Logging protests cost state $2.5m

see the article in 'the age'
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/08/08/1028157992868.html

New environment department to be established - 9 December 2002
The Premier, Steve Bracks, today unveiled changes to State Government departments to drive further improvements in the key areas of health, education, community safety and the environment.

Mr Bracks said a new Department of Sustainability and Environment would be established, taking on the environmental functions of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the planning functions of the Department of Infrastructure and an overarching strategic role.

“The new Department of Sustainability and Environment will deliver a systematic and long-term approach to improving the sustainability of the whole state – in the areas of conservation, water, recycling, greenhouse gases, industrial waste and planning,” Mr Bracks said.

“Water and the environment are significant challenges for Government and all Victorians. This new department will provide a seamless, whole-of-government approach to ensure the Government can achieve its environmental goals into the future.”

A separate Department of Primary Industries will take over the areas of agriculture and fisheries. The split of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment into two bodies means there will now be ten departments instead of nine.

The changes will be made within existing budgets.

Mr Bracks said a third new body, the Department for Victorian Communities, would have a crucial role in strengthening communities and integrating services across Victoria.

from http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/news_item.asp?id=176

VEAC's Goolengook Old Growth Forest Study

For those interested, the following link outlines the proposed terms of reference for the Victorian Environment Assessment Council's Goolengook Old Growth Forest Study please visit:

http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/proposed.htm

We have 28 days before VEAC can commence their investigation, with
submissions closing Wednesday 4 December 2002.

As they stand the terms of reference are unequivocally appalling, limiting the council to SPZ and/or SMZ swaps of forest stands displaying comparable species, volumes and quality as those found in Goolengook itself. Essentially this amounts to other old growth or HCV forest being trashed in place of Goolengook's, clearly an unacceptable ecological outcome.

Read more about the: Goolengook “bandaid solution”

BOX-IRONBARK Parks 18 oct 2002

The parks have been passed, with only three amendments, none of which change the fact that overall, it is an outstanding result for the many people out there who have worked so hard for so long. There were no boundary changes, and no logging or thinning in the parks. There have been some statements made, I understand, by various politicians and media people about thinning in particular, but this refers to a new program in state forests, not parks. There will be some trials of the ecological management strategy in parks, but this is entirely in line with the ECC recommendations - very small scale (literally a few hectares), and done over the next few years. I might add that the form of these trials has been worked out in consultation with us. It is a good outcome that we managed to beat off attempts to have widespread, thinning (read logging) starting up straight away in the parks, as the loggers were pressing hard for.

EPA to take over as logging watchdog
The Age October 17 2002 By Melissa Fyfe Environment Reporter

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will be stripped of its role in auditing logging practices in the state's forests in a move long urged by green groups.

Environmentalists and community groups have complained that the department - which oversees logging in state forests - is too close to the industry and does not ensure contractors comply with the Code of Practices for Timber Production.

Environment Minister Sherryl Garbutt will announce today that the Environment Protection Authority will be given the power to appoint a non-government, independent auditor, whose reports will be made public.

Ms Garbutt said the change would mean fewer breaches of the code and better scrutiny. It would provide incentive for loggers and the department to be more accountable, she said.

"The Victorian community can be assured that these audits will be of the highest standard. EPA-appointed auditors are subject to high levels of scrutiny and are liable for providing incorrect or misleading information while conducting their audits," Ms Garbutt said.

The Code of Practices for Timber Production requires loggers to protect environmentally important areas such as rainforest and streams with buffers; rehabilitate landings and tracks; consider soil issues; remove litter and retain habitat trees.

Applying more scrutiny to forestry practices was a goal the State Government announced in its Our Forests, Our Future reform package earlier this year.

The change was applauded by conservationists yesterday.

"We welcome the separation from Dracula and the blood bank," said the Wilderness Society's Gavan McFadzean.

But he said it was only a "minor detail" and the government was ignoring the conservation movement's main goals of protecting native forests and moving logging into plantations.

Lucy Turner, the president of Lawyers for Forests, said there had been a lack of compliance with the code and lack of proper auditing for some time.

"An increased commitment to auditing and compliance is something that is very welcome," she said.

The Greens' forest campaigner, Marcus Ward, said the move was an improvement but the EPA had not proved itself to be an independent champion of the environment. "We will wait and see," he said. "The NRE's audits of the code have been notoriously laughable. They often find no breaches of the code, but any community member who goes out to the forest will find any number of things to jot down."

Environment Victoria's forest campaigner Nicky Moffat commended the minister for the move. "There are countless breaches of the code that have gone unprosecuted and are hidden from public scrutiny," Ms Moffat said.