History

The First East Gippslanders

The Kurnai or Gunnai, comprised of five clans and their people once lived in the area around Orbost, west through East Gippsland and as far north as the source of the Murray and Mitta Mitta Rivers.

The Bidwell or Bidiwilli tribe lived throughout the area east of the Snowy River and up onto the Monaro High Plains of NSW. The early white explorers were very dependent on the intimate knowledge these people had of the country. Their only reward however, was persecution. In 1838 over 2,000 Gunnai were living in East Gippsland. By 1858, only 80 survived.

A SHORT STORY OF LOGGING IN EAST GIPPSLAND

The local logging industry had its beginning back in 1882. The first batch of timber was cut in a sawmill at Orbost on the Brodribb River. Before 1939, most timber in East Gippsland was cut close to the railway line. Then the terrible fires of 1939 wiped out much of Melbourne’s main timber-cutting area in the Central Highlands. East Gippsland became the new ‘hunting grounds’. Old style looger

In 1950, 75,000 cubic metres (about 3,000 truck loads) were being processed annually. By 1955, the cut had risen to 195,000 m3. Then in the late 1960s the Japanese export woodchip mill was established nearby at Eden and woodchipping became a main driver of logging.

In the 1980s 345,000 m3 (about 14,000 truck loads) of sawlog trees were being cut down every year, plus even more as woodchip logs. When the conservation movement proved this was overly voracious, the logging industry was forced to begin slowing down as the natural forests were rapidly disappearing. But in 2003 there was still over 420,000 m3 (almost 17,000 truck loads) cut down and sawn or woodchipped. Over 80% of this is classed as “waste” and destined for the export woodchip trade.

There is still much controversy surrounding the woodchip industry and old growth logging. About 13 football fields of forest each and every day are clearfelled in East Gippsland. Relative to the size of this region, we are logging our natural forests at about the same rate as the Amazon is being cleared! Mostly the areas clearfelled are the original ancient forests, which many threatened species depend on for survival. They are also of World Heritage value. This unchecked destruction has resulted in years of campaigning and protests by the community both in the forests and in the cities.

One Log Load Today only about 8% of our forests remain as old growth. The rest has been logged, burnt, grazed, mined and generally degraded. Vast areas of mountain and foothill forests have been clearfelled since woodchipping became entrenched in the late 60s. These once magnificent forest ecosystems have been systematically converted into single species industrial tree crops perfectly suited for the export woodchip industry.

These monocrops are intensively managed to feed the Asian pulp and paper factories young white tree trunks. No natural diversity is allowed to return to these areas. It is conversion from natural forests to tree ‘deserts’. This is made even more criminal by the fact that our original forests are being sold by the state government for the price of a postage stamp!

THE BATTLE FOR EAST GIPPSLAND’S FORESTS CHRONOLOGY

1988

  •    15 year licences given out
  •    VFT threat to East Gippsland
  •    North B.H. lobbied for pulpmill in Orbost

1989

  •    $41M subsidy in Vic. 1991-1992 $13.2M subsidy

Late 1989 – Jan 1990

  •     Potoroo Review was born from the ashes of the “Local Rag”
  •     Very Fast Train threat to EG but a win in early 1990 when VFT plan shelved
  •     Browns Mt. National Estate protests locals action
  •     Conservation Forests and Lands Kay Setches then Minister – media booked out all local accommodation to cover Brown Mt protests. Lied to by Regional Manager Garry Squires on site in front of dozens of people. Bulldozers hidden. Public told they’d been sent home and wouldn’t be working that day, but came in as soon as protesters left.
  •     Law enacted to lease coupe for $1 pa to loggers. Loggers then got police to arrest people for trespass.
  •     Local police arrested 4 of 15 willing to be arrested. They apologised to the other 11 and drove to Orbost. Only 4 would fit in their 4WD (!).

1990

  •     1080 issue blew up. Targeted wallabies. Leonie Cameron and Jill Redwood and public outrage finally stopped it.
  •     ‘Resource Security’ mooted. ie. endless access to forests to log.
  •     Pulpmill threat.
  •     Rainforest Action Group tackle rainforest logging shadows Steve Crabb in Melb.

Late 1990

  •     Prudent and feasible study to see if there were alternatives to logging National Estate.
  •     $10M given to state from feds for 1 year halt to Nat Est logging.
  •     $10m spent on roads into Nat. Est and studies into conversion of native forests into plantations in EG!
  •     Steve Crabb took over as minister.
  •     Nat. Est. decision opened door for woodchipping 650,000m3 pa with no EES.

Early 1991

  •     ACF Report (Tim Fisher) showed a $14M subsidy to logging industry pa in Vic.
  •     051 phone book features Nat. Est. Forest on cover, the same year as government clearfells it.

