A couple of thing are happening at the moment concerned with the impact of logging on the water supplies of Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and Warrnambool. 1. The Otway Ranges Environment Network (OREN) today released a report investigating the impact of clearfell logging on Otway Water catchments. The report titled "Clearfell Logging in the Otway State Forest and Its Effect on Water Resources in the Region", provides scientific evidence of the adverse effects of logging in proclaimed domestic water catchments. A copy of the report can be obtained from [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a small charge. The full text of the report will be going on our web site in the next week. 2.The Geelong Community Forum presents "Our water, our forest, our future" Regional Forest Agreement. Clearfell logging in the Otway state forest, its impact on the water supply of Geelong, Surfcoast, Bellarine Peninsula. PUBLIC BRIEFING Tuesday June 1st 7.30pm Geelong West Town Hall 153 Pakington Street see http://www.oren.org.au/oteventgcf.htm for more information MEDIA RELEASE May 20, 1999 REPORT STRENGTHENS CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT OTWAY WATER SUPPLY CATCHMENTS FROM CLEARFELL LOGGING Conservationists answer Wilson Tuckey with scientific evidence on the effects of logging The Otway Ranges Environment Network (OREN) today released a report investigating the impact of clearfell logging on Otway Water catchments. The report titled "Clearfell Logging in the Otway State Forest and Its Effect on Water Resources in the Region", provides scientific evidence of the adverse effects of logging in proclaimed domestic water catchments. OREN will distribute the report to communities reliant on water from the Otways. These includes Geelong, Warrnambool and towns on the Bellarine Peninsula. The report was compiled as a submission to the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) now underway for the Otways. "The report answers Wilson Tuckey's call for scientific evidence from conservationists regarding the effects of clearfell logging," said spokesperson for OREN, Mr. Simon Birrell. "It details scientifically based research from the Central Highlands which demonstrates that clearfell logging has an adverse effect on water quality and quantity. Similar research in the Otways was never completed as funding was withdrawn. It tells a sad story of poor forest management. We will be sending a copy to Mr. Tuckey and will be expecting to meet with him to discuss these issues. " "Catchment management in the Otways has assumed that woodchipping native forest is of greater value than water harvested from forested catchments. The few who profit from woodchipping Otway native forest are perpetuating the myth that clearfell logging does not effect water quantity and quality. This is cold comfort for the residents of Geelong that have endured water restrictions for over a year. These restrictions are a culmination of many factors, not just drought." The report follows the confounding statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Barwon Water, Dennis Brockenshire that "assessments carried out by the Authority(Barwon Water) at the West Barwon reservoir indicated logging had not effected water yield"( Geelong Advertiser 23/3/99). When OREN wrote to Mr. Brockenshire asking for details of scientifically based assessments, Mr. Brockenshire responded that it was Barwon Water's 'view' that "logging has had a minimal impact on water volume reaching the reservoir". He did not provide any scientifically based research. "We asked Melbourne Water for scientifically based research and they forwarded world leading research demonstrating that clearfell logging can greatly effect water quantity and quality. This research has influenced Melbourne Water's policy of not allowing logging in most of Melbourne's water catchments. Ninety percent of Melbourne's water supply comes from protected wilderness areas where logging has been banned for over 100 years." "Until Mr. Brockenshire and Barwon Water can come up with the scientific goods, I am afraid no-one is going to believe the Barwon Water 'view'. Given the evidence in the report, to continue to allow logging in Geelong's water catchments would be close to criminal.' "On the basis of our study we will be seeking the removal of logging activities from domestic drinking water catchments. The timber industry and workers can receive compensation as part of Mr. Tuckey's RFA process currently underway in the Otways," concluded Mr. Birrell. O t w a y s R a n g e s E n v i r o n m e n t N e t w o r k An affilliation of Otway's residents, regional and Victorian conservation groups, Community groups and campus conservation networks [EMAIL PROTECTED] (OREN Propaganda) WEB SITE http://www.oren.org.au DO NOT assume that any act of damage to logging equipment or logging infrastructure is done by conservationists or members of anti - logging groups. - Victorian Police (internal memo) LL.VF -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
