Forests at war

POLICE are investigating allegations of assault at the Leo’s Foot logging coupe and at the Central Highlands Action Group (CHAG) camp in Toolangi on Wednesday, 15 August.
Allegations of aggression and threats levelled against protestors by Friends of Forestry were countered by the protestors and environment groups.
Two Toolangi businesspeople locked on to equipment on the site with the intention of stopping logging.
Spokesperson for Friends of Forestry Jacqui Commans claimed the logging coupe was stormed by masked men at 5.45am, putting the lives of the protestors and logging truck drivers in danger.
Toby Eccles, one of the protestors denied the men were ‘masked’ saying they were there to protect himself and the other locked-on protestor.
He said they were wearing beanies and had scarves around their mouths to protect against the cold and described the reaction of the timber truck drivers as “extreme”.
Sergeant Wayne Williams of Healesville Police said he attended the coup at around 6am and that Lilydale police were investigating the alleged assaults.
He said Healesville Police were investigating the second incident at the CHAG camp.
He said that incident happened around lunchtime on the same day and relate to allegations that two women drove a vehicle at one of the protestors and had taken photos of the protestors’ car number plates.
He said just as wearing a balaclava was not an offence in itself, neither was taking photos of number plates.
“If people are engaging in unlawful action based on those photos, then they are in jeopardy,” he warned.
Police investigations are continuing.