Study details social impact of logging
The matter is due for further hearing in the Federal Court early next year after environmental group Friends of Leadbetter’s Possum succeeded in having an injunction issued by the Court last month to prevent a start to the timber harvesting this year.
It had earlier obtained a temporary injunction two days before the scheduled April 26 start to logging.
A locally based group Friends of Noojee Forests is also opposed to harvesting of what is known as the “Backdoor” coupe, also citing the impacts it would have on the Noojee area’s tourist economy and amenity of residents.
Spokesperson David Clarke questioned the timing of the release of the social impact assessment.
He claimed previous requests by Noojee residents for copies were denied on privacy concerns and only after the scheduled April start to logging and two Federal Court hearings has it been made available to the public.
Mr Clarke said the summary document appeared to support many of the arguments local people had put forward.
Vic Forests general manager, corporate affairs, Alex Messina said the organisation was “trying to be as open as possible to support community discussion” and release of the report would give stakeholders including local residents and Baw Baw Shire Council a summary of the feedback provided at interviews conducted in August last year.
He said the study identified issues raised and discussed at several community meetings in Noojee since August.
Concerns raised had included visual amenity, tourism and the local economy, alterations to the landscape, truck movements and impacts on native forests, habitats or species.
According to the report those interviewed stated that hospitality was the largest local employment sector and of the town’s 122 houses almost half were unoccupied other than at weekends by mainly Melbourne owners.
Day trippers for recreation activities such as bushwalking, hiking, off road driving, motorcycling, mountain bike riding, picnicking and sight seeing were other significant contributors to Noojee’s economy, the report noted.
VicForests says the “Backdoor” coupe covers 55 hectares with an estimated harvestable area of 36 hectares.
The scoping impact scoping study is available at vicforests.com.au