May 24th, 2022Your Say – Letters

Last issue (The Local, May 9) had two letters condemning the recent fire risk mitigation and timber salvage operations being undertaken by VicForests in the Wombat State Forest abutting Lyonville township, calling it environmental destruction.

Having worked in forest and ecosystem management, Landcare and revegetation for over 40 years I must contest this emotive opinion.
Rather than rely solely on my own experience, qualifications and onsite observations however, I refer firstly to Dr Kevin Tolhurst AM, Associate Professor Fire Ecology and Management, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, University of Melbourne from his recent ABC interview on Drive on this very topic.
Tolhurst referred specifically to the June 2021 storm damage at Bullarto where, like Lyonville, the fallen trees have completely blocked most of the CFA access tracks abutting the township, pictured, and also throughout the surrounding forest making it almost impossible to walk through. The fact these tracks are now blocked is in itself a major fire hazard as in the event of a fire CFA crews will not be able to access many areas.
Tolhurst went on to suggest it’s not healthy from a human life and property point of view or from an environmental point of view to leave the woody material on the ground, agreeing with the Dja Dja Wurrung traditional owners to remove same.
From a logistics point of view the only way to remove the tens of thousands of large and small fallen trees is with large harvest and haulage machinery which will open the numerous forest trails essential to future CFA fire-fighting efforts. I have spoken to many residents in Bullarto who are also looking forward to these works being undertaken for future forest safety, amenity and access.
As many, including Tolhurst have said, this regrowth forest needs thinning and needed it long before the storm.
Link: https://omny.fm/shows/drive-with-tom-elliot/protesters-block-fallen-timber-clearing-despite-fi

• Gary McIntosh, Forestry and Landcare consultant, Bullarto