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Media Release
10 April 2002
Goolengook Road Blockade continues

Logging operations in the Goolengook Forest were again delayed today as logging roads into the controversial forest were blocked for the second day in a row. Three conservationists had spent the night attached by steel pipes to a car that was blocking Goolengook Rd, and voluntarily released themselves early this morning. A woman spent the night in a 45 metre high tree sit attached by cable to the car and was removed by Police Search and Rescue. The car was later towed away, allowing log trucks to enter the area. Meanwhile, three treesits were erected to stop logging traffic from using another road into Goolengook and Police Search and Rescue were utilised to remove protesters from their positions. In one of the logging coupes, two women locked themselves to a Natural Resources and Environment vehicle, blocking the road to log trucks.

"The activities of the last two days demonstrates just how far people are prepared to go to demonstrate their exasperation at the continued logging of Goolengook. Never before have people remained locked to vehicles overnight in cold and uncomfortable conditions, and their personal sacrifice is testimony to the passion that people feel for this issue," said Fiona York, spokesperson for the Goongerah Environment Centre.

Today's activities resulted in a number of arrests for charges including Willful Trespass and Obstruction. There have been over 75 arrests so far since logging began in March. It is believed that logging in the four coupes is completed and all that remains of the operation is to remove logs. However, the Temporary Exclusion Zones are said to be staying in force until June.

In another development, three members of the local indigenous group, the Bidwali, accompanied by three supporters, were permitted entry into the Goolengook Temporary Exclusion Zone to inspect the logging areas and to document areas of cultural significance.

For more details contact:
Fiona York,
Goongerah Environment Centre
(03) 51540156

Media Release
Tuesday 9th April
Protesters prevent log trucks entering Goolengook

Two logging roads have been locked down by protesters utilizing two different structures, preventing logs being removed from the controversial Goolengook forest. On Goolengook Rd three protesters have locked themselves to a car "dragon" to which a person in a 45 metre high tree platform is attached, while on Puggaree Rd a tree platform has been attached to a tripod blocking the road. Log trucks have been turned away since 5:00 this morning. More than 30 Police and NRE are in attendance, and are unable to remove the structures.

"The public have a right to protest, and are determined to delay logging operations in Goolengook. We will continue to protest for as long as the NRE continue to allow logging in contentious forest," said Morgan Boehringer of the Goongerah Environment Centre.

These actions continue a wave of activity both within and on the perimeter of the NRE exclusion zone. Yesterday a tree-sit attached by cable to three logging machines halted operations in a working forest coupe in Goolengook for most of the day. There were two arrests, bringing the total number of people charged since logging began to 75. Conservationists have been present in the Goolengook area attempting to stop logging for over a month since government forces removed "Fortress Goolengook" on the 5 March and allowed logging to commence. A huge operation by the NRE and police costing millions in taxpayers dollars has ensured that logging continues in the controversial forest.

"This level of enforcement and security represents a government department out of order and out of ideas. The 'enforcement' of a forest operation is ludicrous to any sane person - they are throwing taxpayers money at the problem, when they are the problem. Old-growth and high conservation value forests should be left for future generations, not logged for woodchip at huge expense," continued Mr Boehringer.

For more details contact:
Morgan Boehringer or Fiona York
Goongerah Environment Centre
03 5154 0156

Media Release
"Cycle for Old Growth Forests"

Anti-woodchipping activist Sean Marler is deep in peddle mode around Byron Bay as he continues on his 1,500 kilometre cycle from Brisbane to East Gippsland in Victoria. The aim of the "Cycle for Old Growth Forests" (COGF) that departed Brisbane on 25 March, is to raise awareness of the importance of old growth forests in Australia.

"These area support the most diverse range of temperate forest ecosystems on earth with significant stands of ancient rainforest and some of Australia's remaining 5% of old growth forest. We need to preserve these habitats and instead harvest timber from the country's 1.5 million hectares of already established plantations".

