Goolengook
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Goolengook: One of the Greatest Old Growth Forests in the World...
threatened by logging
On Tuesday 5 March 2002, in a pre-dawn raid, the long standing Goolengook
blockade camp was busted.
The Goolengook forest, in the heart of East Gippsland, has been
continuously blockaded for over five years. It is magnificent old growth
forest, containing many endangered species, rare cool and warm temperate
rainforest, and the Goolengook river which is listed as a heritage water
catchment. In 1998 Goolengook was visited by eminent British Biologist and
naturalist Dr David Bellamy, who remarked that if he could save any one
area of temperate forest in the world it would be Goolengook.
East Gippsland was the first region in Australia to have a Regional
Forest Agreement (RFA) signed. This was an attempt by the Federal and State
governments to end the debate over the logging of native forests and to
deliver jobs and job security to East Gippsland’s logging industry.
Neither of these objectives have been achieved. Over the past six years.
Jobs in the logging industry have fallen by 60%, yet since the East
Gippsland RFA was signed in 1997, woodchipping has doubled.
The old growth wet forests of Goolengook were one of the first areas
subject to logging and woodchipping following the signing of the East
Gippsland RFA. This was met with a high profile and long-running forest
rescue protest. Senator Bob Brown was arrested at Goolengook in 1997, a
year which saw almost 300 arrests as conservationists sought to halt
logging. 109 people were later acquitted when Dr Brown proved the logging
operation to be illegal and in contravention of the Heritage Rivers Act.
Only 100 hectates were destroyed before the blockade was secured and
logging halted.
Now the ancient forest is once again being destroyed, and with it
bio-diveristy, rare plant communities and animal habitats that have taken
millions of years to evolve.
With only 5% of Australia's original old growth forests remaining, the time
to protect Goolengook is now.
What You Can Do...
-
Get Informed.
- Book a Goolengook Slide Show for your community group. Call: Andrew
Picone on 9428 7872.
- Check out the links on this page to find out the
facts and understand the issues. Have a look at the
images link section to get a better picture.
-
Protest outside the DNRE Office
Join the demonstration in the city every Wednesday at 12 midday and every
Friday at 5pm.
Where: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Head office in
Melbourne, 8 Nicholson St, the corner of Nicholson and Victoria streets.
Each Wednesday at 12 noon, and each Friday at 5pm.
Contact FOE for confirmation.
Ph: (03) 9419 8700
-
Contact Steve Bracks
Remind him these forests belong to all of us, not to any government, nor
are they simply a resource to be plundered. Ask him to explain why he has
rejected the call for protection of Goolengook, and sanctioned its
logging.
Ministerial office Ph: (03) 9651 5000 Fax: (03) 9651 5054
Electorate office: Ph: 03 9399 9022 Fax: 03 397 7227
Parliament house switch: Ph: (03) 9651 5111 or (03) 9651 8911
Email: steve.bracks@parliament.vic.gov.au
Write to: The Honourable Steve Bracks, Premier of Victoria, 1 Treasury
Place, Melbourne, 3000.
- Alert the Media
Come to the forest
People are urgently needed to join the boost numbers and assist those in
direct action. Please contact GECO
if you are coming. Ph. (03) 5154 0156. Email - geco@green.net.au
How to get there
Find a way to be involved. Every action will make a difference. Contact
FOE to find out more about the
various campaign groups that have formed.
UPDATES
GECO
Goongerah Environment Centre Office, independent grassroots organisation
based in East Gippsland forest, Ph 035 154 0156
Best for updates on what’s happening at Goolengook
CROEG
Concerned Residents of East Gippsland, Ph (03) 5154 0145
FOE
Friends of the Earth, Melbourne, Ph (03) 9419 8700
The Wilderness Society
Ph (03) 9639 5455
Goolengook Updates / Action Alerts
OVERVIEW
GECO Facts
Facts, Stats, History of issue
Too Precious to Log
Good history & outline of issues (1997).
JJJ Morning Show
Interview on logging & protection of Goolengook. With audio feed.
Why Goolengook shouldn’t be logged
Wilderness Society Leaflet 1997.
Current Pictures from the Blockade
Slide show
Great pictures of the forest from early 1997. This gives a picture what its like. Follow
the links
The Goolengook blockade
Photographs of the Goolengook Blockade protest (from June '97). Follow the
links. Also link to protest form.
First hand account
Visit to the Goolengook blockade. A good visual picture of what its like to
be there.
More good pics
Even more good pics
ISSUES
Goolengook National Park Proposal (By CROEG)
Report proposing inclusion of Goolengook as part of the Errinunda State
forest. Detailed analysis of issues,flora & fauna, impact of
logging. Why it should be saved.
Boycott Woodchipping
Background and facts on woodchipping (Why it’s no good), consumer /
investor campaigns, Products to avoid.
FOE Forest Network
Articles on East Gippland forests, woodchipping & overview of issues
INDUSTRY LINKS
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (DNRE)
Government department responsible for forest management.
East Gippsland RFA
Regional Forest Agreement for East Gippsland outlines Government’s
long term management plan for forest areas, with quotas, estimates and
sustainability study
VAFI
Peak industry body for Victoria's native hardwood timber industry.
ALSO:
Goolengook makes the news in the U.S.
Melbourne Indymedia independent news service
Updates on action, protest & campaign
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