Goolengook

- Protection for Victoria's Old-growth Forest Starts (2002 )

Under the draft Terms of Reference VEAC -( the Victorian Environment Asssessment Council ) is being asked to:

· investigate alternative forests within the current reserve system;

· assess the potential of these forests for logging;

· assess the ability of these forests to provide equivalent amounts of timber (species, quality and quantity) to that found in Goolengook; and

· investigate the protection of Goolengook at the expense of these forests.

Under the draft Terms of Reference Goolengook’s outstanding biological values and the area’s importance for the conservation of many rare and threatened species will not be assessed.

Environmental groups believe VEAC should be investigating:

· Goolengook’s biological values,

· the adequacy of the existing reserve system to viably protect these values; and

· the ecological impacts of logging old-growth forests such as Goolengook.

Community Response

The public was invited to comment on the Government's Proposed Terms of Reference, with the deadline for submissions being 4 December 2002. In the short time frame allowed, over 200 individuals and 40 organisations have made submissions demanding the Government replace its draft Terms of Reference with that developed by EV.

400 submissions have been received by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, with the overwhelming majority supporting an inquiry that will see the Upper Goolengook Catchment added to Errinundra National Park, as set out in Environment Victorias' Recommended Terms of Reference.

The onus is now on the Hon. Minister for Environment John Thwaites to consider recommendations made by the community in the spirit of accountability and good governance.