Logger agrees Environment Minister broke deal.

Otway Conservationists declare compensation must be paid and forest managed sustainably .

Monday 23rd April 2001

The logger contracted to log the contentious Ciancio coupe in the Otways made comments to the media yesterday recognising the existence of the agreement between the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), hardwood logging industry, conservationists and the forestry union.

In the agreement conservationists agreed there would be no blockades in the Otways State Forest if “contentious” coupes were not logged. This agreement was broken when the DNRE moved loggers into the contentious Ciancio coupe.

“Logger John “Blue” Andrew’s comments vindicate what the Otway Ranges Environment Network has maintained; that there was an agreement, and that the Minister and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment broke the deal.” Said spokesperson for the Otway Ranges Environment Network, Greg Hocking.

John “Blue” Andrew also said that the DNRE had agreed to pay compensation to the logging crew if they forced the issue with conservationists. He said that the DNRE had also backed down on this deal.

The Otway Ranges Environment Network is calling on the Minister to make a commitment that the Ciancio coupe will not be logged, and to pay compensation to loggers and sawmillers .

“The rain is an easy short term excuse for Environment Minister Garbutt to ignore the real issues in the Otways. She needs to deal with the epidemic levels of Myrtle Wilt in the rainforests and the current unsustainable rates of logging. Minister Garbutt must agree to pay compensation to loggers and sawmillers over the Ciancio coupe because current licence commitments (to supply hardwood from the Otways) are unsustainable.”

“The Government needs to tackle their responsibilities and manage the forest sustainably for water, tourism and biodiversity.”

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