Increased risk

I have received a letter from VicForests advising that on April 26 they will commence clearfelling 30 hectares of mountain ash forest next to the town of Noojee.

This is despite being advised that four independent bushfire experts who have considered Noojee specifically have said that the logging will increase the risk of bushfire for the town for about the next 50 years.

The advice is contrary to popular belief, but Noojee is unique. It is the only town in Victoria with a wet eucalypt forest right next to it. That forest acts as a buffer because it's hard for fire to take hold in the damp undergrowth or get up into the crowns.

Once it's gone the regrowth sucks the moisture from the earth and the intensity of shoot and eucalypt regrowth is much more flammable.

The latest research says that the bushfire risk could be more than eight times greater post logging. These coupes, totalling 150 hectares lie northwest of the town.

That puts Noojee in the direct line of fire. Yet VicForests and the government haven't even considered how the logging might affect bushfire behaviour and impact the town in the future.

Baw Baw Shire is aware of the increased risk and they have done nothing to protect their residents.

There is no doubt, people’s lives and property are being put at risk for many decades to come if this logging continues. Seems that profits are being put ahead of people's lives and property. It should be stopped until all are satisfied that it is safe to proceed.

Gaye Trevan, Noojee