By JESSE GRAHAM
MURRINDINDI Shire Council has thrown its hat into the ring in the debate on the critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possum, supporting a report recommending the end of logging in the Toolangi area.
At its meeting on 27 May, Murrindindi councillors passed a motion to write to Environment Minister Greg Hunt and his Victorian counterpart Lisa Neville, supporting the recent up-listing of the Leadbeater’s Possum to critically endangered.
Within the motion, the council also resolved to support a recommendation in the Threatened Species Scientific Committee’s report, endorsed by the Federal Government, to cease logging in the Central Highlands area to protect the possum.
Murrindindi mayor Margaret Rae said the motion was a move to recognise that there had been “insufficient” action to protect the possum in the past.
“I think council’s position has traditionally been that there’s room for all things within our shire, with the right sort of balance,” Cr Rae said.
“Logging has its role in this economy, and the environment plays its role from a species point-of-view and tourism, which is also part of the economy as well – we’ve always supported both to the best of our ability.
“I think the feeling is this particular species now is such a special one and so endangered, it is worthy of support – the feeling very strongly at council was that if something wasn’t done now, it would be too late, and none of us want to see that happen.”
Mr Hunt, at the time of the up-listing announcement, said he was inviting the State Government and Ms Neville to be part of the review and update to the possum’s draft Recovery Plan, which was last updated in the 1990s.
Ms Neville, in recent interviews, has been supportive of the up-listing of the possum, but indicated an industry taskforce, with all relevant groups involved, would be the state’s approach to answering the question of how to save the possum.
“I am in favour of allowing the key parties to find solutions,” she told the Mail in May.
“I think everyone sitting around the table is there not to be divisive, but to find solutions.”
VicForests’ general manager of Stakeholders and Planning Nathan Trushell said the body supported the review for the recovery plan, but expressed disappointment at Murrindindi Council’s motion.
“I imagine that many of the thousands of hard working Victorians whose livelihoods depend on the industry would be disappointed by the position the Murrindindi Shire Council has taken, especially before the State and Federal Government have completed work that they are currently undertaking,” Mr Trushell said.
He said that “more efficient surveying” had meant that Leadbeater’s Possums had been found at a “high rate”, and said colonies had been found in areas harvested for timber or burnt bushfires in recent decades.
What do you think of the Murrindindi Shire Council’s decision? Write a Letter to the Editor to editor@mailnewsgroup.com.au or to 244 Maroondah Highway, Healesville.