Mr Marler represents the Griffith University Environment Collective (GUEC) in Brisbane and is concerned that the logging of old growth forests will have a detrimental effect on endangered native wildlife. He also stresses that the logging, which is used primarily for export woodchips, is causing massive environmental damage to water catchments near Errinundra National Park. On Wednesday 13 March, Mr Marler abseiled off the Story Bridge and hung a banner highlighting the environmental destruction that the woodchipping industry in causing in East Gippsland.

"The construction of logging roads in water catchments can have catastrophic results by adding up to 60 tonnes of sediment per year into every one hectare block. Creeks and rivers become fouled and the aquatic ecology suffers greatly".

"The protection of old growth forests is a national issue for all Australians and logging teams should withdraw immediately from Goolengook forest, to protect its unique bio-diversity."

Sean left Brisbane on Monday 25 March after a farewell breakfast in Post Office Square with family and friends. He plans to be in Evans Head on 4 April, Illuka on 5 April, Grafton 6 April, Coffs Harbour 8 April and is happy to conduct free environmental workshops. Sean will arrive in East Gippsland towards the end of April. Donations for S. A. Marler for "COGF" can be made at any ANZ bank; acc no. 594782301; bsb no. 014002

More information:
Sean Marler 0417 825 972
Andrew Hutchison 0412 747 873

Media Release

1st April 2002

Protesters take Goolengook Blockade to the Highway

Today, in the continuing campaign to protect Goolengook forest, 50 people blockaded Goolengook Rd near the Princes Hwy with a tripod-bipod structure attached to a tree platform. This road is used by log trucks taking logs from the controversial Goolengook forest and has been blockaded since early this morning. Two people were sitting on the structure blocking the road and there was one person suspended from a tree attached by cable to the structure. There was also one person locked on to a Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) vehicle. Banners saying "Goolengook" and "Too Precious to Log" were hanging in the tree, visible to Easter holiday traffic. Five NRE vehicles were prevented from using the road for eight hours and one log truck was turned away early this morning. Fifteen Police attended the scene, and a crane was used to remove and arrest protesters at 2.30pm. Today's action is part of an Easter Weekend of civil protest including yesterday's Sunday Community Walk which saw over 120 people enter the NRE's exclusion zone.

"We are bringing our protest out of the forest from behind the NRE's locked gates and to the highway for everyone to see. From the level of support we have been receiving today from the Easter holiday makers as they pass, it is obvious that many, many people do not want to see this forest logged," said spokesperson for the protesters, Fiona York

"If more people could see what is happening to their forests they would be horrified. This weekend has given many people an opportunity to do just that, and the level of public discontent about how our forests are being managed is growing," she concluded.

For further information:
Fiona York
Goongerah Environment Centre
(03)51540156

31 March 2002

Protesters Defy Goolengook Exclusion Zone

Today, in East Gippsland, 120 people including local Traditional Owners, walked into an area declared off limits by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, defying the Goolengook 'temporary exclusion zone'. This zone has been extended to include National Park access roads as well as areas of public forest over the last week to prevent access into Goolengook by members of the public. There are also a number of people in the Goolengook forest, within the prohibited area, who are defying attempts by government forces to remove them. This is the largest number of people protesting at Goolengook since the Goolengook blockade was removed almost a month ago. There have been 70 arrests at Goolengook so far and more are expected.

"This is a public road in a public forest on a public holiday, and we,members of the public, are exercising our right to be here. We will not be excluded," said spokesperson for the protesters, Fiona York.

"We are bearing witness to the destruction on the last remaining stands of irreplaceable old growth forest. If more people could see what was going on behind these locked gates, they would be horrified at what our taxpayer dollars are being used for," she continued.

"We demand to know exactly how much is this costing the government compared to the economic returns of logging Goolengook. It seems to us to be an primitive and costly form of conflict resolution," she concluded.

For more information,
Fiona York
Goongerah Environment Centre
(03)51540156

Media Release
25 March 2002
Logging Halted Again in Goolengook
-13 People Charged

Today, in East Gippsland, 30 conservationists again stopped work in Goolengook as the campaign to save this controversial forest continues. Logging in a coupe near the Little Goolengook River has been halted for the day, and two people remain locked to logging machinery. Eleven others were charged on summons after refusing to leave the area, and two were taken to the Orbost police station. This brings the total number of people charged to over 70 since logging in the contentious Goolengook forest started three weeks ago.

