By Jed Lanyon
Environmentalist group Forest Conservation Victoria has established a blockade to prevent logging operations in Toolangi on the morning of Monday 2 September.
One member of the group is suspended 20 metres high to a tree on a platform attached to logging machinery.
Forest conservation Victoria took to social media to declare their protest along the Murrindindi River in Toolangi, where a threatened Sooty Owl nesting site has been reported.
The post read, “Continued destruction of some of the world’s largest carbon stores, the Mountain Ash forests of Victoria, has left these ecosystems on the brink of collapse.”
“Our government is dragging its feet on turning its words into action and we’re losing time we just can’t afford. We will continue to stand up against these practices until we see an end to native forest logging.”
President of Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum Steve Meacher said that the coup in question was closing in on a zone 1A habitat meaning that the area currently or in the near future would be used as a habitat for animals.
Mr Meacher said that the number of greater gliders and sooty owl nests sightings nearby should be plenty reason to halt logging operations in the area.
“Any one of those should spark protection, having all three is extraordinary.
“This is an area that should not be subject to logging… And now a blockade has been set up to halt that logging so that information sent to DELWP can actually be processed and acted upon.
“We would like to see the logging machinery withdrawn and for the access to the area for logging to be reviewed.
Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) called for immediate action from the state government after the protests in Toolangi.
VAFI CEO Tim Johnston said the government has the regulatory power to remove protesters from operational harvesting coupes and believes its time they sent a stronger message to protesters that such action has serious consequences.
“This is the fifth time in as many months that this contractor has had to endure this unacceptable action,” he said.
VAFI member and contractor Chris Stafford said, “We are contracted by the government to do our job and when protests happen, the government turns its back on us.
“Every day we all turn up wondering if it’s our turn to be targeted and I constantly stress about the impact this has on my staff and those in the industry just trying to make a living.”
