In 1996, the State and Federal Governments were pretending to conduct 'public consultation', in order to create a "Comprehensive adequate and Representative Reserve System". This CARR would be protect areas that met the "JANIS" criteria, except the public weren't told that timber supply would be held fixed, so no matter how valuable unprotected forests were, they would not be protected. "No Victorian Government has been more committed to the Timber Industry", Environment Minister Marie Tehan announced from the steps of the DNRE office in Orbost. more info

In East Gippsland, Goolengook forest was the last unlogged valley, a spectacular forest that provided habitat for almost every threatened species known in the region. Scientific surveys had identified Sites of Significance, including a Rainforest Site of National Significance, which was to be protected at the sub-catchment level. This forest fulfilled all of the JANIS criteria, yet was not nominated to be included in the CARR, but instead had 7 big clearfells planned - right in the middle of the highest conservation value area.

Photos showing the spectacular forests were shown at Confest (a hippie festival), which enticed about 80 people to camp in Goolengook. (Click here to see Goolengook photos). Within a few months, hundreds of people had been to Goolengook and were moved by the beauty of the area. When logging began, they all came and joined the blockade.

For 5 long years the blockade continued, trying to hold off logging until the area received the protection it deserves. more info

Now, an investigation is underway to review whether Goolengook should be protected and added to Errinundra National Park. VEAC, a government department conducting the review, has produced an Information Kit, which sadly reveals no review of whether Goolengook has values meeting the JANIS criteria. There is no review of the fraudulent RFA process that guaranteed unsustainable supply of logs, provided inadequate reserves and led to half the mills shutting down. There is no review of the data, such as the inconsistent definitions used to define and map old-growth forest, in fact, the maps VEAC provide do not even match other Government data sets. See maps here.

Check out the VEAC website & Information Kit here. The good news is:
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE !
The VEAC 'investigation' is being conducted like a popularity pole, so I urge you to VOTE for Goolengook's protection. Simply write a submission including "I support the addition of Goolengook forest to the Errinundra National Park", and send it to VEAC.
Submissions close on 4 August 2006. Submissions can be made either by mail, email or fax.

For a head-start on writing a submission, please download this one and add your name and further opinions to it: Goolengook Submission

To download my own, 35-page detailed submission, click here: Goolengook too precious to log (2.6Mb pdf file). Please let me know if you have any comment sor suggestions about this draft, prior to July 31st.

This message brought to you in the spirit of the Tristan Gylberd, who said:
Understanding is knowing what to do
Wisdom is knowing what to do next
Virtue is actually doing it.