OREN NEWS

Logging at Glasgow Falls in breach of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988

DNRE prepares for unlawful logging near Otways Cool Temperate Rainforest

Wednesday February 7^th 2001

Today the Otway Ranges Environment Network (OREN) has condemned plans by Department of Natural Resources and Environment to permit unlawful logging near a stand of Cool Temperate Rainforest near Glasgow Falls (near Lavers Hill) in the Otway State Forest. Cool Temperate Rainforest is subject to a fungal die back disease called Myrtle Wilt which is at epidemic levels in the Otways. This disease kills Myrtle Beech trees which are dominant in Cool Temperate Rainforest. Logging practices authorised by DNRE are elevating the levels of Myrtle Wilt throughout the Otways.

Cool Temperate Rainforest is already recognised as a threatened community under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.

As recently as the 22^nd of December 2000, the Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Sherryl Garbutt, added the threatening process know as Myrtle Wilt to the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. The threatening processes is specifically known as "Human Activity which results in artificially elevated levels of Myrtle Wilt within Nothofagus- dominated Cool Temperate Rain forest." The Gazettal of the threatening process now means logging practices that risk any form of damage to rain forest trees are now illegal. Scientific research in the Otways shows buffers around Cool Temperate Rainforest should be increased from 40 metres to 250 - 350 metres.

"The DNRE has a duty to protect all forest values in the Otways. We understand that the Department has a contractual obligations to supply sawlogs to sawmills but they must also comply to provisions set out in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act to protect endangered species.", said spokesperson for OREN, Simon Birrell. "The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act requires prescriptions in the form of an Action Statement to be done ‘as soon as possible’ (see Section 19 FFG Act). The Action Statement will set out prescriptions to protect rainforest from logging practices that elevate myrtle wilt. DNRE must not allow logging near the rainforest until such prescriptions are completed."

"A group of conservationists and local residents plan to go to the Glasgow falls coup on Monday to inspect the rain forest. OREN will request DNRE Forestry and Flora and Fauna officers to be present for the rainforest inspection."

"Myrtle Wilt has implications for the whole Otways. Localised infection caused by logging practices can elevate the probability of infection across the whole Otway landscape due to the air dispersal nature of the Myrtle Wilt fungus."

"This has implications for rainforest in the Otway National Park. The Cool Temperate Rainforest at Maits Rest in the Otway National Park has significant economic value to the local tourism industry as it receives hundreds of thousands of domestic and international tourists every year who drive along the Great Ocean Road. Tourism Victoria has stated that the Great Ocean Road is worth one billion dollars a year in tourism expenditure"

The Myrtle Wilt Gazette can be found at www.gazette.vic.gov.au G51, 21 December 2000,

Page 3017-3019. Copies of the Myrtle Wilt Nomination 453 an be obtained from Martin O'Brien from Flora and Fauna on 9412 4567