Report links fresh water shortage to logging

from 'The Age' September 9 2002 By Claire Miller

Clearfell logging in Melbourne's catchments will cost the city about 60,000 megalitres of fresh water a year over the coming decades, according to a report to be released today.

The report suggests Melbourne can ill afford to sacrifice the water - enough to supply 250,000 households - given looming shortages due to population growth and global warming. It also warns that global warming, expected to reduce rainfall 9 per cent by 2030, has not been taken into account.

While reduced wastage and increased recycling were obvious ways to save water, the report said catchment management issues such as logging were largely out of sight and little understood.

It claimed that Melbourne would lose 60,000 megalitres a year in the long term if logging continued in certain catchments.

The report was prepared by Doctors for Native Forests, and sponsored by the Myer Foundation. It draws together research by government and scientific agencies. It follows a discussion paper released as part of the State Government's review of water needs.

A spokesman for Environment and Conservation Minister, Sherryl Garbutt disputed the report's accuracy. "Doctors for Native Forests in the past have been quite keen to spread misinformation to further their cause, rather than looking at the real issues," he said.

"Melbourne Water has already factored in any loss of water that may arise from logging in catchments.

"The government is focusing on water conservation as being the main way to protect supply into the future."