Over the weekend, sixty conservationists descended on the Goolengook forest area and 12 people were arrested on Saturday after having halted work for most of the day. On Sunday, Clayton Harris, a traditional owner from the local Bidwali tribe, inspected the logging area after he and 15 of his supporters negotiated his entry into the Goolengook 'temporary exclusion zone.'

"Our campaign to protect Goolengook forest continues as more and more people are speaking out against the destruction of this unique and precious old growth forest. Despite the thousands of dollars the government is spending to ensure this logging takes place, we are undeterred and will not be intimidated into giving up the fight," said spokesperson for the protesters, Fiona York.

More arrests are expected.

For further information:
Fiona York
Goongerah Environment Centre
03 51540156

Media Release
23 March 2002

12 More Arrests at Goolengook

Today in East Gippsland, logging was again halted in the controversial Goolengook forest as two conservationists locked themselves to a logging machine in one of the current logging coupes. Ten conservationists were arrested and removed from the Goolengook Forest 'temporary exclusion zone' and two people remain attached by steel pipe to a log loader. This follows the removal of two protesters from 50 metre high tree platforms late yesterday, who were arrested after they voluntarily descended when a bulldozer started working at the base of their trees. There have been 56 arrests since logging started in Goolengook over two weeks ago .

"Despite massive expenditure by government forces, protesters continue to delay work in the Goolengook forest. Heavy-handed tactics by police and NRE will not deter the public from exercising their right to protest against the uneconomic destruction of this unique old growth forest," said spokesperson for the protesters, Fiona York.

More arrests are expected. <[> For further information:
Fiona York
Goongerah Environment Centre
(03)51540156

FoE forest press release 22/3/02

BRACKS SET TO INCREASE ATTACKS ON OLD GROWTH FORESTS

Friends of the Earth Melbourne today warned that national and international attention about logging issues in Victoria would intensify, as more people became concerned about Goolengook and government plans to increase logging in old growth forests.

"We are extremely alarmed by plans of the Bracks Government to increase the logging of old growth and high conservation forests, particularly in East Gippsland" said Friends of the Earth forest campaigner Anthony Amis. "It would appear that in order to meet short term licence supply commitments, the Bracks government will start to target timber that is located in steep terrain which traditionally has not been logged using current logging methods. Our worst fears will be realised if the Bracks government introduces cable logging or helicopter logging into old growth native forest areas. We are also concerned that gullies containing rainforest will also be targeted for liquidation by the government" Mr Amis said.

Mr Amis added "Geographic isolation of Codes of Practice have made it difficult to log these forests in the past. However due to a reduction in sustainable yield announced by Bracks several weeks ago, the government has had to find additional supply areas that will be logged during a supply arrangement transition period". "The government will be desperate for whatever unprotected forest area they can find. So they will be going after the really steep and remote forests. We also have fears that the old growth forests of East Gippsland and other areas will be logged to prop up other areas of the state that have logged their own forests to exhaustion - meaning that timber will be transported out of one Forest Management Area to prop up mills that have operated unsustainably in other Forest Management Areas. This is clearly an unsustainable outcome" Mr Amis said.

"With the increased steepness of terrain comes increased Occupational Health and Safety risks for workers. I am sure that the forestry union must have concerns about the safety of workers under these new plans" said Mr Amis. "We also understand that DNRE will have to underwrite insurance policies of workers if logging happens on slopes greater than 24 degrees. These costs could become another enourmous government subsidy to the logging industry. The steep terrain also is extremely problematic for erosion, with huge amounts of silt most likely ending up in creeks and streams. This silt can play havoc with freshwater species. For instance recreational fishing is worth about $150 million to the Gippsland economy each year. Much of this industry could be put at risk by Bracks' new plan" said Mr Amis.

