While many of the shire’s residents have been growing weary of the cold and wet conditions during the winter/spring period, local environment groups are lauding the rain’s ability to prevent VicForest from commencing logging operations in the Strathbogie forest. Source: The Euroa Gazette
VicForests had planned on selectively logging around 27 hectares of the Strathbogie forest back in mid-September, however, acting chief executive officer Nathan Trushell said the significant rain for the past four to six weeks had forced them to postpone.
While operations have been halted for now, the state-owned timber company will recommence its work as soon as the weather permits so as to ‘fulfil its contractual obligations’.
However, as Mr Trushell acknowledged, exactly when that will be has not been decided.
“There is no future date for commencing operations at this stage but we plan on contacting the community with this information as soon as we know more details,” he said.
Strathbogie Sustainable Forests and the Euroa Environment Group said in a joint statement that VF’s past communications with the community left much to be desired.
SSF spokesperson Fiona Townsend slammed VicForests’ communications with the groups prior to the wet-weather delay, calling their actions ‘misleading, bordering on deception’.
“The group has been in discussion with VF and the Victorian Government about the 11 coupes/450 hectares in question, for the past three years,” Ms Townsend said.
“VicForests repeatedly stated it had no immediate plans to harvest in the Strathbogie Ranges. So for Mr Trushell to state that VicForests did notify the community groups is plainly misleading.”
Last month VicForest announced they had designated part of the forest a ‘timber harvesting safety zone’ by nailing a notice to a tree in the soon-to-belogged coupe, a method that outraged both groups.
“VicForests acknowledges that there were concerns raised by some community members during September about the way information was provided regarding the previous planned start date for harvesting,” Mr Trushell said.
“We apologise for these initial communications and will ensure we notify the community in due course with the confirmed future start date.”
Regardless of when the logging operation does begin, SSF and the Euroa Environment Group have signalled their intentions to not allow them to do so unopposed.
SSF member Bertram Lobert, said they were angered by the fact VicForests had entered into contracts that assumed the availability of the Strathbogie forest for timber while at the same time telling the group they had no plans to do so.
Those opposed to the logging have called for a halt to operations until an assessment is made with regard to the non-timber assets of the forest, including threatened native species such as the Greater Glider, Powerful Owl and koala.
