distribute please email me on s.dunn@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

Please note petitions need to be returned by end of March, 2008

logging in catchments - melbourne's water at risk

At the top of the Armstrong Catchment - Cambarville, on Sunday 16th December, where logging has already commenced.





















It's not just the forest that's at stake, it's thousands of litres of water loss in Melbourne's catchments.

The mainstream media picks up the story with the Herald Sun, Channel 7, 9 and 10 covering the issue.

HOT OFF THE PRESS.....
Tonight: Bayside City Council unanimously votes to support Yarra Ranges' positon of opposing logging of Melbourne’s water catchments.