Council requests timber phase-out evidence
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East Gippsland Shire Council will write to Premier Daniel Andrews requesting that he reconsider the Victorian Government’s November 7 announcement to cease all logging of native forests by 2030, and provide evidence for the basis of the decision.
Mayor Cr John White said Council adopted the position at its meeting in Orbost on November 12.
“Our position is to request the Government work with Council, the greater Gippsland community and the local timber industry to support and enhance a sustainable solution for the native timber industry,” Cr White said.
“Council will listen and advocate for our communities. The support we will require in the weeks, months and years ahead must be tailored to suit East Gippsland.
“Our community has an active timber industry which creates employment and economic benefits for the region. We recognise the industry has been in decline, however it is extremely important to the economic sustainability of the region,” Cr White said.
“Our geographic location, high percentage of public land, and our residents’ strong affiliation with their communities, such as timber towns in the High Country, Orbost district and Bairnsdale, make East Gippsland unique.
“We are listening and advocating for our communities. The support we will require in the weeks, months and years ahead must be tailored to suit East Gippsland.”
“Council has been proactively supporting the timber industry for many years with state representation through Timber Towns Victoria (TTV) membership, among other business support and advocacy initiatives.”
Cr Dick Ellis moved the successful motion, that Council:
Writes to the Premier of Victoria the Hon Daniel Andrews requesting that he reconsider his decision to cease all logging of native forests in the State of Victoria by 2030 and provide evidence for the basis of the decision announced on Thursday 7 November 2019. That the State Government work with local government, the greater Gippsland community and the timber industry to support and enhance a sustainable native timber industry; That the transition funding be proportionally distributed to the towns, communities and industries that are most likely to be affected by the decision. If practicable and achievable, and most preferably in the near future, take this matter to the Gippsland Local Government Network (GLGN) requesting that the GLGN liaise with, and partner with the timber industry, other local government authorities, state authorities and the wider Gippsland community to further gauge and interpret the long-term consequences of the Premier’s decision on Gippsland’s communities, industries and environment; and that the GLGN, If able, in doing so will seek to identify and offer solutions to any impediments to the implementation of world’s best practices in Timber Harvesting and native forest environment protection for the long-term benefit of the Gippsland region; and That the GLGN reports the outcome of such works back to Council within a reasonable timeframe being no longer than 12 months.