"Because timber will be transported between Forest Management Areas, many Victorian mills that export sawn timber and woodchips overseas will be relying on old growth timber. This is absolutely not on" said Mr Amis. "We will be doing all that we can to educate overseas consumers about the ecological problems associated with the logging of old growth forests in Victorian native forests. The Goolengook forest issue has now put Victorian forest issues on an international stage, with intense interest starting to emerge in Europe and the United States. We have been networking with international groups about these matters for the past few weeks" Mr Amis said. "Many people are deeply destressed by what they've been hearing. They are especially alarmed when they learn that timber products sourced from Victoria are coming largely from old growth forests. This morning our office received a call from an investor from New York concerned about the logging in Goolengook. Victoria's reputation is suffering through the destruction of these old growth forests" concluded Mr Amis.

MEDIA RELEASE
21/3/02

TREE-SITTER STARVED OUT OF TREE
Civil Rights abuses continue in Goolengook

Yesterday, in Goolengook forest, East Gippsland, a conservationist who had been in a tree-sit for four days was forced to come down after being deprived of water for two days by officers of the Police Search and Rescue, under instruction from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). This was after two activists were arrested for trying to provide him with food and water.

"The intimidation tactics used to bring the tree sitter down, including spotlights, sirens, verbal harassment and the revving of chainsaws throughout the night, are indicative of an increasing level of repression of domestic political dissent. This comes at a time when the international community is condemning such contraventions of people's basic civil rights," said Nectaria Calan from the Goongerah Environment Centre.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Victorian Police Department and the NRE has essentially left activists without any legal recourse for defending their civil rights, as the police now act on behalf of the NRE.

"We are moving one step closer to becoming a police state, with bureaucrats assuming inflated powers of law enforcement. The NRE are now calling the shots, and dictating to the Police how they are to handle the blockade in Goolengook. Consequently, we are extremely concerned for activists safety, as the NRE do not have the appropriate enforcement training to handle conflict situations. This is increasingly worrying when coupled with the deployment of the Force Response Unit - the same unit that were responsible for heavy-handed anti-protest actions at S11 2000 in Melbourne. The MOU also removes any semblance of neutral conflict resolution from Police operations under NRE directives within Goolengook," said Ms Calan.

Enforcement tactics, such as Sunday's jailing of a conservationist for walking into State forest and the doubling up of charges are becoming commonplace in Goolengook - at one action two protesters were each given 11 charges for hindering an NRE vehicle. More than 40 arrests have taken place since clearfell logging started in the Goolengook block a little over a fortnight ago, with more arrests expected. Conservationists are concerned that yesterday's events represent what has become routine behaviour from the NRE, Police Force Response Unit and Police Search and Rescue in the crackdown on protesters.

For more information:
Nectaria Calan or Fiona York
Goongerah Environment Centre
(03) 51 54 01 56

Media Release
21 March 2002

Government Department Breeches Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Permits Logging Amongst Conservationists

Legal advice provided to The Wilderness Society from Lawyers for Forests, suggests that the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) are likely to be in breech of Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) regulations, in their logging operations in the Goolengook forests in East Gippsland.

Lawyers for Forests and The Wilderness Society request that DNRE does not permit logging operations to occur in close proximity to protesters or in any situation which may potentially cause harm to those present on the site.

"We are shocked that DNRE staff could allow logging to continue in areas where conservationists are in the forest or located in tree platforms perched high in the forest canopy;" said Gavan McFadzean, Victorian Campaigns Manager.

"The statements coming from members of the public at Goolengook are chilling. Trees are being logged where protesters are standing. People in tree platforms high above the ground are having bulldozers and chainsaws operating at the base of the tree they are perched in."

"If members of the public are in the vicinity of logging operations, OH&S regulations require logging to cease immediately. It is difficult to believe how DNRE could be so irresponsible and have such a disregard for public safety."

"I appears that the destruction of the old growth forest at Goolengook are even more important to DNRE than the safety of the Victorian public."

"We are extremely concerned about public safety at the Goolengook forest protests."

Further comment Gavan McFadzean ph: 9639 5455 mob: 0414 754 023

Media Release: Wednesday 20th March 02

Medical community concerned as Bracks government destroys a major source of new drugs.

