sylvia creek injunction

The issue of logging in the Sylvia Creek region of the Toolangi State Forest has gained a lot of media attention since in commenced in July. Prior to the logging operations I joined with community members and my colleagues to tour the forest.

For the last 6 weeks community members have continued to disrupt logging operations with tree sits, lock on's and walk in's in attempts to stop the logging in the area. So far there's been around 14 arrests.

Thanks to Don Butcher for this image.

Earlier this month Toolangi locals and environment groups held a meeting to talk about the logging in the region.

The meeting was very well attended with 120 people coming from near and far to talk about the issue at the CJ Dennis hall in Toolangi.

I was there with my colleagues from Yarra Ranges, Crs McRae and Heenan. Cr Sally Abbot Smith from the Murrindindi Shire council was also there as well as Greg Barber MLC, Greens Spokesperson for the Environment.

There was lively and animated conversation as some members of the logging industry were there, but it was always respectful and it was clear that community members would like to see a solution that looks after the industry workers.

Cr Sally Abbot Smith described meeting organiser, Steve Meacher, as a Toolangi Living Legend to which he received a standing ovation.

Thanks to Don Butcher for this image.
Much community action has been at the frontline of the public safety zone. Here concerned community line up against the 'line' as a show of protest.

Thanks to Don Butcher for this image.
There's been a lot of media interest in the story, with camera crews and mainstream media often visiting Toolangi.

In latest events, local environment group, MyEnvironment, filed a writ in the Supreme Court last week, declaring the logging illegal and seeking an injunction and halt to logging.

The group successfully gained a short term injunction that will see a halt to logging till at least the 19th September. At this time the case for a longer injunction will be tested in court.

If you'd like to see the ABC 7:30 coverage of the story click here.

Or to read local newspaper coverage by Natalie Kotsios in the Yarra Ranges Weekly click here.

Back in June last year, the Shire of Yarra Ranges resolved to call for an immediate halt to logging and any future proposed logging on the Bicentennial Trail and Mt St Leonards, Toolangi due to the significant adverse impact on the local economy, tourism features and the environment.

Not only have we seen more logging in the region but the flow on effect means more damage to our environment, our local economy and the beauty and attraction of our area for tourists.

It will take a lot of resources for this volunteer environment group to take this case to court, if you'd like to support MyEnvironment and their fight for our forests then you can donate here.

logging begins at sylvia creek

MEDIA RELEASE

Anger as logging begins at controversial Sylvia Creek forest near Melbourne

VicForests has sent the chainsaws into the Sylvia Creek forest on Melbourne’s north east fringe, despite conceding that the area contains old-growth trees more than 110 years old.

Over 100 people protested at the site near Toolangi last weekend, forcing both VicForests and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) to conduct new surveys to check the forest’s environmental values.

“DSE has confirmed the logging coupe contains old growth trees, even though VicForests and Government Minister Louise Asher insisted last week that it was not old growth forest,” said Wilderness Society forest campaigner Luke Chamberlain.

"We demand an acknowledgment from the then Acting Premier that she has either been deceived by VicForests or she herself has misled the public. Louise Asher must apologise to the people of Toolangi."

“As a result of community action, VicForests has been forced to remove three hectares of old growth and rainforest from their logging plans, but they have sent the chainsaws into the remaining forest today.”

DSE and VicForests claim that the area being logged is not suitable habitat for the endangered Leadbeater's Possum, but expert scientists and conservationists disagree.

“Over half the Leadbeater's Possum’s forest habitat was destroyed in the Black Saturday bushfires, so every last bit that survives is incredibly precious, and essential to this tiny animals’ survival,” said spokesperson for local group ‘My Environment’ Sarah Rees.

“The criteria the government is using to identify Leadbeater's Possum habitat are too conservative. We’re talking about Victoria’s wildlife emblem, we should be making sure they multiply and flourish, not simply cling on to the edge of survival.”

“The local community is up in arms about losing this beautiful, high conservation value forest, and is planning further protests.”

The Burned Area Emergency Response Report (BAER) commissioned by the Brumby Government after the 2009 bushfires recommended preserving refuge areas such as those in Toolangi for biodiversity recovery.

save sylvia creek

Today I joined with concerned community members, environment groups and my fellow Councillors, Crs Jeanette McRae and Tim Heenan in the forests of Toolangi.

We were there to show our objection to logging in this region, specifically Sylvia Creek, the coupes know as Freddo (297-826-0002) and Gun Barrel (297-526-0001). Over 100 people were in attendance, a show of real commitment given the chilly, wet conditions.

Yarra Ranges has had a long history of opposing logging in the Shire of Yarra Ranges. In 2007 we opposed logging in Melbourne's water catchments, in 2010 we opposed logging in the Toolangi region because of its impact on tourism, the local economy and environment and this year we signed the Ethical Paper Pledge, pledging to only purchase copy paper with no native forest content.

From left to right: Cr's Jeanette McRae, Samantha Dunn and Tim Heenan of the Shire of Yarra Ranges. Council feels strongly that the Ethical Paper Pledge is an accurate reflection of our commitment to sustainability, protection of the environment, corporate social responsibility and local community needs as outlined in our procurement policy.

This year council also submitted to the VicForests Timber Release Plan (TRP) to outline our concerns about the proposed logging in the region. It has been disappointing to learn that none of the issues raised by the Shire of Yarra Ranges have been taken into consideration by VicForests or the DSE.

In relation to the logging of this particular area council raised a number of issues, specifically around the protection of threatened species habitat.

Council is aware of the extensive impact of the 2009 bushfires on habitat required by threatened species. Coupled with the loss of habitat through logging operations over past decades, there is increasingly less area of suitable habitat for threatened species, including the state's faunal emblem, the Leadbeater's Possum.

In the foreground are concerned community members, this gives an idea of the scale of the forests being logged.

The impact of past logging and the 2009 bushfires has also resulted in a reduced area available for logging, potentially bringing the commercial needs of VicForests into more direct competition for habitat required for threatened species.

Council is keen to ensure that all Special Protection Zone (SPZ) areas are adequately conserved and protected. Council believes this should include avoiding logging operations immediately adjacent to SPZ areas to avoid accidental over logging and unexpected impacts from regeneration burns on habitat critical to the survival of threatened species.

As part of our TRP submission council sought assurances that no new coupes would be granted that have any potential to destroy SPZ forest, or any areas of Leadbeater's Possums' Permanent Reserve System, or other areas previously set aside to secure/conserve forest biodiversity. We haven't had a response to these specific concerns as yet from VicForests, the DSE or the Minister, but given the logging coupe visited today overlaps an SPZ area, I'm certain there's not going to be any consideration of this or the threatened species who call this forest home.

A number of speakers addressed the group including the Yarra Ranges Councillors, I spoke about our long history of opposing logging and the impact of logging on our local tourism industry, Cr McCrae talked about the loss of biodiversity whilst Cr Heenan's message was 'no jobs on a dead planet'.

Council does not support logging of these Sylvia Creek coupes, 297-826-0002 (Freddo) and 297-526-0001 (Gun Barrell), amongst a long list of other coupes that threaten forest biodiversity and species on the brink of extinction.

Council does not support the logging of any coupe either adjacent to Special Protection Zone areas and/or Leadbeater's Possum Permanent Reserve System.