Otway forest Standoff Hits Day Four

Logger counter blockade farce when log trucks delay fire vehicles

Today a small group of loggers attempted to stage a counter blockade against conservationists occupying a native forest logging coupe in the Otway State Forest. Four log trucks and one car load of loggers attempted to prevent public access to the disputed Ciancio Logging Coupe. The counter blockade dispersed after Department Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) officers were forced to negotiate with the loggers to allow passage of fire fighting equipment. It is believed that the fire was caused by the NRE losing control of a burnoff operation in Watsons Coupe on Bennetts Track.

“It is ironic that earlier today Jane Calvert from the forestry union was accusing conservationists of hindering access to fire fighting equipment”, said Mr Simon Birrell, Spokesperson for the Otway Ranges Environment Network (OREN). “The safety of the local community is of paramount concern to OREN and we endeavor to ensure access to fire fighting equipment when identified as such.”

“Research has shown that clearfell logging practices intensify the risk of bush fire by encouraging the growth of fire prone forests types and by destroying fire resistant plant species. Many recent forest fires in the Otways region are a direct result of logging operations. Causes have include spontaneous combustion in bark piles and runaway burnoff operations in logging coupes”.

“Jane Calvert has made public statements to the effect that timber workers may not fight fires in the Surf Coast Shire because of the Shire’s opposition to clearfell logging in native forests. What are we to make of that?”.

Background

- Conservationists and the local community are concerned at the lack of adequate buffers between the edge of the logging operation and stands of Cool Temperate Rainforest. Ciancio Creek has rainforest that is listed as National Significance in the Otway Forest Management Plan.

- The logging sanctioned by Environment Minister Sherryl Garbutt may be illegal under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act due to the presence of a fungal disease called Myrtle Wilt. This disease threatens the survival of Cool Temperate Rainforest in the Otways

- As a Shadow Minister, Sherryl Garbutt made statements in State Parliament identical to those put forward to halt logging at Ciancio."

- "The State Parliament Hansard transcript from December 1996 clearly details Garbutt's firm criticism of her predecessor (Marie Tehan) for failing to protect rainforest from Myrtle Wilt.

- "in places where the Myrtle Wilt virus is present the recommendation is that there should be a buffer of up to 350 metres. "

- Due to the air dispersal nature of the Myrtle Wilt fungus, tourist attractions along the Great Ocean Road are threatened. Attractions such as Maits Rest in the Otway National Park receive hundreds of thousands of domestic and international tourists every year and are a vital component of the regional economy."

- A previous blockade in January 1999 of a conservationists camp at SSP track resulted in writs being issued against loggers and union officials for alleged unlawful imprisonment.

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