Noojee logging concerns
Community members aired concerns that Noojee’s tourism appeal and town aesthetics will be destroyed by VicForests’ plans to harvest forest areas immediately surrounding the town.
About 140 people attended an information night co-ordinated by the Noojee Community, Business and Tourism group on Thursday night.
VicForests confirmed harvesting is expected to begin after March next year. Three coups will be harvested, of about 20 to 30 hectares each and each coup will be harvested about two years apart.
NCBT president Wendy Morriss said the night was organised for community and business people to hear about the logging plans and ask questions.
She said speakers from VicForests, Forest Fire Management Victoria, DELWP, Baw Baw Shire and Destination Gippsland participated. Timber industry people also attended.
Ms Morriss said the main focus was planned logging on the fringe of Noojee.
She said while there were different views amongst residents and community members, it was a positive night.
The main concerns centred on the impact logging on the town’s fringe would have on the town’s aesthetics and as a tourist destination.
“The community was given the opportunity to gain the information they wanted. It wasn’t about taking sides of an argument.
“There are still some unanswered questions that still need to be worked through.
“No one was against logging but there were concerns about the areas to be logged and the aesthetics of the town,” Ms Morriss said.
VicForests stakeholders and planning general manager Lachlan Spencer said VicForests attended the meeting to outline plans to harvest timber in three areas of nearby state forest.
“Listening to the community ensures that we are aware of what is important to them, so that we can incorporate these things into our plans and balance the competing needs of all of our stakeholders.
“Prior to any harvesting a thorough multi-layered planning process is undertaken to consider the management of the many environmental and other values present in the forest.
“We welcome the community to continue the discussion with VicForests and we are happy to meet again to work through the various themes raised,” he said.
Mr Spencer said the native timber industry contributed hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs to regional Victoria each year and was very important to small regional timber towns like Noojee.
“There are many locals here who are directly and indirectly employed in this industry and rely on this work to support their families and livelihoods,” he said.
Ward councillor Michael Leaney said council’s tourism plan had identified Noojee as a key destination in the area.
“From a council point of view we support tourism, but we also support the timber industry. Both are important to our economy.”.
Cr Leaney said there were opportunities for council to work with the Noojee community and VicForests to ensure tourism was protected and enhanced.
“There was a concern coups close to town would impact tourism. The shire will work closely with VicForests to ensure any impacts are minimised,” he said.
Cr Leaney said while it was early days, there could be opportunities to develop new tourism products such as regeneration of the sites in conjunction with development of mountain bike trails.
“The timber and tourism industries can coexist, it’s not an either or option and we can work together to develop options,” he said.