Protestors have begun disrupting forestry activities at coupes at Snobs Creek in the Central Highlands of Victoria following a local council’s unanimous decision last week to advocate for logging to cease in the area. Source: Timberbiz
Murrindindi Shire Council on Wednesday called on the Victorian Government to phase out current native timber harvesting activities in the Central Highlands forests in Murrindindi, in particular in the Rubicon Valley, “pending resolution of the best approach for the future protection and use of these unique areas”.
According to local radio station UGFM – Radio Murrindindi Police Search and Rescue were called in to remove tree sitters blocking access to the Snobs Creek coupes on Sunday morning.
A local VicForest road contractor Darren Bell told UGFM – Radio Murrindindi that anti-logging activists had blocked access to a logging coupe on Barnewall Plains Rd where he was working and could not gain access to his and other contractors’ equipment.
The anti-logging activists had reportedly cut a tree down, dug a hole on the middle of the road placed the tree in it and guyed it to the seasonal road closure gate that they had closed.
They then climbed the tree and were sitting at the top, Mr Bell said.
He told UGFM – Radio Murrindindi that it was illegal to close the road and that to gain access to his grader, roller, water cart truck and three gravel trucks would mean removing the tree that the tree sitters were in.
He said this was costing him and other contractors thousands of dollars a day of which the taxpayer would have to pay, along with wages of police that had attended.
He said, that by Murrindindi Shire supporting the activists it was going to end up costing jobs locally and businesses leaving the area.
A spokesperson for VicForests’ said that thorough preparation was undertaken prior to harvesting, and special protections were put in place for priority habitat and species of concern if found in coupes ahead of harvesting taking place.
A comprehensive regeneration program followed all harvesting.
“This harvesting is essential to restore supply into timber processors that have been significantly impacted by supply constraints during 2020,’’ the spokesperson said.
“We remain committed to ongoing community and stakeholder input, and have worked closely with the Victorian Fisheries Authority regarding our operations in the Snobs Creek area for many years.”
It is believed that Murrindindi Shire Council or Councillors did not consult with VicForests prior to making its decision, however some shire councillors unofficially visited logging coups in the Snobs Creek area along with local anti-logging activists.
Local timber harvesting contractor Mick Johnston told Radio Murrindindi that contractors were sick and tired of the protestors coming into the logging coupes, as they were official worksites and that they have legally binding contracts to work and harvest timber.
He said that hardwood timber was a renewable resource and that harvesting contractors were very sensitive to the environment they work in and that they respected and cared for it.
Mr Johnston told Radio Murrindindi that the Murrindindi Shire did not consult with timber harvesting contractors on the impact ceasing harvesting in Snobs Creek would have on contractors and the many people associated with the industry and those relying on supply of timber from the area.