February 1991

  •     Saulwick Poll shows 80% want forest saved – Sydney Morning Herald. 70% say jobs less important than forests.
  •     10% Dept. Conservation and Environment (name changed) budget to conservation 40% to logging!
  •     CROEG gatecrashes Steve Crabb’s secret drinks party at Croajingolong one night. Minister not happy despite it being a ‘community event’ that was never advertised.
  •     TWS starts a buy-pine campaign.
  •     $19M spent on Fuel Reduction Burns secret report questions their effectiveness (Bemm River).
  •     More job losses in DSE 600 mostly in conservation!
  •     RAC Report 2000 pages. Admits no forests have ever been sustainably logged.
  •     13.8 tonnes of 1080 carrots used by DCE and APM and landholders in plantations in Central Gippsland = 690,000 dead wallabies.
  •     Ecological Sustainable Development Report out for comment.
  •     Crabb puts up 1.1 million m3 of pulp wood (public forests)for sale.
  •     $4M of Nat Est money goes to replanting 1000’s hectares failed regen. (plantation establishment).
  •     VAUS (value added utilisation system) set up to bring pulpwood into Gippsland logging and “Residual Roundwood trials”. VAUS trials later abandoned with logs left in forest.

1992

  •     Resource Assessment Commission Report says: $1.55 each would save Nat Estate. Only way profit can be made from forests is on 20-30 year rotations for chips!
  •     Res. Security legislation introduced to parliament only for projects over $100M.
  •     Rotation ages reduced from 80-120 years, to maximum of 80 years.
  •     $10M federal money to state (E.Gipp) compo for Nat Est. moratorium spent on plantation research, new roads into Nat Est etc.
  •     Keating rejects Resource Security Legislation.
  •     Roland Hepworth died a log checker with DCE, he was very environmentally minded; when he retired he bravely reported on departmental breaches.
  •     Rainforest boardwalk opens at Errinundra. Adjoining rainforest still being logged.
  •     DCE takes sphagnum moss mining/harvesting on plateau to VCAT/AAT. Owner denied right to mine it and sells to DCE.
  •     Barry Pullen as new Environment Minister.
  •     Judy Clarks Report (CCV) reveals plantation alternative.
  •     APM abandons use of 1080.
  •     DCE tries to reintroduce 1080 in E.G.
  •     Rainforest defn. issue. Minister Pullen sets up tech. committee.
  •     RAC Final Report good and bad.
  •     TWS campaign “woodchip free by 1993″.
  •     Libs win election in Vic – Coleman in (Lib), Pullen out (ALP).
  •     First wood-fired power station proposed for EG. 1 million tonnes pa.

1993

  •     EG draft Forest Management Plan up for comment.
  •     79% of coupes not regenerating leaked doc.
  •     Nat Forest Policy drafted written by industry?
  •     Old growth study underway.
  •     Kennett signs National Forest Policy “High Conservation Value forests to be assessed and reserved by 1995” ignored by all states.
  •     EGFM (east gipp forest management) Area Advisory Committee – community consultation to “end conflict”.
  •     CARC (cutting area review committee) abandoned and WUP (wood utilisation plan) process brought in to stop areas being protected from logging. Manager Squires to have final say.
  •     Logging threat to Ellery catchment.
  •     ACF Freedom Of Information showed EG logging costs public $3.7M.
  •     Old growth study release stalled. New rainforest defn. adopted but inadequate.
  •     Aust Heritage Commission reassessing Nat Est boundaries.
  •     cable logging looked at, thinnings program begins (pulping regrowth).
  •     WUP process proves a farce.
  •     Logging in Delegate to dry up wetland Peter Gell study.
  •     Auditor Gen. Report scathing of Dept Consv. Natural Resources (or Dept Constant Name Revisions).
  •     Dept panics about running out of wood. Looks at options.
  •     Goat heads in Jill’s letterbox, left by log truck driver at 5am.
  •     Soil damage identified in logging operations by Govt scientist.
  •     Banner drop from shot tower in Alexander Parade.
  •     Squires promoted to Traralgon. Gipp manager.
  •     Spot mill Track rainforest clearfelled!
  •     “Roots” glossy PR book produced by industry and Govt.
  •     Pulpmill plan knocked on head after 14 years.
  •     No value adding being carried out in EG despite licences.
  •     CROEG devises new forest policy – members want no logging.
  •     Sooty owls found in Ellery Creek catchment.
  •     Barry Pullen set up Wood Products Working Party (WPWP) process to find common ground with all sides. Final report released by Kennett/Coleman.
  •     Geoff Coleman denies Delegate logging is effecting river, despite detailed science.
  •     Another $7M subsidy ’91-92
  •     SOS rainforest sites open for logging.
  •     $23M in govt forest research since 1986. VAUS and Silvicultural Systems Project deemed to have achieved nothing.
  •     Rainforest logging saga continues.
  •     AMCOR buys out APPM paper mill in the Latrobe Valley.
  •     Daishowa granted direct access to forest rather than via mills.
  •     VFT exhumed – again.
  •     Dept CNR employee burned to death in regen burn near Cann River.
  •     Govt. puts ceiling on number of endangered species to get protection.
  •     Old growth report and 7 pre-logging surveys withheld by Coleman.
  •     Coleman offers another 60,000 tonnes of EG to chippers.
  •     Black River Bomb incident in Tas (March). Proved to be a set-up by industry or anti-greens.
  •     Big EG Forest actions ongoing, good media, VIP’s, Canberra, GECO first set up at Blasés, Worker liaison, serious bail conditions, Xmas tree action, 300 people marched into Delegate River coupe, FPS(women’s auxiliary of the loggers) blockaded base camp but were snuck around at night etc.
  •     1080 issue back on the boil.
  •     Old growth report released 150,00000 and half is to be clearfelled!

