Upper Bunyip Action Group
'U B A G'
'Nature's Glory'
near the Fishers Loop
Walking Track in the
'350 Upper Bunyip'
forestry block.
[Photo: Heather Morrison]
The '350 Upper Bunyip' forestry block is at the southern extreme of the Bunyip State Forest, adjoining the northern boundary of the Bunyip State Park. For the most part, its forests and streams are in a relatively pristine condition, and have remained relatively sheltered from the ravages of logging and wildfire that have occurred in most other forestry blocks in Victoria's Central Highlands. This block (of 3900 hectares - approximately one quarter the size of the Bunyip State Park) contains a mixture of numerous forest species, including the highly sought after Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) from which prized hardwood sawlogs (and woodchips!) are produced.
The 350 Block contains a number of declared special protection and management zones in recognition of the significant natural and heritage values that they contain, and these zones require extremely high levels of conservation and protection from all detrimental impacts.
The western half of the block is ringed by a number of locations at which "accepted" observations of Leadbeaters Possum are recorded in the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife that is maintained by DSE - this species is Victoria's endangered faunal emblem. The eastern end of the block hosts a significant colony of Tall Astelia (Astelia australiana) in association with other significant rainforest species. This is a lily that is designated 'rare' in Environment Australia's register of 'Threatened Species' and it is registered under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. These are but two of the highly significant, but threatened values in this block.
The block is also a declared catchment area for water supply to Melbourne, and as such is subject to a Special Area Plan that specifies how the land manager, under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, must address particular land management issues.
Apart from its obvious natural, heritage and water resource values, the 350 Block provides a magnificent natural refuge, close to the city, for reinforcement of important personal and social values. If allowed to remain intact in its present condition, the 350 Block could become a 'jewel' at the head of an extended Bunyip State Park, but only if its use is placed under a strong caveat that all forms of motorised recreation are excluded. This is a prime objective of the UBAG! Its protection will create glorious opportunities for expanded bushwalking and similar passive recreation only 15 minutes driving time from Gembrook (and Puffing Billy!) and only 30-45 minutes away from the huge residential developments along the southeastern growth corridor of Melbourne. The UBAG wishes to reinforce this much-needed opportunity!
But this potential is under a dark and threatening cloud... the 350 Upper Bunyip forestry block is under the continuing threat of unprecedented levels of logging. DSE's latest Wood Utilisation Plan (WUP) for 2004-07 shows that there are three coupes designated for logging in the summer of 2004/05 in the 350 Block - and there is always a hidden danger that DSE will approve, at short notice, the logging of coupes that have been "pulled" for various reasons from previous schedules. Such coupes are regarded by DSE as "carry-over coupes", and VicForests is not required to show them in current WUP maps or list them in current Harvesting Schedules.
This is an appalling situation, because it means that the current WUP map and the current 'Harvesting Schedule' - VicForests' public documents - are not in fact presenting an accurate depiction of VicForests' true logging intentions!
For more on this, see Map of Wood Utilisation Plan.