Gippsland Iron Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Eastern Iron Limited) is planning to develop and operate the Nowa Nowa Iron Project (known as the Five Mile Deposit). Some salient points about this proposal: It will be on public land (state forest to the north of Nowa Nowa) It will be an open cut …
Deadly 1080 poison was broadcast across forested land in Gippsland and NE Victoria during May in an attempt to placate certain sheep farmers. How’s this for contradictory spin. “The sites were chosen for their inaccessibility and remoteness, proximity to private land … and the absence of spot tailed quolls”. Close to farms but inaccessible? Absence …
Boral, the logging and woodchipping baddy of Northern NSW has just announced it will be stopping woodchipping at the end of June, selling up its woodchipping business and exit sections of its sawn timber business. Why? The reason it gave was because of “…the strength of the Australian dollar and associated high volume of imports, …
Eight environment groups are turning to an international umpire to help combat the Abbott Government’s plan to dismantle environmental protection laws. The international Convention of Biological Diversity has been given a report detailing the Abbott government’s plans to hand down environment protection powers to the states and why this will worsen environmental losses. The next …
The Gippsland Lakes remain gravely ill. One response by the government has been the creation of a new on-line forum that asks for public comment on our Lakes management. It has the joyful title of GLEE (Gippsland Lakes E-Engagement). The concept is great and if you’re interested in having a say (currently looking at the …
Incompetence, chaos and lack of direct attack on bushfires in far East Gippsland saw 170,000 ha burnt in January and February this year. Why did this happen when so much more could have been done? Many of the problems experienced were avoidable. The Emergency Services Commissioner and Minister has only offered an internal review. The …
The end of the woodchipping era is near. In mid May VicForests announced that the Eden based woodchip giant SEFE will stop buying east Gippy woodchips and logs at the end of this year. Clearly they were in shock and can’t seem to put a positive spin on this – besides to say they at …
NSW parliament has approved the shovelling of native forests into furnaces to generate electricity. Even worse, it’ll be termed ‘renewable’! The North East Forest Alliance, said the motion that could have stopped forests being cut down and burnt was ‘shot down by the shooters and the christians’. Our focus now shifts to electricity retailers. This …
What’s this called Ryan Smith? A bulldozer driver paid to carry out restoration work (at least $200 an hour we hear) goes 40m inside Nat Park boundary @ Brown Mountain – fells old growth tree opposite the EEG “Valley of the Giants” walk track. Can this be regarded as ‘fire safety’? Or could it be …
Lucky we weren’t holding our breath for some government enlightenment and financial commitment to help Victoria’s ailing environment, in the budget. “The departmental budget for environmental policy has been cut by $19m, or 34%, while the budget for environmental programs has been cut by $46m or 25% on last year’s budget. … The 34% cut …
