Concert at the 'Under the Sun' Cafe, Strathbogie ... 3 to 6 pm
Shaking the Tree directed by Bronwyn Calcutt plays songs by Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, Hozier, Sting, Tim Minchin, The Cure, Pink Floyd and Leonard Cohen. The group is backed by accordion, guitars, mandolin, ukelele and percussion. Milkwood play original music and re-crafted covers with cheeky story-telling lyrics, folk style roots and blissful harmonies. Tom Yates, poet and folk singer Plus local singer-songwriters Andy Guerin and Indigo Tickets $20 through www.trybooking.com/VGOR . Dear BSFG members and supporters, Most of you will be aware that early last year, Vicforests carried out logging at the Parlours Creek coupe in the Lima East area of the Strathbogie State forest. The so-called single tree selection logging resulted in the destruction of around 80% of the coupe, resulting in the loss of habitat for large numbers of the critically endangered Greater Gliders, as well as numerous other forest dwelling animals and birds. Now, Vicforests are at it again, but this time the situation is even more desperate! The Barjarg Flat coupe on the corner of Barjarg and Tallangalook Rds is twice the size (around 60 hectares) of Parlours Creek coupe, but more importantly, independent surveys carried out late last year by the Arthur Rylah Institute, included the highest ever recorded density in Victoria of Greater Gliders, and in addition, a Powerful Owl has been detected in the same area. These facts should trigger a red flag alarm for the Environment Minister to intervene and stop the logging, at least until an extensive assessment of the area has been completed. Powerful Owl Management Areas (POMA) were established over 20 years ago in Victoria, based on information then available, but now out of date. A POMA requires an automatic logging exclusion zone of 500 hectares, and for this to happen at Barjarg Flat, we need to get the minister to listen and act. The problem is – she is just not listening! We, and the Gliders and Owls need your help. Please phone and/or email the minister’s office over the next few days to express your URGENT concerns – logging was supposed to have commenced 2 days ago, but thankfully, no equipment is on site yet. The contact details are listed below, and also for Jaclyn Symes, the Labor member for Northern Victoria in the Legislative Council. Lily D’Ambrosio (Environment Minister) Ph: 96379504 Email: lily.d’ambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au Jaclyn Symes (MLC Northern Victoria) Ph: 57832000 Email: Jaclyn.Symes@parliament.vic.gov.au Thank you, in anticipation of your support. Yours sincerely, Peter Holmes Ph: 0438625638 Email: chrispeth@bigpond.com Editor's Note: For further information - https://strathbogiesustainableforests.wordpress.com/
Our next General Meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 22 February in the Meeting Room, Benalla Uniting Church, opposite the Coles car park. Our guest speaker is Bertram Lobert from the Strathbogie Sustainable Forest Group. Bertram will speak about the activities and achievements of the group and has sent us a synopsis.
This is a good opportunity to hear firsthand about the activities and advocacy work of the Strathbogie Sustainable Forest Group.
A light supper will be served after Bertram’s presentation. Peter Maddock Secretary 0418 135 330 Some of you may already be aware from the news reports in the Benalla Ensign and Country News (21st September), of the situation in the Strathbogie State Forest in the Lima East area, regarding plans by Vicforests to clearfell log a 40 hectare coupe along Parlours Creek. Members of the Strathbogie Sustainable Forests group have been in discussions with Victorian State government departments and politicians on numerous occasions, firstly successfully lobbying to have the planned burning regime altered to a “need to protect built asset” basis, rather than a blanket 5% per year burn-off, and more recently, had commenced discussions about selective logging, as opposed to clear-fell logging. The Strathbogie Forest in this area is a mixed species forest of high value for both flora and fauna. There are many large old trees with hollows that support Powerful Owls and Sugar Gliders, and the forest is also home to a good population of Koalas. VicForests is a commercial enterprise of the Victorian government, but it is very heavily subsidised by taxpayer funds. Returns from clear-felling are estimated to be no more than around $40 per hectare in this forest – a disgraceful return given the environmental destruction that is caused by this method of logging. A previous coupe in a nearby location has not recovered in 10 years, despite 3 attempts by VicForests to re-habilitate the coupe. The coupe is generally left as a single species (eucalypt) area, and earmarked for logging again many years later, usually for wood chips. All of this could be much better achieved through growing timber plantations in appropriate locations. If you are interested in learning more about this situation, or wish to become involved in trying to stop the destruction of the Strathbogie Forest, you can follow the progress by Googling the website – “ Our Strathbogie Forest” (www.strathbogiesustainableforests.wordpress.com) Peter Holmes By coincidence there was an opinion article in The Age on Wednesday 5th Oct., titled “Logging makes no sense” which really backs up the point made by Peter about the very poor economic return from logging. The article emphasises that unlogged native forest are worth more than logged ones. John Lloyd |
BSFG News
Regular updates on sustainability issues of concern to BSFG members in Benalla and North East Victoria and on key events in the BSFG calendar. Search for articles here...Swanpool Environmental Film Festival - from 2015 to 2023 (click on 'previous' at end of page to go to earlier reports)
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Benalla Sustainable Future Group acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we live, work and meet, the Taungerang, Yorta Yorta and Bpangerang people
of North East Victoria, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
of North East Victoria, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.