Recently the AMA passed a resolution recognising the importance of conserving environmental values. In particular the AMA recognised the vital role that biodiversity will play in discovering and developing new and novel drugs and treatments. Doctors for Native Forests played a crucial role in encouraging the AMA to take an active role in working to improve health outcomes by better environmental management.

Dr Rod Anderson, spokesman for Doctors for Native Forests said, "Victoria prides itself as being at the cutting edge of technologies of the future, especially in health. The state government has encouraged the establishment of a major pharmaceutical industry in our state. Discovery of new drugs is the holy grail of this industry, and to do so they need to explore a wide range of compounds especially from natural sources. The greatest concentration of new drugs are in areas of highest biodiversity, where nature has given us natural factories for a vast range of compounds."

"Goolengook is of particular importance due to its high conservation values, these are the same values that make it one of the most important areas in Australia for the discovery of new and novel drugs. It is an area with very high biodiversity values. This is where a range of environments meet: tall, warm, wet eucalypt forests meet cool climate rainforests in the setting of old growth forests, forests that have survived since the last ice age."

The State government moved to start the destruction of one of the most contentious areas of forest this month. Goolengook, in East Gippsland, has been the site of confrontation between the logging industry and community and environment groups for the last five years.

Dr Anderson said, "It is a tragedy for now and the future to lose this vital resource without even knowing what we are losing. The reality is that we may not have named 60 - 70% of the small plants, fungi and micro-organisms that currently exist there, much less have explored the pharmaceutical compounds that they produce."

"Once this area is logged we will have lost the features that make it unique, the features that produced this biodiversity. Logging in Goolengook is being carried out to mainly to produce woodchips. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has rated the timber values of the region as poor, as C grade timber of relatively low value. We are losing potentially one of the most valuable resources in Victoria for a paltry sum of around ten cents per tonne."

For further information: please contact
Dr Rod Anderson 0414 877 938

Media Release
19 March 2002

Treesits halt logging again in Goolengook -heavy-handed police tactics continue

Today in East Gippsland, conservationists again stopped logging in the controversial Goolengook forest with two people up tree platforms. One person is perched high in the canopy and is preventing logging in the Little Goolengook River area. Police have removed his water and food in an attempt to "starve him out" and the area around the base of the tree has been bulldozed to remove the cover for anyone attempting to replenish his supplies. Floodlights were shone on the treesitter all night last night and police are sounding a siren every ten minutes. The treesitter's companion was removed from the treesit late last night by Police Search and Rescue and arrested.

"It is a worrying development when the Police Search and Rescue officers, normally called in to rescue people in life-threatening situations are being used here to remove a protester's complement of water which is essential to the continued survival of a person in a tree-top," said Fiona York, spokesperson for the Goongerah Environment Centre.

This morning, another tree platform was erected over Goolengook Rd and halted logging traffic from 6am. One person was charged and threatened with remand when they attempted to liaise with police, a tactic conservationists are experiencing more and more as forest operations continue. The tree platform was later removed and the conservationist arrested.

Logging is taking place in three old growth coupes in the Goolengook block and logging crews are working simultaneously under a 24 hour police guard. Public scrutiny of the logging within the Goolengook forest is impossible due to the massive 'exclusion zone' which has been established by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. There have been forty people charged since logging started a fortnight ago. Members of the Police Force Response Unit have been using intimidation tactics such as duplicitous charging, threats of remand and confiscation of property including life-sustaining supplies.

For more information
Fiona York
Goongerah Environment Centre (03) 5154 0156

MEDIA RELEASE
18th MARCH 2002

Conservationist jailed as Goolengook forest blockade continues

A conservationist remains in jail today having refused to sign draconian bail conditions following her arrest for walking through Goolengook State Forest in East Gippsland. She was one of nine people arrested yesterday as the conflict over the regions last remaining old growth forests continues unabated, bringing the total number of arrests to thirty seven in under a fortnight.

Two more conservationists remain high in the tree tops, eluding repeated efforts to remove them, despite an overwhelming show of force by police and forestry officials. Pressure is mounting on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to justify its' expenditure on, and the validity of, its' hotly contested forest operations in the area. Goolengook contains rare warm-temperate/cool temperate "overlap" rainforests as well as rare and threatened flora and fauna, including the Long-footed Potoroo, Spotted Tail Quoll and the Slender Tree Fern.

