Sad to read

IT WAS with sadness that I read the letter “Disappointing” from Kersten Gentle.
I think the parade was the tale of a town in transition. Yes, the town owes much to the loggers of the past and they made a huge contribution to Healesville.
However, we are in a new situation with climate change altering our views on the way forward for not only this town but the whole country. The forests are great carbon stores, the logging industry however is one of the worst drivers of carbon pollution in this country.
Let’s have a new vision for this area – the Great Forest National Park will be a huge positive for this area with increased visitor potential. Also the park will protect the streams and the rivers that flow from the Central Highlands, the life-blood of our agriculture.
Scientific evidence is showing the almost inevitable collapse of the environment in this area unless we move quickly to protect the destruction of the remaining mature trees, and those that are not being allowed to grow to maturity.
Let us celebrate the diversity of the remarkable fauna and flora in this forest and enjoy all the benefits to our health both mental and physical from being in this magical place.
The Great Forest National Park will not lock out the public. The four-wheel-drivers, dirt bikes, shooters, walkers, cyclists and horse riders will not be locked out of the park as those against the park are suggesting, there will be multi-purpose areas within the park and visitors will be welcome as long as they respect the forest.
When icons such as Sir David Attenborough and Jane Goodall are getting behind the Great Forest National Park, we need to listen.
Marion Lewis,
Toolangi.