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A look at what OREN has been up to including significant activities, where we have made the news, and recent media releases |
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Otway Ranges Environment Network c/o Apollo Bay Post Office, Apollo Bay, 3233 Ph: 03 52 210 314/ 52 377 439 www.oren.org.au Dear Friends, This letter is to update you all on what has been happening in the Otway Native Forests in South West Victoria. We hope that this brief run-down and outline of up and coming events will answer questions over just what has been going on in the forest ? And what has OREN been doing? For a more detailed background to the many issues raised in this update please visit our website www.oren.org.au . MAY UPDATE 2002 The 2001/02 logging season in the Otways is almost finished. They can log up until 31st May but usually by this time of year, autumn rains make it too wet to log. This year, it is again dry with rainfall from the start of March approximately half the average. So logging is continuing. In October last year, a list of 40 coupes (logging areas) from the Wood Utilisation Plan (WUP) for this logging season and the next was tabled at the Otway Forest Reference group by OREN. These coupes were considered contentious because of their high conservation value and/or their being in domestic water catchments and included all coupes in Wild Dog Block, all coupes on Riley’s Ridge, all coupes in Cumberland Block and all new road construction. The estimated sawlog value of non-contentious coupes according to 01 / 02 Wood Utilisation Plan was 37,500 cubic metres, enough to fulfill sawlog licence commitments. Dep’t of Natural Resources & Environment (NRE) Commercial Forestry Managers arrogantly ordered logging to commence at Halls Ridge in late January while negotiations with the Minister’s Chief of Staff, Phil Martin, were taking place. Local residents and conservationists set up a protest camp at Halls Ridge coupe and stopped any further logging. Once agreement was given that OREN wouldn’t protest in 6 of the 40 contentious coupes, Phil Martin, came to the camp at Halls Ridge and gave his assurance that no logging would take place in the remaining 34 contentious coupes. The Minister made public statements with respect to transition proposals. The 6 coupes were: Dunse Track – near Deans Marsh, Neck Track west – behind Lorne, Head ColdWater, Delaney Roadline (near Barwon Downs), Egans South & Browntown Up until now, no logging has occurred in 34 of the 40 contentious coupes At the end of March, logging had produced only 15,000 cubic metres of sawlog and 53,000 tonnes of CHIP. This represents an over-estimation of sawlog by over 50% and highlights the fact that the logging industry is WOODCHIP driven.
TRANSITION NOT CONFLICT ??? The Otway Regional Forest Reference group, established by Environment Minister Sherryl Garbutt last year, comprised industry, community, conservation and departmental representatives. An unanimous and historic position was reached late last year when the group recommended to the minister that native forest logging on public land in the Otways end and proposals with respect to a transition period be developed. Prior to the 6 weekly meeting of the group in April this year, the Minister pulled the plug on the reference groups across the state, saying
"… it was time to explore new ways for the community to participate in the decision-making about Victoria’s forests." (Geelong Advertiser18/04/02).
