Environmental group threatened with prosecution
An environmental group who discovered evidence of logging in a Gippsland rainforest has been threatened with prosecution.
Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) raised the alarm last month when they discovered trees had been ripped out in a protected area, in the Errinundra National Park
But the State Government found there was insufficient evidence that VicForests had illegally cleared the trees.
Now a State Government official has written to the local environmental group, threatening to prosecute them for trespassing.
GECO’s Ed Hill has told PRIME7 News he’s shocked and appalled by the threat.
“If it wasn’t for our work the State Government would never have been alerted to the issue,” he said.
“I don’t see why they’d want to prosecute us for just doing the job they should be doing and keeping an eye on VicForests.”
Mr Hill remains hopeful Environment Minister Lisa Neville, will help sort out what he’s described as a departmental mix-up.
“The Minister has said in the past she was appalled VicForests had destroyed canopy species.”
“I don’t think she would want to see us prosecuted, she’s taken a progressive approach to environmental issues.”
GECO has written to both Ms Neville and Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford, but says so far they’ve received no response.
“We would’ve expected this from the previous Liberal government, not this Labor government that promised more transparency.”
Originally Published at https://au.prime7.yahoo.com/v3/news/a/-/local/28136210/environmental-group-threatened-with-prosecution/