Protestors visiting the proposed logging coupes on Mt Stirling are pleased that log trucks have stopped for the time being.
The logging of coupes near Mt Stirling has been on and off again of late. Source: Pam Zierk-Mahoney, Mansfield Courier
“Following the final orders in the Supreme Court cases brought against VicForests by Environment East Gippsland and Kinglake Friends of the Forest Inc; VicForests is not currently conducting timber harvesting in all Forest Management Areas across Victoria,” a VicForests spokesperson said late last week.
The Stirling project was due to commence late November and run through until April 2023.
The latest statements indicate the logging is currently suspended; however, the ambiguity of the statement does not rule out logging either now or in the future.
Even as recent as last week Mt Stirling management received correspondence from VicForests indicating logging of the coupes around Stirling will proceed as planned.
Although no further statement was given by VicForests, it can be assumed that the decision was made after extensive road closures continue through Mt Stirling forests due to the state of the roads, combined with the latest Supreme Court rulings.
The decision could also be in line with the Victorian Government’s Victorian Forestry Plan as it manages its gradual transition away from native forest harvesting.
In developing the Victorian Forestry Plan (released 2019) the Victorian Government has aimed to phase out of all native forest harvesting by 2030.
Mt Stirling, Environment Manager for Mt Buller and Mt Stirling resort, Louise Perrin said: “Due to the extremely wet weather we have experienced this spring, a land slip and significant subsidence emerged on the Circuit Rd between TBJ and Howqua Gap.
“Geotechnical experts recommended this part of the road be closed to all traffic for safety reasons until the road can be repaired.
“It is likely that some of the seasonal closures providing access to the top of Mt Stirling (Howqua Gap Track, Summit Track, Clear Hills Track south of Craig’s Hut and the Monument Track) may open.
“We (resort management) are working with DELWP on this,” Ms Perrin said.
“Access to Craig’s Hut and other destinations (Bindaree Falls etc.) remains available and the closure of the Circuit Rd between TBJ and Howqua Gap is temporary; we are hoping it will be open in time for the summer holidays and are working towards this goal,” Ms Perrin said.
Ms Perrin did point out though that RMB only have management rites over the resort area and not the whole of Mt Stirling State Park.
Prior to VicForests pulling out on Mt Stirling for the time being, debate as to whether any logging should be carried out at all was a hot and ongoing issue for some community groups.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) activists recently visited the mountain assisted by Friends of Mt Stirling and the Victorian National Parks Association.
All were opposed to logging so close to a resort and the possible damage caused to forest areas along with threats to native fauna and flora.
The group visited most of the VicForests planned 11 coupes and carried out nighttime surveying for threatened animal species in a number of them.
What they found was a rich diversity of forests and ecosystems, from mid-elevation mixed species forests, areas dominated by alpine ash, and in the higher Number 3 area, proposed coupes that were a mix of older snow gums intermixed with alpine ash.
“It is with a sense of relief that we have received advice that the higher roads on Mount Stirling will remain closed for some time to come,” Friends of Mt Stirling Group’s Charles Street said last week.
“The Friends of Mount Stirling strenuously object to use of the Circuit Road and feeder roads by logging trucks.
“We believe this is unacceptable from public safety, biodiversity and tourism points of view.
“The logging of coupes around Mount Stirling impacts on biodiversity, tranquility, roadways infrastructure, public safety, and tourism,” Mr Street said.
“The permanent withdrawal of VicForests from the Mount Stirling area will be welcomed by everyone who loves the mountain.
“It is not clear how VicForests could justify logging above this waterfall,” he said.
Apart from logging along extensive sections of the Circuit Road, concerns had been expressed about the Bindaree coupe, which is upstream of the very popular Bindaree Falls.
“This area of forest is upstream from streams containing the Barred Galaxias (Galaxias Fuscus) which is a critically endangered,” Mr Street said.
On November 20 Justice Richards of the Supreme Court issued Orders regarding the protection of forests around Kinglake and East Gippsland.
Summarising the ruling the Kinglake Friends of the Forest (KFF) said: “Surveys must be carried out to detect any greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders that may be present in forest scheduled for logging (excluding coupes that have been clear-felled since 1939 as it is presumed forest this young is hostile to these hollow dependent species).
“In coupes containing greater gliders, VicForests must exclude the greater gliders’ located home ranges from timber harvesting operations; exclude from timber harvesting riparian strips at least 100 metres wide located along all waterways in the coupe; and retain at least 60 percent of the basal area of eucalypts in the harvested area of the coupe.”
“In coupes containing yellow-bellied gliders VicForests must exclude from timber harvesting riparian strips at least 100 metres wide located along all waterways in the coupe; and retain at least 60 percent of the basal area of eucalypts in the harvested area of the coupe, including all identified feed trees and hollow-bearing trees within the coupe.
“One would expect the same standards to apply to the logging of the coupes around Mount Stirling, but we are far from confident that VicForests have done the surveys and harvest planning that would satisfy the standards just established by the Supreme Court,” KFF stated.
Friends of Earth group posted on their Facebook page: “For those who especially enjoy skiing, walking, camping or mountain bike riding in the high country it is important that the areas earmarked for logging are retained in their natural glory.”
Some of the proposed coupes would have directly impacted the Australian Alpine Epic Mountain Bike Trail, which is a huge drawcard, bringing thousands of people to Mt Buller and Stirling.
