Logging for woodchips is concentrated in Lardners creek and Gellibrand river catchments. The Gellibrand river catchment is already compromised with massive land clearing and aerial spraying of pesticides in plantations. Areas of native forest are being cleared to satisfy the last licence. The logging season has ended, and a massive stockpile of Midways woodchip logs waits for the chipper at Birregurra. As areas for the new Otway Ranges National Park are about to be announced by the Minister for the Environment and Water, a huge mountain grey gum, remnant of pre-european settlement was felled at Jackson Track, in the Lardners creek area of the Gellibrand water catchment. This rare occurence further compromises the integrity of forest values in the proposed Otway Ranges National Park

ET & EW Murnane Sawmillers hold 3 licenses to take 19,600 m3 sawlog of Otway Native Forest each year until the licences expire in 2008. On April 13th this year Otway Environment Council suggested it would be better to have the full licence paid out now as this would also ensure compensation for timber workers.

The meeting was told that Gellibrand water supply is perhaps the most impacted catchment in the state in regards to plantation proximity to water supplies. Aerial spraying at Stevensons falls has not yet occurred and reports suggest Midways is currently clearfelling pine up to one metre from the Gellibrand river.  Will these riparian zones also be sprayed?  Apparently Charleys creek just up from Gellibrand was recently sprayed by Midway.

The head of South West Water addressed the Gellibrand meeting.  He proudly announced that South West Water implemented a chemical testing regime for their water supply starting July 2004.  It had to be pointed out to him that of the 30-40 chemicals now tested by South West Water, only one, atrazine is likely to be used by plantation companies.  That means about 10 pesticides used by Hancock and Midway miss out on being detected by South West Water tests. Barwon water who have responsibility for Lardners creek (Gellibrands water supply) did not show up.

Also of concern was reports that Alpha-cypermethrin has already been used in the Otways.  This particular insecticide is toxic to some freshwater organisms at 4 parts per trillion!
Apparently it is already being used in great quantities in Western Victoria, potentially meaning that entire waterway ecosystems could be devastated through chemical runoff.  Starting at the base of the foodchain - algae and macroinvertebrates,  Alpha-cypermethrin can devastate invertebrate populations taking them 6 months or so to recover.  Some bluegum plantations may be sprayed 5 times or more in one year in serious infestation events. The chemical also kills beneficial insects.

A new clean water working group has formed out of the meeting and will call for another meeting in a couple of weeks asking Midway to attend and asking the State government to come to the table in regards to determining and monitoring impacts of spraying in water supply catchments.