Three Cheers to Yarra Ranges Council
All eight councillors of the Shire of Yarra Ranges voted in early December to oppose any further logging of their water catchments. They will ask our state’s Water Minister, Gavin Jennings, to stop VicForests plans to clearfell eleven logging coupes in the Armstrong and Cement Creek catchments.
That area is the stronghold of the loggers lobby group, Timber Communities Australia. They said there was no proof that logging dried out catchments. This is despite 50 years of scientific research and evidence! TCA also said jobs would be threatened and it’s hard enough competing with illegally logged timber from overseas without more rules they might have to abide by (dear, dear me). He said the Council should stick to cutting back trees along footpaths and not worry about water catchments.