Forest for chop

SHIRE of Yarra Ranges councillors have lashed out at the State Government for allowing a protected forest in Hoddles Creek to be logged.
Mayor Monika Keane said green lighting the logging of a rural conservation zone was shortsighted and an insult to the Upper Yarra community.
She branded the decision, handed down by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) last week, a kick in the guts for the shire’s planning scheme.
Cr Keane, and Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn have also called on the State Government to overhaul the Planning Act and the operation of VCAT.
They and representatives from nine other councils have written to the Minister for Planning, Rob Hulls, calling for reform.
The outburst by the councillors came after VCAT gave Moran Logging Company of Warburton the go-ahead to log within a 99-hectare forest adjacent to Beenak Road in Hoddles Creek.
VCAT allowed the logging to proceed with some restrictions despite the forest being listed as a Rural Conservation Zone and being subject to an Environmental Significance Overlay – two of the shire’s strongest environmental controls.
The shire rejected Moran Logging’s application to log the forest in January this year citing strong opposition from local residents and a commitment to protect the sensitive flora and fauna in the area.
Cr Dunn slammed VCAT’s overturning of the shire’s ruling, labelling the verdict as bitterly disappointing and heartbreaking.
“The decision flies in the face of what our community wants and how they want to live their lives,” she said.
“It is outrageous that VCAT has made this determination. If we can’t say no to logging here, where can we say no?”
Keith Jesse, spokesman for Friends of Hoddles Creek – a group of residents who campaigned against the logging proposal – said he was disheartened by the decision.
He also added the voice of the group to calls for an overhaul of state planning schemes and to the operation of VCAT.
“VCAT failed to take into account the full environmental context of this logging proposal and failed to appreciate the concerns of the community and the impact on surrounding amenities,” he said.
Scott Gentle, Victorian state manager of Timber Communities Australia, said the VCAT ruling was good news for Moran Logging.
“Timber Communities Australia is pleased that VCAT has listened to the science and recognised that sustainable forest harvesting can operate hand in hand with the environment,” he said.
“We congratulate Garry Moran and wish him the best for the future and for providing quality Australian timber products.”
The permit granted by VCAT will allow Moran Logging four years to commence logging the site and 10 years to complete its operation.
The Mail contacted Garry Moran from Moran Logging but he declined to comment at this stage.