"The arrival of the Bracks governments zero-tolerance forest policy as demonstrated by the unprecedented deployment of Victoria's Force Response Unit represents a completely disproportionate response to peaceful acts of civil disobedience. Zero tolerance forest policy making threatens to undermine the community's democratic right to challenge unsustainable forestry policies and practices", said Morgan Boehringer of the Goongerah Environment Centre.

"This highly combative forest policy comes at a time when the DNRE is facing a crisis of credibility and competence over its chronic over-logging of our precious forests for decades", said Nectaria Calan.

"Instead of being accountable and more responsive to community concerns, they have chosen to deflect attention away from their own mismanagement by scape-goating environmentalists protecting Goolengook for future generations. Taking such a hard-line and militaristic approach to the resolution of value differences is likely to exacerbate existing tensions rather than resolve them."

For further information please contact:
Morgan Boehringer or Nectaria Calan
Goongerah Environment Centre (03) 5154 0156

Media Release
17 March 2002

Protester held in custody after more arrests at Goolengook

Today in East Gippsland 50 conservationists blockaded Goolengook Rd and four were arrested as protesters continued their campaign to stop logging in the controversial Goolengook forest. One person is being held in custody following her arrest for 'Willful Trespass' after she entered into the Goolengook forest exclusion zone in an attempt to 'walk in the forest'. Two others were arrested after locking themselves to vehicles and blocking Goolengook Rd. One person was removed when police used pressure points to force him to unlock himself from the bullbar of a government vehicle.

Police and Natural Resources and Environment officers are continuing to use heavy-handed tactics against protesters and more arrests are expected. Today's arrests bring the total number of protesters charged to 35 since logging started almost two weeks ago.

"It is testimony to the passion and determination of the public that a young woman is prepared to go to jail in her fight to protect Goolengook forest. She is prepared to challenge the right of the government to restrict access into public forests and is refusing to agree to bail conditions that will prevent her from entering Goolengook" said spokesperson for the protesters, Fiona York.

"People from all over Victoria have come to Goolengook today to express their outrage at the government's continued logging of our old growth forests. Not only are they refusing to allow public scrutiny of what is going on in our forests, they are spending thousands of taxpayers dollars to ensure that this unsustainable logging takes place," she concluded.

Vision is available on request.

For more information:
Fiona York
GECO
03 51540156

Media Release

14 March 2002

TREE-PLATFORM BLOCKS LOGGING TRAFFIC ON GOOLENGOOK RD

Today in East Gippsland, 25 conservationists erected a tree platform high above Goolengook road, preventing logging traffic from entering the controversial Goolengook Forest. Two people supporting the young man on the tree platform were arrested for 'Willful Trespass' when they refused to leave the 'exclusion zone' surrounding Goolengook. Around thirty people have been charged for a range of minor offences since Fort Goolengook was dismantled last Tuesday.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) have created a huge exclusion zone around the entire Goolengook forest area and are preventing any member of the public, including media, from entering the area under threat of arrest. Local police, the Force Response Unit and NRE from around the state are maintaining a 24 hour presence to ensure that logging is not disrupted. All logging vehicles have police escorts and police are using floodlights, infrared and sniffer dogs to remove the public from the 'exclusion zone'.

"Despite an unprecedented and heavy-handed response from government, we are determined to halt the destruction of this last remaining area of unprotected Old Growth Forest. We will not be intimidated into giving up the fight," said spokesperson for the protesters, Fiona York

More arrests are expected.

For further comment:
Fiona York
GECO
0351540156

Media Release
12/3/02

NRE FAIL TO INFORM LOGGERS OF CABLE IN TREES

Today in East Gippsland activists witnessed an unprecedented show of force on the part of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, as a 25 km total exclusion zone was imposed on public forests. This effectively impedes any public scrutiny of NRE logging activity in the area, and is an infringement of the public's civil right to protest.

