Australia: 80,000ha of national parks will be created in Victoria

In a long-awaited response to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s investigation, the Brumby Government proposed new national parks for the Barmah Forest near Echuca, parts of the Gunbower Forest near Cohuna and sites on the Lower Goulburn River near Shepparton and the Warby-Ovens region near Wangaratta. The move means up to 160,000 hectares of red gum forest are now protected in reserves, prompting the Wilderness Society to label it the most significant environmental gesture of Mr Brumby’s 17-month premiership. But many rural groups were angered by the move, which was the result of a 2006 election promise and reports suggesting the majority of red gums were either dead or dying.

Victorian Association of Forest Industries chief executive Philip Dalidakis estimated that up to 75 per cent of red gum areas currently available to commercial logging would become off-limits, meaning many jobs would be lost. “This will do nothing to preserve the river red gums; what they need is rain,” he said. He disagreed with Mr Brumby’s claim that logging in the red gum areas was “just not sustainable”. Most of the logging licences will expire next year; however, logging will still be permitted indefinitely in parts of the Gunbower, Benwell and Guttram forests. Yesterday’s announcement did not guarantee any environmental flows for the red gums, but the Brumby Government said its Foodbowl Modernisation Project — which is planned to save water by minimising irrigation losses — would play a major role in watering the ancient forests. Wilderness Society spokesman Gavin McFadzean challenged NSW, which also boasts significant strands of red gum forest, to match Victoria’s action. http://www.theage.com.au/national/state-moves-to-protect-red-gum-forests-20081230-77eo.html

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