RFPG has today written to the Secretary of DELWP in his legal role, as the ultimate regulator of VicForests, urging him to take immediate action around a key bushfire control regulation. 

DELWP's Management Standards and Procedures (part of the Code of Forest Practice) restricts logging in areas declared to be 'bushfire management zones' (Clause MSP 5.8.1.5(a))*.

The purpose of this restriction is to reduce the risk of bushfires spreading through dry, recently logged forest. 

On 23 August RFPG wrote to the forest regulator in DELWP warning of ongoing breaches of this provision. 

On 8 September RFPG wrote to regulator (copy to VicForests) noting that several coupes in bushfire management zones, which had already been logged to the limit, had been placed on the new timber release plan (TRP).   

Days later logging commenced in one of these coupes (Glendale East, 284-504-0004). 

VicForests' blatant disregard for the legal framework within which they are supposed to work is outrageous. DELWP appears powerless to fulfill its regulatory role. 

RFPG asks members and friends to urgently contact the Minister Lily D'Ambrosio and the Secretary of DELWP demanding that the logging of Glendale East be halted immediately. 

15 Sept 2020

 * An overview of the regulatory framework supposedly governing logging in native forests can be found in RFPG's interactive regulatory guide. An overview of interacting streams of regulatory action can be found in RFPG's regulatory action timelines.