Business refuses to fold over paper ban

By Kath Gannaway
A COALITION of chambers of commerce has written to Yarra Ranges Council urging councillors to start talking to the State Government over the thwarted VicForests relocation to Yarra Glen.
Meanwhile, environment group My Environment has urged the Yarra Glen community to balance the environmental impact of proposed VicForest logging coupes on Mt St Leonard on the town’s visual amenity.
The State Government told the council in May that any discussions about developing a new centralised VicForests office in Yarra Glen were off the table after the council signed the Wilderness Society’s Ethical Paper Pledge (EPP) boycotting Reflex paper.
VicForests is a government-regulated body that supplies timber to make the paper.
A letter signed by the Healesville, Lilydale, Mount Evelyn and Yarra Glen Chambers of Commerce puts a case for the relocation to Yarra Glen saying “to lose VicForests head office Yarra Ranges loses the benefits of 55 permanent full-time jobs coming to Yarra Ranges and the possible loss of 35 current full-time jobs.”
While the letter calls for the council to start discussions with the State Government, it falls short, however, of calling on the council to reverse its decision on the EPP.
Healesville Chamber of Commerce president Andrew Miles said the issue was not just about jobs but about council collaboration with the business and wider the community.
“The Healesville chamber would like the council to engage with local business and wider community. This hasn’t been the case,” he said.
“There is more at stake here than the 45 jobs; the issue is beyond paper and the VicForest organisation.
The Yarra Glen chamber is, however, calling on the council to rescind the motion and has called a public meeting next Monday to garner community support to pressure the council to undo its pledge.
Acting president Rod Faulkner said the council’s actions were a slap in the face for the town.
“Here was an opportunity to bring 60 to 80 people into this town, a town that is seriously hurting and needs help.
“It (the VicForests office) would have been the perfect thing to give the town a little bit of hope,” he said.
My Environment director Sarah Rees said Yarra Glen was a hub for tourism in the Yarra Valley.
“Mt St Leonards has been approved for logging and it is due to commence this year,” she said.
“Go to our website (myenvironmentnet.au) and see what the impact will be if VicForests follows through with its logging plans,” Ms Rees said urgingYarra Glen residents, tourism and business operators to weigh up the environmental costs to the town.
The public meeting will be held on Monday 4 July, at the Uniting Church Hall in Yarra Glen at 7.30pm.