East Gippsland Shire Councillors have unanimously taken a formal position on native timber harvesting in the region.
Following presentations from a range of industry and environmental stakeholders, council officers drafted a position paper that responds to the decision by the State Government to phase out native timber harvesting by 2030.
Councillors have now taken the position that:
– It supports a high quality, low volume native timber harvesting industry where our communities continue to thrive, forests have multiple uses and biodiversity is protected.
– While recognising there are a wide range of views in relation to native timber harvesting, council is concerned about the impact of the State Government’s decision to cease native timber harvesting by 2030 on businesses, workers and the communities of East Gippsland.
– Council advocates that the practice of clearfell native timber harvesting be replaced as soon as practical with a new approach to silviculture (utilising thinning and select harvest) that maintains or improves forest health and reduces vulnerability to the impacts of bushfire, while also providing sawlogs for timber processing and supports the use of forest resources by a range of other forest users, including tourism and recreation.
Mayor, Cr Mark Reeves, said taking the position was an important step forward for council.
IMAGE: State MP Tim Bull with timber industry stakeholders, Garry Squires, Brian Donchi and Leonard Fenning at impacted timber mill, Fenning Timber Bairnsdale.
