Logging blight on tourism

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
TOOLANGI and Healesville residents say logging is ruining tourism and have begun campaigning against a new coupe that will be logged on Mt St Leonard in the coming weeks.
They say logging has had such a negative visual impact that it has begun affecting the tourism industry in the valley.
But VicForests says following consultation and pre-harvest fauna surveys, areas will be excluded from harvesting to minimise the potential visual impact on surrounding areas.
Residents who have joined to form the Save Mount St Leonard community campaign were out in force on Sunday 13 May, showing visitors and locals photos of previously logged areas and explaining the process used by the State Government’s forestry company VicForests.
Sylvia Creek Road and Monda Track have been closed for logging preparations while the area is a public safety zone, but those are major access points to the forest for bushwalking, trail riding, and scenic drives.
Mt St Leonard is the scenic backdrop to Healesville, Yarra Glen, Toolangi, Dixon’s Creek, Steel’s Creek, Yering, Tarrwarra, Castella and Kinglake, all of which suffered enormous losses from the 2009 bushfires and rely significantly on tourism to maintain their economy.
Save Mount St Leonard community campaign head and Toolangi resident Bernie Mace said the clear felling nature of logging was so destructive, it has been impacting the local economy and must stop.
“It’s something that really affects the regional community, like the 40 or so wineries that look up to the mountain,” he said.
“Most people we spoke to were horrified to see the nature of the logging,” he said.
“It was a lovely ecosystem that’s now been trashed to a heap of rubble”.
Toolangi resident Ray Lewis lives within three kilometers of the new coupe and said visitors and locals regularly used Monda Track to get to the national park.
“I know of people who are taking a group of (horse) riders up this weekend, but they can’t do it,” he said.
“It will be a blight on tourism.”
VicForests spokesman David Walsh said harvesting operations had been amended as a result of consultation with community members surrounding Mt St Leonard.
“We acknowledge there are sections of the community who do not support native timber harvesting and we have had discussions with some community members regarding harvesting operations on Mt St Leonards for the past two years,” he said in a statement.
“Pre-harvest fauna surveys had been undertaken in this coupe with areas excluded from harvesting as required while harvesting plans have also been tailored to minimise the potential visual impact on surrounding areas.”
Mr Walsh said VicForests was made aware over the weekend of the meeting being held in Toolangi later this week.
“We are considering whether a presentation to this meeting is the most constructive and appropriate way to address the current concerns regarding our operations,” he said.
“Harvesting operations are expected to begin on Tuesday (today) in the Leo’s Foot coupe – weather permitting.”
The Save Mt St Leonard Community Campaign organisers are holding a meeting on Friday 18 May at the CJ Dennis Hall, Main Road, Toolangi on Friday 18 May at 7pm. They have invited VicForests to be a part of the dialogue.
If anyone has any inquiries about the campaign or meeting contact Bernie Mace on 5962 2613.