Coupe case goes to trial

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
ENVIRONMENTALISTS packed the Supreme Court yesterday, Monday, for the start of what they believe will be a landmark case against logging.
It was standing room only until the judge, Justice Robert Osborn, halted proceedings to bring more chairs in as both sides begin to put their case.
The proceedings will include a visit to the forest coupes on Wednesday which environmentalists say are being logged illegally.
Barrister Kristen Walker spent yesterday morning outlining the case for My Environment, with VicForests lawyers due to give their opening statement today (Tuesday). The case centres around Sylvia Creek’s Gun Barrel coupe, which has so far been kept safe after Justice Osborn extended a ban on logging the coupe in September.
Conservation groups and Toolangi residents had protested against the logging by the government’s forestry company VicForests for six weeks during July and August until My Environment took the company to court claiming three coupes in the Sylvia Creek area contained Leadbeater’s possum habitat and should be protected.
VicForests spokesman David Walsh, who was in court yesterday, said it was hard to put a timeframe around the case but said it would certainly continue into next week.
Also in court and speaking on behalf of My Environment and residents of Toolangi, Steve Meacher agreed that it was “very early days”.
“It became clear this morning listening to the barrister pointing out the detail to the judge, just how much work has gone into preparing a case like this,” he said.
“It’s extraordinary that it’s left to community groups to do this.
“All we’re asking for is the legislation to be complied with.
“It’s very early days, at this point, with the case just beginning.”