Upper Bunyip Action Group
'U B A G'
Map of Wood Utilisation Plan for the 350 Block
The 350 Upper Bunyip forestry block is under continuing threat of unprecedented levels of logging. DSE's latest Wood Utilisation Plan (WUP) for 2004/07 indicates that there is one huge "1st year" coupe ('Middle Head Ck' - shown as 350-502-0004) designated for logging in the summer of 2004/05 in the western two-thirds of the block. There are two further '1st year' coupes earmarked in the eastern end of the block not far from rainforest areas that are known to contain the threatened (and FFG-listed) Tall Astelia lily. This ongoing destruction will take place in the relatively pristine headwaters catchment area of the Bunyip River, only a few kms from Gembrook!
At a Cardinia Shire Council briefing session in September 2003, DSE presented a slide stating that "The current sustainable harvest rate in the Upper Bunyip Block is around 18ha per year". The total area of Mountain Ash coupes designated for clearfell logging in the next three seasons is 136 hectares - an average of 45.3 ha per annum. This indicates that DSE, our official government forests guardian, will be turning a blind eye to DPI's new commercial logging agency (VicForests) when it prepares to log these coupes at a rate that is 250% higher than the sustainable rate stated to the responsible local government authority, the Cardinia Council!
The UBAG asks: "Is DSE planning to ignore the government's basic sustainability tenets of its "Our Forests - Our Future" policy, and allow Vic Forests to break sustainability limits in the 350 Block - commencing this season?"
DSE's 'Forestry Victoria' (now re-named 'VicForests' - and relocated to DPI)) has previously demonstrated that it cannot be trusted to act in accordance with its published WUP Map and published Harvesting Schedule. The UBAG will attempt to monitor the situation closely in the field, and will advise its members and supporters when there are imminent threats from forestry operations. Likewise - the UBAG asks you to keep your eyes and ears open, and inform the UBAG when you see or hear of any information that suggests that VicForests is about to call in its contractors to wreak its awful devastation in our eucalypt forests in this Upper Bunyip block.
The UBAG proposes a new walkers-only track extending along the Bunyip River from the foot of the Fishers Loop to a point near the Bunyip Weir - and the effects of logging in the big 'Middle Head Ck' coupe will probably be visible from this proposed new track. The peach-coloured 'sausage' you can see on the map is DSE's minimal 'special protection zone' that extends along the length of the river... this is supposed to protect the highly-sensitive cool-temperate rain forest species that abound in some sections in this zone, and to protect also the territorial habitat of large forest owls that are known to dwell in this area!
There are compelling reasons why the UBAG and its support groups must continue to act with great urgency and vigour to oppose all logging in the 350 Block - and why we must attempt to SAVE THIS BLOCK for later inclusion into the Bunyip State Park.
If you can help in any way with supply of information, please let the UBAG Executive know! Email Bob Thompson with any important info.
If you are a member of a bushwalking club, please inform and motivate your fellow members to support the UBAG's campaign, in conjunction with VicWalk, to save and protect the 350 Block. If you are a field naturalist, bird-observer, wildflower enthusiast, freshwater angler - or you simply engage with Victoria's forests close to Melbourne as a place for personal spiritual enrichment, then please add your weight to this campaign by bringing it to the attention of your club or society.
JOIN THE UPPER BUNYIP ACTION GROUP, and support us by writing letters NOW to protect the 350 Upper Bunyip Forestry Block from any further unnecessary devastation.
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Where's the Upper Bunyip forestry block?
Why save the 350 Block?
Threatened values
Our forests in crisis!
The awful effects of clear-felling...
The UBAG's objections to coupes
Ways you can support the UBAG
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