Call to can the coupes

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE Environment Watch has called for a VicForests application for 148 new logging coupes to be rejected by the government.
Group members presented submissions to VicForests new regional manager Lachlan Spencer in Healesville on Thursday.
The group, led by HEWI chairman and Toolangi resident Steve Meacher and supported by members of other local environment groups, had earlier met at the site of two of the proposed Timber Release Plan (TRP) coupe sites on the Myers Creek road at the base of Mt St Leonard.
The proposal to log so close to a main tourist road clearly angered many of the objectors.
Mr Spencer assured the group their views would be taken into account when VicForests presented its own submission to the DSE for consideration.
The HEWI submission spelled out their objections which included that excessive logging was hindering community recovery through nature-based tourism, was ecologically and economically unsustainable, did not provide best community value and failed to satisfy VicForests’ own requirements in terms of providing the community with accurate information and presenting the amendment application with real openness and transparency.
HEWI claims around Toolangi the current and proposed coupes cover 20 to 30 per cent of the available unburned forest area and say that close to Marysville the figure appears to be as high as 40 to 50 per cent.
Their claim that VicForests is steadily falling further behind in regeneration of coupes, that it is now at least eight years in areas and that there is no current funding available to assist with completing regeneration was to some extent conceded by Mr Spencer who said VicForests has “some challenges” in terms of regeneration.
“There is a backlog and yes there is a growing percentage due to the fact harvesting takes three years before it can be handed back,” he said.
David Walsh, VicForests Senior Communications Adviser, says however that they have submitted more than 5400 hectares of regenerated forest to DSE for verification and approval during 2008/09 year.
Mr Walsh said that many areas harvested in the first three years of VicForests’ operation were only now being assessed as to whether the regeneration had been successful.
Quoting figures from VicForests’ own annual report, Mr Meacher said the claims made in their submission were indisputable. VicForests however does dispute them. Mr Walsh says VicForests had been viable in three out of its five years of operation and expected to make a profit in 2009/10.
Both VicForests and DSE said the TRPs would be assessed under the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act which takes into consideration environmental, social and economic factors.
DSE ultimately makes the decision on the TRPs but without direct representation from objectors.
Mr Spencer stated he had no objection to both VicForests and objector representatives taking an active role in the decision-making process when it went to DSE for a decision.
DSE however says “ … any concerns/comments in relation to the proposed TRPs should be addressed to VicForests directly”.
The proposed amendment (prepared by VicForests) would then be submitted to DSE for approval, a DSE media adviser told the Mail.