By Callum Ludwig
Hazardous tree removal works in the Central Highlights were temporarily halted due to the ongoing litigation brought against the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) by Warburton Environment Inc.
DEECA confirmed works were paused for three workings days while they worked to resolve a matter relating to the litigation with Warburton Environment Inc.
“DEECA is resuming hazardous tree removal works as part of planned burning and bushfire preparedness to ensure safer access for our firefighters to respond to emergencies and undertake fuel reduction activities,” a DEECA spokesperson said.
The scheduled works in the Central Highlands remain on target for delivery, no new injunction or new litigation has been brought against DEECA and the government department continues to defend litigation relating to certain works in the Central Highlands.
As reported by the Star Mail in June 2024, Warburton Environment Inc sought injunctions from the Federal Court to halt what they call ‘logging’, and DEECA insists is the ‘removal of hazardous trees for bushfire risk mitigation’, carried out by Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic). The case was lodged following the death of an endangered greater glider in the Yarra Ranges National Park.
In April, environmental groups including WE, Wildlife of the Central Highlands (WOTCH), Forest Conservation Victoria and the Victorian Forest Alliance began to raise concerns about tree removal works being carried out by FFMVic in the existing national parks, including the Yarra Ranges National Park, with peaceful protests held to campaign against works being done in areas that the endangered Southern greater gliders and critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possums among other species call home. The groups also claim they reported areas and specific trees that greater gliders were spotted in which were still cut down.
WE alleged that the removal of trees is a federal offence under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act), including pointing to one tree cut down on Friday 24 May measured almost 9.5 metres in circumference and should have been protected according to state prescriptions to preserve large trees with a diameter over 2.5 metres as well as the death of the greater glider.
Warburton Environment Inc was contacted for comment.