1994

  •     EG Forest Alliance born (EGFA serious actions all summer.
  •     All forest/env groups boycott WUP process – due to maps being denied.
  •     “Target populations” adopted that will drive endangered species down.
  •     “Population Viability Analysis” also adopted computer modelling of end. species. populations – to magically come up with 100 of each.
  •     Syd Spindler and Christobell Chamarette (Democrats) come to EG to help the cause.
  •     Dick Smith paying protesters $40 a day, or so Orbost shop keepers are claiming.
  •     Plum pine stands at Robert Camp Creek Track near Goonmirk Rocks – Nat Est listed – clearfelled.
  •     Saulwick Poll – majority favour environment over economy.
  •     Regen failure exposed again.
  •     Fed MP Peter McGauran bans Blinky Bill kids show. It upsets the loggers. (hey-hey Blinky Bill – save us from the woodchip mill)
  •     Recycled paper disappears from market, through AP monopoly.
  •     Leonie Cameron stops a badly planned Fuel Reduction Burn Burn in a protected Grey Box forest, by walking into the area.
  •     Rare yabby found in EG. Ellery Creek.
  •     EV launch woodchip billboard campaign. Forest Protection Society’s Helen Hopner gets stirred up.
  •     Log grading rorts exposed in media.
  •     Govt desperate to find uses for “waste” wood as veneer, panelboards, pulp, chips, ethanol, burning for power.
  •     Snowy River dried up in Feb/March 1993.
  •     Touchwood tree in Ellery discovered 15 mts around base. Also rare yabby and 3-tiered waterfall.
  •     World Heritage push for EG.
  •     Linking of campaigns across the border.
  •     CNR hamper CROEG efforts to find threatened species.
  •     Hensleigh Creek logged blockades.
  •     CNR sell tree ferns from coupes. Only 2-13% survive.
  •     FOI on logging audits. 1/3 of enviro. guidelines breached.
  •     Director Steve Guest leaves VAFI.
  •     Prof. Bellamy visit to EG.
  •     Bedall grants 1/2M tonnes export licence to Boral NE NSW.

1995

  •     Keating OK’s export woodchip licences for 6.7million tonnes
  •     Proposed EG FMP after 6 years.
  •     CROEG flags name change.
  •     Autumn burns create smog problem in EG (every year).
  •     One hour log grading courses for foresters at Bendoc.
  •     CFMEU blockades closes Orbost town, sends workers to Canberra with free beer etc.
  •     Timber Communities Australia office opens in Orbost.
  •     Economist, Andy Dragun looks at DCNR’s accounts. $50m to $350m p.a. subsidy to logging.
  •     Of 109 deferred (from logging) forest areas in Vic identified as having natural values, 14 are left thanks to Keating, Bedall and Faulkner.
  •     2% of Aust forests remain as old growth – Prof.Tony Norton.
  •     Tried to start up Buyer-logical options alt wood and timber. No big group support.
  •     Plantations the answer more evidence.
  •     EEG’s ‘Potoroo’ newsletter taken to the Press Council by Peter McGauran for ‘slandering’ violent loggers and townspeople.
  •     “Wild forests” (Brian Walters’ big Age ad) gets Bellamy here.
  •     Oct. 1994 Hensleigh Creek camp busted March-April 1995 Orbost.court case sham.
  •     Potoroo found in Ellery.
  •     Crooked log grading and rorts exposed by Auditor Gen.
  •     Tax exemption taken off recycled paper.
  •     Bairnsdale rail line re-opens to send woodchip logs to Midway Logging Co. – claims it was for passenger line but no passenger trains.
  •     CROEG organised media training workshop in Melbourne.
  •     EG Log train blockaded in Melb.
  •     TWS FOI the 7 withheld forest block reports. Dept refused to release scientists final recs.
  •     Downturn in timber sales, mills ask workers to take leave.
  •     2 Orbost louts drive and shoot at Goongerah person are let off at Orbost court, while Paul Dempsey was fined $800 for “trespass”, holding a one person protest outside CNR office with placard.
  •     Bonang Highway almost impassable as log trucks churn up road.
  •     Logging Betka water catchment issue kicks off.