It is unclear what the Minister sees as the "new ways" for community participation. The community information sessions to present the Victorian Government’s 2002 OUR FORESTS OUR FUTURE Sawlog Resource Report were advertised in regional papers on the 24-25th of April . 24 hours prior to the meeting planned for the Otways,on the 30th of April, the Minister’s office suddenly cancelled them. So much for Garbutt’s "new ways" of community participation ! FINAL WUP for 02/03 Season – fast-tracked. In an attempt to not log contentious coupes, NRE have finalised next season’s WUP earlier than usual so they could bring forward a coupe (supposedly not contentious) from next season to now. With the recent release of Sawlog resource estimates & the Jerry Vanclay report Evaluation of Data and Methods for Estimating the Sustainable yield of Sawlogs in Victoria , it is acknowledged that the sustainable sawlog yield for the Otway Forest Management Area is based on INADEQUATE data. The discrepancy between what has been logged and what is "theoretically" out there is another example of the NRE’s mis-management of our forests. This report showed that a 30% reduction in sawlog harvesting across the state was required for what they call a sustainable timber industry. The report saw no reduction for the Otways from current level of 27,100 cubic metres/yr yet it is noted in the Jerry Vanclay report that the data used to calculate the sustainable yield in the Otways is "inadequate" and the yield estimates do not provide an adequate basis for long-term licence commitments. (The reports can be viewed at www.nre.vic.goc.au)
It’s very obvious that NRE has no interest in hearing what the public feels about the unsustainable clearfelling of the Otways for woodchips.This is reflected in the areas chosen to be logged next season 2002/2003.We are facing the most controversial and contentious WUP to date. Large tracts of forest areas that OREN has consistently opposed all destruction of, have been included in the areas to be logged. Please visit our website.www.oren.org.au .to find out more . LAKE ELIZABETH PICNIC: SUNDAY JUNE THE 16TH 12.00. 6 kms, from Forrest, Kaangalang Rd. To celebrate Lake Elizabeth’s 50th Birthday (50years since its formation due to a landslide 17th June 1952), we are hosting another picnic at Lake Elizabeth picnic ground. Lake Elizabeth is an area of National Estate significance and NRE are planning to log two coupes on Bowman Spur within the Lake Elizabeth catchment. The first coupe on Bowman Spur was scheduled to be logged this season and then next season another coupe is to be logged. NRE were threatening to begin logging the first coupe a few weeks ago but, we believe due to community pressure, they changed their mind and found a "non-contentious" coupe brought forward from next season’s WUP. The reason they gave for their change of mind was that there were "geological" reasons preventing logging in the Lake Elizabeth catchment. Funny they didn’t think of that before the coupes appeared on the WUP. Please come and join us for another Lake Elizabeth picnic and help to celebrate no logging in this area
RALLY FOR THE FORESTS 18TH MAY BATMAN PARK 11.00am Crn Flinders & Spencer Sts, City. In 1995 a forest rally was held in Melbourne that over 10,000 people attended to show their support for an end to clearfelling native forests . Unfortunately the destruction of Victoria’s native forest has only increased since then. On May the 18th a public rally for the forests is being held with the support of The Wilderness Society, The Australian Conservation Foundation, Friends of the Earth, The Victorian National Parks Association and many regional environment groups and other bodies. OREN urges all our members to come to this rally ,to show the strong support for an end to forest destruction in the Otways that is felt in the community.We appreciate that travelling to Melbourne and finding parking is not that attractive for many and so we suggest that those attending consider the environmental alternative of taking the train from Geelong. There is some energy to have an Otways forests carriage travelling to the rally on the 09.39 am Geelong , those that wish to prebook on this carriage call Monica 52363214, by Wednesday the 15th of May. Alternatively book a train ticket for yourself: V-line reservations Regional Booking office Geelong 03-52266525.
WHAT YOU CAN DO Ring, email or write to STEVE BRACKS, Premier, 1 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, 3002 Steve.bracks@parliament.vic.gov.au Ph (03)9 Sherryl Garbutt, Minister for Environment & Conservation, 8 Nicholson St, Melbourne, 3001 sherryl.garbutt@ministers.vic.gov.au, Ph (03) Lobby your local politicians, write letters to newspapers, ring talk-back radio. HELP STOP THE DESTRUCTIVE CLEARFELLING OF THE OTWAYS FOR WOODCHIPS AND SEE YOU AT THE RALLY FOR OUR FORESTS 18TH MAY
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Some memberships have expired. As we are a non-profit organisation and don't receive any government funding, memberships and donations help maintain the campaign to end clearfell logging in Otway Native Forest. Please note that membership fees have increased. If your annual membership has expired, please renew. We are truly appreciative of your continued support. OREN membership Type of membership: single $25, family $30, concession $15, donation $.................. .Total $.................. Method of payment: Cheque/Money Order Bankcard Mastercard Visa Debit Cardholder’s name: ................................................... Card no. .......... / .......... / .......... / .......... Expiry Date: ......./......./........ Signature ........................................... Mr/Mrs/Ms: .................................................................................... Address: ................................................................................................. Postcode: ...................... Telephone: ............................... (H)............................... (W) Email: ........................................................................ Please make cheques payable to Otway Ranges Environment Network. Post to c/o Apollo Bay Post Office, Apollo Bay, Victoria 3233
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