NRE's worksafety practices have been thrown into question today, as people's lives were put in danger when NRE Officers and Police ignored warnings about cable in trees and conservationists in working logging coups. Personal safety has been sacrificed to their fast tracked, 'at any cost' operation to log the icon that is the Goolengook forest.

Conservationists have warned NRE foresters/personnel on several occasions that there are large trees with cables attached to their upper branches in the Goolengook forests. "The NRE have known for two years that there are cables in tree tops" said Ms Fiona York of the Goongerah Environment Centre. "This is all part of the non-violent tactic of establishing tree sits. Cables are set up in order to secure platforms in tree tops where a person can remain for days in order to protect an area of forest from destruction."

For comment contact Nectaria Calan
Goongerah Environment Centre
03 51 54 01 56.

Media Reslease

BANNER DROP AND 'LOCK ON' IN NON VIOLENT PROTEST TO SAVE EAST GIPPSLAND'S OLD GROWTH FORESTS

Forest activists campaigning non-violently for the protection of East Gippsland's forests have staged an elaborate protest in Brisbane by dropping a banner from the Story Bridge. The five by two meter banner was unfurled at 7.30am and it is believed at least one protester has 'locked on' below the bridge.

Sean Marler from the Goongerah Environment Centre Office (GECO) in Victoria, is concerned that the logging of old growth forests will have a detrimental effect on endangered native wildlife. He also stressed that the logging, which is used primarily for export woodchips, is causing massive environmental damage to water catchments near Errinundra National Park.

'The construction of logging roads in water catchments can have catastrophic results by adding up to 60 tonnes of sediment per year into every one hectare block. Creeks and rivers become fouled and our water quality takes a dive'.

The Victorian Government have recently raided Australia's longest running forest blockade at Goolengook and brought in several logging teams to clearfell the forest the blockade was protecting. The surrounding area supports the most diverse range of temperate forest ecosystems on earth with significant stands of ancient rainforest and some of Australia's remaining 5% of old growth forest.

Mr Marler added that the Goolengook region may contain numerous unidentified plant species that hold the key to life threatening disease and illness. 'Who knows what medical wonders these ancient forests around here hold. Maybe a cure for cancer, leukaemia or possibly aids. One thing is for sure, if it gets logged, then we'll never find out.'

He stressed that old growth forests should be a national issue for all Australians and that the Victorian Labour Government should withdraw logging teams immediately from Goolengook.

More information: Sean Marler 0417 825 972, Tim Collins 0421 850 665

Media Release
11-03-02

Police and DNRE out of Control, More Charged at Goolengook as Forest Conflict Intensifies

Ten more people were charged at the front gate at Goolengook this morning, bringing the total number of people charged to 19 for the first week following the dismantling of the Goolengook fort. Heavy handed tactics by the police and NRE have escalated the conflict with the apparent suspension of public access laws and reports of Police using, floodlights and infrared tracking devices in an attempt to quash public scrutiny of logging activity in the Goolengook forest.

Conservationists are warning of a sustained campaign of civil disobedience with hundreds of people coming in from all around the country to take part in the campaign to halt logging in this pristine area of Old Growth Forest.

" This type of commitment on the part of people from all around Australia is extremely heartening, considering the types of heavy handed tactics that are being used by the Police and NRE in their attempt to quash the public's democratic right to protest. Over night we have seen the escalation of the conflict with the confiscation of people's basic life sustaining supplies, whether or not they are in restricted areas and the removal of name badges by both the police and NRE," said Fiona York of the Goongerah Environment Centre

"This thuggery clearly demonstrates that the department is determined to push through their agenda of logging behind closed gates despite the ongoing public protest. The very fact that the department is prepared to utilise such tactics clearly demonstrates that this department is out of control. We want to know how much is this costing the taxpayer? Surely considering that the going rate for woodchips is only 10cents a tonne; the balance sheet for this operation is heavily skewed towards protecting the interests of big business with no attention being paid to community interests," she concluded.

Further arrests are expected as the blockade enters its second week since the breakup of the Goolengook Fort

For further comment,
GECO
Fiona York on 03 5154 0156