1996

  •     Ancient tree ferns dated at 500 years +.
  •     Jill gets ACF award.
  •     Violence against conservationists on the rise. Police collusion.
  •     Wildlife researchers (Liz and Trev) arrested near coupe with peanut butter bait for Potoroo research.
  •     Bulldozer vandalised “greenies blamed” Nov. 1995. Industry thugs cut loose, death threat, car destroyed etc.
  •     Deferred Forest Areas result in increased woodchipping.
  •     FOE support logging union and workers.
  •     Helen Hoppner (logging spokesperson) endorsed as Nat party candidate for McMillan.
  •     CFMEU rep Yorrick Piper slams CROEG and Potoroo over Orbost violence article.
  •     Loggers who beat up greenies, destroyed car and left them stranded got 48 hours community service each.
  •     Jill wins Wild Magazine’s “Env. Of the year” award.
  •     Coleman offers another 800,000m3 of EG’s forests.
  •     FOI into CNR’s monthly accounts. $50-385m subsidy AAT upheld refusal “Cabinet docs”.
  •     Geco organised old growth stump truck.
  •     4 days before election Coleman agrees to see 8 forest campaign reps, first time in 10 months. Useless.
  •     Forest Stewardship Council raises its head.
  •     Nat. Estate thrown off maps.
  •     New sooty owl research shows EG protection not enough.
  •     Quolls in serious decline.
  •     Forest-tech (logging industry education facility) built over rare ‘protected’ coastal grey box forest near Lakes Entrance.
  •     No-one wants the 800,000m3 on offer from EG.
  •     Regen. program behind schedule. Huge areas of logged forest not regrowing.
  •     Orbost power co-op wood fired power generation falls in a heap – no investors, no $, no plans.
  •     Roy Morgan Poll 99 % yes to wilderness.
  •     ’96 CRA-Regional Forest Agreement document shows logging jobs = 2.9% of total employment in EG.

1997

  •     Hensleigh Creek court case being taken higher.
  •     $2.4M subsidy to industry for road repairs mostly.
  •     RFA signed in Feb, 400 jobs promised, never happened.
  •     Another dozer vandalised near Bendoc, pre RFA announcement. Conveniently for loggers media.
  •     Fairy lantern found in Martins Creek – rare and threatened plant.
  •     Daishowa’s lawlessness is boundless. Illegally logs privately owned old growth forests in NSW.
  •     Daishowa’s plants 200 ha pa – PR stunt and to satisfy licence agreements.
  •     New Env Minister Marie Tehan allows Golden Moth Orchid (now extinct) to be destroyed for transport terminal. Axed the Land Conservation Council and govt pays loggers $13.50 a tonne to log forests. Loss to the public and govt.
  •     6 month blockade of Goolengook busted and logging starts on World Env Day.
  •     Bee keepers start to make noise about their sites being logged every year.
  •     Cinnamon fungus problem explodes in native forests.
  •     Plans to weaken native veg controls.
  •     Mountaineer Brigit Muir go to Gook “good media ” Marie Tehan determined to destroy area. Bob Brown gets arrested in Goolengook.
  •     Vince Jones, Peter Garret, Greg Champion, Paul Kelly support Gook (Statements in media).
  •     Kennett’s visit to EG ruined by being shadowed by GECO.
  •     CROEG and Env Defenders Office prove Daishowa breached licence conditions. Minister simply excuses breaches.
  •     Vic. Assoc.Forest Industries gets new head – proves too wishy-washy and departs.
  •     Dept. worker tries to run over protesters with grader.
  •     Bob and others appear in court over Goolengook.
  •     More industry media beat ups against environmentalists.
  •     I predicted Squires would move across to logging industry after he sets up a tender process to oversee EG logging by private logging companies.
  •     Quoll finally listed as nationally threatened.
  •     Green groups hand back $10,000 to feds and boycott Central Highlands RFA process.
  •     “Sweet RFA” booklet produced by Jill and CROEG.

