Mob attacks protest camp

By KATH GANNAWAY
ANTI-LOGGING groups are calling for a ‘serious’ investigation after two Central Highlands Action Group protestors were assaulted by a drunken mob in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Lilydale CIU is investigating the attack which took place at the CHAG base on the corner of Myer’s Creek Road and Monda Track in Toolangi.
Yarra Ranges Council recently granted the protest group a three-month permit allowing them to maintain a shelter on the site.
The men, John Flynn, 60, and a younger member who asked not to be named, were at the site when they say they were confronted by the group of around 10 men who broke up into groups and started to pull down the tent and smash the windows of their truck.
The group turned on them when some of the group realised they were taking photos of the rampage.
“They jumped us, four on to each of us, then drove us to the ground,” Mr Flynn said.
“One of them put his foot on my mate’s throat and that’s when he finally gave up the camera.”
Mr Flynn said he had his head dragged back violently in an attempt to get his camera.
He said they had initially breathed a sigh of relief when a vehicle that had pulled up near the site left shortly after.
“We could hear them on the mobile and when they took off we thought everything was OK, but when another car came up and they met down the road a bit I thought we were in trouble,” he said.
He said the men, in a sedan and a four-wheel-drive, were drinking out of stubbies and cans as they confronted the men, calling them dole-bludgers and hurling other abuse.
The other CHAG member said they had tried to talk to the attackers, some of whom appeared to be concerned about the level of violence.
“We tried to talk, but it’s hard to talk to people on that level and coming from a particular view after they’ve been filled up with alcohol and with some wanting to hurt you and some wanting to talk,” he said.
Steve Meacher of My Environment, one of the local environment groups supporting CHAG said there was no way of knowing whether the attack was linked to the recent council permit.
He said that news had also broke on Friday that My Environment had raised the funds needed to mount a challenge to the Supreme Court decision delivered earlier this year that has allowed logging to continue on the Toolangi coupes.
“There is every reason to believe that the police can find out who these people are,” he said. “The cars should be recognisable, they took forensic evidence and a serious police investigation should be able to track them down and find out what was behind it.
“Until that time we can only surmise what it could or could not be linked to. It could just be a bunch of hoons out drinking and thinking they would come up for a laugh,” Mr Meacher said.