“We see this as a provocative act considering DSE had been planning to move the logging crew to Jackson 's Track. DSE were well aware that local conservationists are strongly opposed to logging in the Asplin Creek catchment. Once again, it appears that the memorandum of understanding between conservationists and DSE has been broken.”

The ALP pledged to end logging in Otway domestic water catchments during the state election campaign in 1999 (Geelong Independent, Sept. 17 th 1999).

“While we appreciate the difficulty DSE are having trying to satisfy the last remaining sawlog licences, we are concerned there is an over concentration of logging in the Lardners Creek and Gellibrand River catchments that will be detrimental to future water supplies for Gellibrand and Warrnambool region.”

Yvonne Francis, veteran Otway forest campaigner was arrested today by officers from the Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE) in a logging coupe near Asplin Creek. Asplin Creek is a tributary of Gellibrand River that supplies water to the Warrnambool region. Ms Francis was also arrested in 1984 protecting Apollo Bay 's water supply in the West Barham catchment.

Ms Francis was with members of Otway Environment Council and several visitors walking along Asplin Creek Road . They found it freshly bulldozed down to the creek as part of logging operations on the North Anchor coupe. Ms Francis said ‘The absence of any drainage on roadwork so close to the creek shows that logging prescriptions in the Otways have once again been broken. I am extremely concerned that silting and sedimentation will occur when autumn rain washes the disturbed soil into the Asplin Creek.'

After being escorted from the coupe local resident Val Warner stated that DSE agreed that there was inadequate drainage on the road near the creek. ‘It's disappointing that they are clearfelling here because Asplin Creek Road is an ideal short walk. The area has been highlighted by the Bracks government's tourism initiative for the Otway Hinterland,' Ms Warner said.

The coupe is on the edge of a Special Protection Zone (SPZ). DSE intend to widen 3 kilometres of Asplin Creek Road including a section through the SPZ. Otway Environment Council is concerned that the concentration of clearfell logging in the Lardner Creek and Gellibrand River catchments will effect Gellibrand and Warrnambool's future water supplies. The ALP pledged to end logging in Otway's domestic water catchments during the state election campaign in 1999.

Where is Asplin Creek?

A short drive south-east of Gellibrand off scenic Lardners track.

It's an easy short walk from the top of Asplin Ck Rd (off Lardners Track, opposite the pine plantation) to the creek and across to the North Anchor coupe, (24ha). The coupe is accessed off Sayers Track

Mountain grey gums like those being felled at North Anchor coupe >