1998

  •     New logging arrangements with syndicates see workers jack-up and strike for 2 weeks.
  •     New Industrial Relations bill (supported by Democrats) could see protesters or boycott campaigns fined $750,000
  •     Many errors exposed in survey reports of Dept on sustainable yields, by Dean Haywood.
  •     Diashowa plants 165 ha plantation on edge of listed Delegate wetland and uses 325 L Simazine.
  •     Problems with RFA indicators for sustainability. There are none.
  •     Goolengook logging found to be illegal at Heritage River.
  •     Quolls in Gook left unprotected.
  •     Appeal to VCAT/AAT on govt decision to withhold police documents on Coode Island explosion and claims of EG “sabotage”, show police in collusion with industry – or being used by.
  •     Secret police files exposed by The Age, CROEG and Jill listed as being tracked as a ‘threat to the nation’ FOI’d the files.
  •     Boycott campaign Kimberly Clark, Reflex.
  •     Tehan rezoned Heritage Rivers in response to the Gook court case showing they were illegally logged.
  •     Industry Commission report on Govt subsidies to logging industry suggests they stop it and become accountable.
  •     Daishowa mill blockade.
  •     Kennett privatises plantations (Vic).
  •     FOZ (forst operation zones) brought in. $2000 fine “picnic permits”.
  •     New laws allow forest officers/crowd controllers to use batons!
  •     Flood relief demanded by logging industry!
  •     Obtained heavily censored FOI police secret files on CROEG and Jill Redwood.
  •     RFA symposium in ANU overwhelmingly slams whole process.

1999

  •     Govt. napalms protesters in Goolengook.
  •     Snowy River issue big locally. CROEG helps but stays behind the scenes due to Orbostian attitudes towards conservationists.
  •     CFMEU/O’Connor brands RFA’s a failure due to no promised jobs (2000 promised in CH and EG)
  •     State Govt. appeal against Moe court decision that Goolengook was illegally logged, was lost.
  •     9c tonne for chips in leaked document.
  •     Dick Smith and Greenpeace paying protesters so claims Orbost they refused to cash cheques.
  •     Squires awards contract to oversee EG logging to EGL then jumps ship to become its CEO (as predicted in 1998).
  •     Govt. shown to be overlogging beyond RFA sust yield levels.
  •     Senate inquiry into RFAs 4 days before Xmas, advertised in one newspaper only, with 2 week comment period. 300 submissions, truck protest at Parliament House hearing, Melb.
  •     Feds legislate the RFAs.
  •     Liz Ingham proved RFA illegal under Env Protection Act – ignored.
  •     Woodchippers donate $1/2M to Lib/Labs. 1997-1998.
  •     Potoroo find saves a bit of Gook.
  •     Protesters charged with “theft of a dozer” for locking on. Up to 10 year sentence.
  •     TJ Andrews opens wharf and chipper at Geelong bails out of Newmerella supposedly owing Govt $6M in unpaid royalties.
  •     Neville Smiths Swifts Creek mill goes up in smoke. Moves all to Heyfield.
  •     Robert Bain (NAFI) moves to Aust Medical Assoc.
  •     ISO and FSC being pushed by industry as certified ‘green wood’.
  •     Bigger B-doubles move 50 tonnes a trip introduced onto EG roads.
  •     Midways protesters dump plastic on woodchip pile major clean up operation for weeks.
  •     Tehan protects Wongungarra after spat with fed member Wilson Tuckey.
  •     325 of 369 submission to RFA senate inquiry present case against RFA. All ignored.
  •     Goongerah camp ground demolished by Dept. bods believing protesters used it.
  •     Woodchip royalty = 0.1% of final sale value, compared to 41% for seed, 13% firewood, 10% timber.
  •     Eden wharf proposed for armaments depot.
  •     Intensification of native forest management conference in Orbost.
  •     Forest friendly building timbers book taken to ACCC by NAFI wanting it to be banned for encouraging the use of plantation wood.
  •     Forest furnaces being pushed by Business Vic. for electricity generation.
  •     RFA again proved fraudulent by not sticking to promises.
  •     Daishowa installs a new $5M loader after SE NSW RFA signed.
  •     KPMG report damming Vic Govt. subsidies to industry.
  •     Theft of bulldozer charges dropped.
  •     CROEG organises ‘arse end of the deal’ protest in Melb. Pre-Xmas ’99. Paper mache bums on sticks – page 3 of Age.

