Page 10 The Moorabool News – 11 January, 2022
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Logging plans threaten koalas By Lachlan Ellis Plans to harvest a local blue gum plantation have environmentalists concerned over the removal of koala habitat, despite plans to mitigate the impact on local koalas. The blue gum plantation on Cartons Road, Gordon is owned by woodfibre processor Midway Pty Ltd, on land leased from Central Highlands Water (CHW). Gordon residents were recently informed that the 16-hectare site was planned to be logged, raising concerns for the koalas that live in the plantation. A spokesperson for CHW told the Moorabool News that the company had engaged with the community and the relevant authorities, and was working on plans to care for the area’s koalas. “The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has provided approval to the plantation owner, Midway Pty Ltd, regarding their Koala Management Plan. This plan will ensure that any koalas identified in the plantation are cared for during the planned timber harvest,” CHW’s spokesperson said. “CHW have been in consultation with Gordon community members, which include representatives of the Friends of Paddock Creek, Gordon Residents Committee, Friends of the Canadian Corridor (Advisory Committee to the Woowookarung State Park) and the Bunanyung Landscape Alliance. The discussions from these consultation meetings have led to additional environmental commitments by CHW above the requirements of the Koala Management Plan and other associated regulations. “These additional commitments include a long-term revegetation project on the property for the enhancement of the biodiversity of the area and the retention of a buffer strip on the edge of the plantation while managing the treatment and recycling of reclaimed water. CHW look forward to implementing the first stage of the revegetation project next year.” But locals are not convinced the current plans do enough to protect Gordon’s koalas. Chair & Secretary of the Friends of Paddock Creek, Stephen Derrick, is one of these concerned locals. “The new vegetation [proposed by CHW and Midway Pty Ltd] will not provide habitat or food for koalas for many years – at least 10 to 20 years depending on the species mix planted.
An aerial shot of the blue gum plantation at Gordon. Photo - Stephen Derrick Also, the new vegetation is along an ephemeral creek along the northern edge of the site and a fair distance from the blue gums,” Mr Derrick told the Moorabool News. “In order to provide suitable habitat for the koalas and other fauna, there will need to be a substantial buffer strip left along the southern boundary adjacent to the Western Freeway and along Cartons Road. There are a wide range of views about how wide and extensive buffer strips should be in order to provide adequate habitat. Some research suggests 20 metres, but this is in circumstances where there are substantial surrounding areas of bush – clearly not the case at the Cartons Road site. “CHW have not been forthcoming about what buffer width they intend to leave in place.” Another concerned resident, Heidi Johnson, has been collecting evidence of koala sightings in Gordon for the last two years.
She said Cartons Road was a vital area for the local population that needed protection. “It's vital that we look after these isolated pockets of healthy populations and do everything possible not only to preserve their habitat, but put in place mitigations against road trauma. The Cartons Road Overpass is crucial to helping our koalas and other small animals such as echidnas safely cross the Western Freeway,” Ms Johnson said. “Blue gums provide excellent long-term food and shelter for koalas, and are less prone to being damaged by strong storms than manna and swamp gums.” A community alliance called Save Gordon Koalas has formed to raise awareness of the threats faced by Gordon’s koalas. If you have photos of koalas in Gordon, you can help by sending them via email to ecosystems@bigpond.com, with details of location and date.
Does Council culture need to improve? The Local Government sector and community members are invited to have their say on the Local Government Culture Project Discussion Paper.
CULTURE – ‘role, responsibilities and supporting mechanisms’
The Andrews Labor Government commissioned the Local Government Culture Project earlier this year and the paper, released in mid-December 2021, will guide discussions about practical methods to improve culture at Victorian councils.
‘councillor journey’
Three main themes have been identified for discussion including ‘role, responsibilities and supporting mechanisms’; ‘councillor journey’; and ‘dispute resolution and resolving conflict’. The Local Government Culture Project will promote a more positive environment at councils, create more representative councils, improve governance and enhance public trust. Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane said Victorians deserve the best from their elected representatives. “This is an opportunity for the local government sector to work towards improving the culture of councils across the state so that they can best serve their communities,” he said. “Councils do not get enough credit for the great work they do in their communities, sadly the poor behaviour of a few can taint the whole sector if not properly addressed.” This work has been undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in partnership with eminent academics Professor Graham Sansom, Adjunct Professor at University of Technology Sydney, and Professor Anona Armstrong AM, Emeritus Professor at the Victoria University College of Law and Justice. Feedback on the discussion paper is open until 28 February 2022. To read the discussion paper and make a submission visit www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au.
‘dispute resolution & resolving conflict’.