2000

  •     21st February loggers vigilante attack on Gook camp.
  •     Garbutt gets rid of FOZ zones when legally challenged.
  •     New useless level of bureaucrats installed in RFA process to listen to public complaints.
  •     Electricity from wood issue revs up as NSW threatened too. Vic Govt calls for expressions of interest from companies to burn forest “waste”.
  •     Dept Natural Resources and Env (another name change after election) logs SPZ illegally and doesn’t blink.
  •     Goongerah FRBs put on hold after threat of walking into the area.
  •     Chip logs exported from Bairnsdale up 700% up since Gipp RFA signed.
  •     Greenies sue CFMEU after Jan ’99 imprisonment in Otways.
  •     SLAPP suits tried on campaigners after Alan Gray and Marcus Ward drive into NRE foyer as protest.
  •     Charcoal plant threatens NSW and Vic forests.
  •     New RFA public consultation a total whitewash.
  •     Earthworker bullies victims of CFMEU violence, tries to get them to drop court case.
  •     Diashowa makes huge profits as Bracks lowers royalties even further for them.
  •     21 out of 40 loggers who were present are nabbed for savage vigilante attack in Goolengook.
  •     Questions to Parliament by Bob Brown on RFA costs.
  •     Bill to burn forests introduced.
  •     50% increase in chips from EG (1999-2000)
  •     Govt gives $1M to Theiss for gasifier study for Morwell to run on “biomass” ie forests.
  •     Garbutt introduces new law to keep public from forests under OHS – $5000 fine with this one compared to FOZ zone fine ($2000)

2001

  •     NRE to trial bulldozers on LF Potoroos “scientific logging”
  •     Renewable energy bill drawn up to burn forests – voted down.
  •     7M tonnes exported – 26% increase in last year.
  •     NSW charcoal plant knocked off but proponents look to EG.
  •     Enviroster looks at biomass power plant in Morwell.
  •     Swifts Creek sob-town story gets font page of Age for 5 days in lead up the ALP state conf.
  •     Police pay out $50,000 to pressure point victims of ’94 Victoria Pde forest protest.
  •     Vic woodchip industry accounts for 0.3% of our export earnings.
  •     Overlogging and poor tree counting exposed (again).
  •     Howard visits Orbost as bare bottoms greet him with “howards end” inscribed upon them in order.
  •     Quoll identified at Survey road, but logged.
  •     States in breach of National Competition Policy by underpricing trees.
  •     Dingo creek under threat as blockade set up.
  •     Wood fired power plans lose steam.
  •     FOI battles over royalty figures 11 month delay.
  •     Diashowa blockade.
  •     No sustainability indicators determined for RFA review.
  •     NRE audit of code adherence shows poor outcome even with slack process still praises itself and industry.
  •     NSTI (Neville Smith at Heyfield) get $1M, Dormit (at Swifts Creek) $1/2M, Terra Timbers (at B’dale) $1M, Forestech (Lakes Ent) $1/2M
  •     Garbutt offers a swap for Goolengook. We don’t play swapsies.
  •     Massive rise in woodchipping 2nd year in a row – 1.1m3 in Vic. Sawlogs down and royalties down.
  •     RFA community stakeholder groups set up.
  •     Draft quoll protection plans as inadequate.
  •     Biomass threat weakens.
  •     $2.5M to Creswick for new facilities.
  •     Fed Productivity Commission declares native forest subsidies illegal and ask for states to overhaul their systems.
  •     Mogo charcoal plant mooted.
  •     UN calls on Australia to protect forests.
  •     $42.6M package to industry from state Govt FISAP – 1 job worth 500 doles.
  •     Timber pricing review starts – another sham. Dropped soon after.
  •     Harvest and haulage review outcome kept secret.
  •     Sustainable yield review -Jerry van Clay does report for Govt.
  •     Details of Audit report supplied after much hassling every SPZ boundary logged into etc. etc.
  •     SFRI (state forest resource inventory) begins but data denied to public.
  •     Dingo Creek arrests.

2002

  •     Jill gets onto CMA Snowy River community committee. Proves to be another farce of “public consultation”.
  •     Howard gets in again but Green vote doubles.
  •     NRE given powers of arrest.
  •     RFA bill voted down again in Fed Parlt.
  •     5 year review deadline of RFA put back again – never to happen it appears.
  •     Regeneration Report 3 years overdue.
  •     Dingo Creek court case has NRE admit terrible stuff ups in the species ID of rainforest, boundary marks Etc.
  •     Orbost and District Community Forum started greenies and loggers to benefit community loggers recognising industry in decline.
  •     Liberals for Forests gets going in Vic.
  •     Logging ‘cutbacks’ announced with major PR spin sawlog cutback, not area and not woodchip volumes.
  •     Great EG walk proposal put up for feasibility study by ODCF(Orbost & District Community Forum with conservation and industry reps, it started in Feb 2002 exactly 5 years after the RFA, to look for new economic paths with which to challenge the government)
  •     FOI finally successful – shows woodchip royalties risen 10% to 10c a tonne. (plus 1c GST)
  •     CROEG NCS Pearson poll shows EG residents want an end to old growth logging – 2/3rds.
  •     Goolengook camp busted by police etc. March/April.
  •     Jill Redwood wore clown suit to RFA meeting. Garbutt pulled pin on all community reference groups soon after.
  •     Proposed wood burning plant at Dandenong drops plans.
  •     Orbost wins most unfriendly town award in lonely Planet Guide.
  •     Our forests our future (OFOF) written up to rejig sustainable yield figures and buy back licences.
  •     Daishowa claim Vic cutbacks make no difference to their volume of chip take. No surprise.
  •     More logging industry and town assistance in 6 months as part of OFOF job = $42.6M, $80M, $9M and $800,000 and $100,000
  •     Donations to political parties drop dramatically after RFA’s signed.
  •     Nationals offer a solution to “cutbacks” – log Nat. Parks.
  •     ALP and coalition legislate the RFA at Fed level. Massive compo if feds drop any RFA’s.
  •     Gook vigilantes given 4 months suspended sentence for one year good behaviour.
  •     2 women who locked onto a woodchip truck at Murrungower in Hwy were given 2 year good behaviour bonds.
  •     5,000-10,000 people rally in Melb for forests.
  •     Woodchip ship halted as protesters assaulted.
  •     Another industry group formed – Sustainable Timber Industry Coalition (STIC).
  •     Babcock and Brown plan wood fired power station in Latrobe Valley.
  •     Plantation volumes underestimated – say ABARE figures.
  •     Carr announces no wood-fired power stations for NSW.
  •     East Gippsland’s Craig Ingram MP announces to logger rally that the Snowy River Nat Park should have been logged and N Parks in general need “thinning”.
  •     Gook protesters from the March raid fined record $4,750 again by Judge Lewis “past his use-by date” they appeal.
  •     Daishowa builds electric cyclone protester-proof fence.
  •     Libs try to introduce forest bill to keep public from forests being logged.
  •     Daishowa lost legal bid to force protesters to pay them compo.
  •     Log volume figures conflict in March ‘02 report (NRE). They can’t explain it.
  •     Regeneration reports delayed by 6 years. Figures don’t tally.
  •     Neville Smith gets $1M govt package and then takes journos/pollies for chopper rides.
  •     State elections, Kevin Thiele stood as Greens candidate for Gipp East 4.6%.

2003

  •     Snowy Nat Park logged by Squires during summer fires  – DSE start internal inquiry.
  •     Jill stood as Greens candidate local council elections – 9.4%
  •     Savage salvage logging starts in burnt areas – much abuse of guidelines and breaking promises of what will be logged or saved.
  •     RFA’s made no allowance for fires so assumptions on future resource break down.
  •     Loggers stage truck blockade in Spring St. for 2 weeks but go home with nothing (not even a parking fine).
  •     Buchan mill workers strike for better pay and conditions. CFMEU assisted.
  •     EEG’s FOI request docs show Gook policing cost almost $2Million returns from royalties = $110,000 (estimate)
  •     Gippsland train line reopened and 63 km redone with Murray Rv Redgum sleepers to cart woodchip logs on.
  •     Melbourne hearing for 4 EG protesters gave them 3 month good behaviour bond, no fines or convictions. Daishowa ship protesters given $20 fines and no convictions.
  •     FOI requests delayed again and again past 45-day statutory period. Audit compliance report denied under FOI.
  •     Audit recommendations also denied under FOI. Govt. can’t tell the public how/if recommendations from logging audits are implemented.
  •     Supporting docs for audits refused, but later on sale to EEG for $100 – contrary to RFA pledge of free access to docs.
  •     Conservationists blamed for summer fires, huge public chorus.
  •     Australian silicone withdrew plans for charcoal plant.
  •     Feds launch AFS logging/timber certification is dodgy.
  •     Lawyers show code of forest practices (CFP) is vague, unenforceable and needs reform.
  •     Lawyers show Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act needs reform never implemented.
  •     Lawyers show Vic Govt breached EG RFA.
  •     Lawyers won appeal against harsh fines for Gook protesters.
  •     DSE audit of Code compliance shows poor practices but whitewashes their public report.
  •     CROEG media (ABC etc.) and others respond to cowboy fire comments and blitz burn solution; ABC and media refusal to publicise other opinions, science, solutions.
  •     EEG was refused an audience with touring state cabinet 100’s of others got in to see the ministers and advisors.
  •     EcoSelect ads flood TV and mags to buy native forest wood.
  •     CFMEU mill action for months causes Buchan mill to close.
  •     Daishowa’s demand for increased quality white wood sees DSE suddenly discover the use of “waste” wood (darker wood) as appearance grade or structural grade.
  •     Govt exit packages not working – exit and re-entry happening.
  •     Regeneration report released 7 years since assessment. 27% failure in EG, 61% in Tambo.
  •     DSE fuel reduction burns escape constantly and threaten homes.
  •     Industry offers shires industry trained bodies to do all private land logging/clearing monitoring.
  •     Feds give NAFI $150,000 to look at burning forests for power.
  •     Neville Smith Timber Industries (NSTI) desperate to be seen as forest friendly, wants certification and green groups on side.
  •     Newspoll survey (EEG) shows tourists want to see old growth and forests not “Timber Towns”.
  •     More volunteers find more threatened species. Temporary protection only.
  •     Daishowa vigil – 132 trucks a day counted over a week.
  •     Sassafras Basin under threat. Yabby find puts buffer along creek.
  •     Huge delays and shenanigans re Yalmy FOI – 154 days!
  •     VAFI and CMA bemoan loss of water in burnt areas due to regrowth from fires (not logging regen).
  •     VAFI blames greenies for Buchan mill closure (after union boycott)!
  •     Consumers boycotting native forest timbers and buying pine and rain forest timbers (or so says VAFI)
  •     Gook logged to cover announcement of cutbacks and Govt court cases. FOI docs reveal political timing.
  •     Yalmy illegal logging report delayed month after month.
  •     Bracks ignores water resource strategy recommendations to phase logging out of catchments.
  •     Herald/Sun makes false claims of greenie vandalism in C Highlands.
  •     Paperlinx to increase capacity 700,000 to 120,000m3 pa.
  •     20-20 vision for mass plantation plantings should be scrapped J. Clark.
  •     DSE – $56m debt in 02/03.
  •     Daishowa woodchip mill changes its name to SEFE.

2004

  •     Giant tree found in Result Creek. 16 mts around.
  •     Brown Mountain giants documented DSE works up big tree protection prescriptions that would only save mythically large trees foresters argue against realistic size trigger.
  •     Industry produce an “anonymous letter” claiming tree spike activity 2 days after first protest action for summer in Ferntree Creek. Coincidence?
  •     New EPA logging audit sees DSE reinterpret results to give itself a silver medal.
  •     Industry produces new giant stickers from “Greens cost jobs” to “Greens tell lies”.
  •     First FSC certification case shown to be super crooked in Sth. Gippsland plantations.
  •     Rainforest Sights Of Significance still being logged is in fact level increased.
  •     Howard slashes funding of environmental groups who criticise govt.
  •     New quoll action statement finally released but “upgraded” protection is farce.
  •     Loggers/foresters try to have Ada River SPZ logged and moved – after public submissions, DSE say no. Precedent dangerous.
  •     Trish Caswell (ex ACF) joins VAFI as their CEO.
  •     Phillip Toyne (ex ACF) already working for Neville Smith and supposedly head-hunted Trish for the job.
  •     Changes to Forest Act means Govt. less accountable and less obliged to consider biodiversity.
  •     Wombat and Otways forest win shifts more logging to Gippsland forests, with added transport subsidy from tax-payers.
  •     Feds. give $1/2m to Paperlinx to study expansion plans.
  •     WUP plans show 10m3 sawn timber per clearfelled ha!
  •     Latham/Howard both weak on old growth protection in Tasmania pre-election.
  •     $70,000 funding for feasibility study into E.G. great icon walks received from Feds.
  •     More DSE “cool burns” escape into hundreds hectares wild fires.
  •     $4m given to help loggers salvage burnt forests. CMA refuses to acknowledge logging is a problem for water quality and quantity.
  •     Gunns and Daishowa try for certification of their clearfell operations.
  •     VAFI propaganda booklet on “greenie lies” produced.
  •     Lawyers show all Vic Govt regulations, acts, policies do not incorporate enviro sustainable development (ESD) principles! So much for DSE.
  •     Van Clay assessment of DSE estimates on future sawlog yields for EG. Say they’re way off the mark and govt needs to carry out further work.
  •     DSE finally refuses to release long overdue internal Yalmy illegal logging report even under FOI.
  •     Auditor General agrees to look at logging and DSE investigation of Yalmy Rd.
  •     DSE release 8 page sanitised report, covering up real crooks and poor fire management in Yalmy illegal logging / back burn line.
  •     EEG helps Tubbut community fight off more pine plantations.
  •     Squires escapes consequences of illegal logging and theft of logs from National Park, but peaceful protester gets $200 fine in Yalmy coupe.
  •     WWF sides with Feds and Tasmanian Govt on logging.
  •     Garrett bails out of ACF and joins ALP. Enviro-rats becoming a plague.
  •     Promised RFA review now 3 years overdue. No sign of it.
  •     New “mixed forest” definition being used; proving too complex to apply for simple foresters.
  •     Otways Nat Park declared – claimed it will ruin all logging industry in Vic. local MP Craig Ingram.
  •     Proff. Lindenmayer agrees with logging in Central Highlands.
  •     Gunns expands operations to mainland.
  •     Howard wins election. McGauran has 19% swing in his favour.
  •     Goolengook Nat Park proposal published (still not declared in 2009)

 

One Reply to “History”

  1. […] In the 1960s the timber industry switched from sawlogs to clearfell logging for export woodchips. […]

Comments are closed.