Forest Or Park, It's Water That Counts

The Age

Friday January 2, 2009

Forest or park, it's water that counts

THE article "Forest families up in arms over new national parks" (The Age, 1/1) highlights the reality that the new red gum national parks will have a severe impact on dependent communities; however, the implication that the timber industry has been harvesting the forest faster than it is growing needs to be corrected.

First, timber harvesting was restricted to only about a third of the red gum stands, with two-thirds already contained in various parks and reserves. Second, while the sustainable yield needed revision in view of the drought and lack of flooding, the growth rates upon which the Government based its decision greatly underestimated what could be achieved if better management of environmental water were implemented.

The improved health of the red gum forests primarily requires an improved flooding regime. Simply placing state forest into park will not resolve this issue. Carefully planned and implemented selective harvesting, thinning and other adaptive management techniques, along with appropriate flooding, could permit a genuine meeting of environmental and economic outcomes for all Victorians and especially the dependent communities.

Michael Ryan, Victorian chairman, Institute of Foresters of Australia

Manage the land

NICK Roberts and Freya Headlam (Letters, 1/1) raise points about cattle grazing and red gums dying in the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, but both appear to miss the main point that inflames rural anger over the declaration of new national parks for the Murray, which is the integrity of the land management, rather than the land status.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment completed an ecological grazing strategy in 2005 for the red gum forests that recognises controlled grazing as a useful tool in controlling weeds and fire. Other studies endorse this management approach.

Headlam notes the extensive death in red gum forests protected by national parks for 40 years and correctly states that water is the issue - something park status will not fix. Premier Brumby in his announcement of the new parks, notes that up to 75 per cent of forests in some stretches of the river are stressed or dying and promptly nominates four parks in forest of relatively good condition, 250kilometres upstream, to appease minority green groups.

Biodiversity protection in Victoria is failing because we are using a failed land management model to protect it.

Max Rheese, secretary, Rivers and Red Gum Environment Alliance, Benalla

Silencing debate

THAT Premier Brumby has sneakily released his Government's plan to lock up another 100,000 hectares of public land in red gum national parks during the Christmas-New Year break without full public scrutiny shows that he lacks the conviction or courage to be anything other than just another politician. Failing to release his Government's response in Parliament where it would be subject to debate is a disservice to Victorians.

It shows a lack of confidence in the integrity of the Government's response and knowledge that it would be poorly received in the community. Grubby politics, Premier.

Max Schier, Congupna

How about a drink?

CONGRATULATIONS to the Brumby Government in giving new hope for our ailing river red gum forests that are adjacent to Victoria's northern rivers. The decision would be further enhanced by providing a decent dose of water, secured by means of environmental allocations.

Ian Howley, Tawonga South

We all walk, let's do it safely

THE 2008 road toll was down 9per cent from 2007 (The Age, 1/1), yet pedestrian fatalities were up 41 per cent. The majority of these 58 deaths were elderly, young or intoxicated, and they died doing something that although potentially dangerous, should be able to be done safely if drivers and pedestrians work together.

Many pedestrian deaths (around 59 per cent) are on roads signposted at 50-60 km/h. The 50 km/h limit won't work unless drivers stick to it, and unfortunately, some drivers think pedestrian safety is not their concern. At 50 km/h, a pedestrian will probably still be killed, but an alert driver who brakes could save their life.

If the suburban (non arterial) limit was dropped to 40 km/h, and the limit was policed, this toll might drop. If all new cars had four-star, crumple-zone bonnets and bullbars were banned, it might drop. If you hold children's hands crossing the road, and check before reversing, and never let them play alone or near it, the toll may drop. If you wait that extra five seconds rather than play chicken with traffic, it might drop. If you're on your mobile and you look up and check around, the toll may drop, and if you're elderly and you use the crossing, you may live to 100.

Victoria has a cancer action plan. Don't wait for this Government to bring in its pedestrian action plan in 2011 after a $5million study to put footpaths underground and razor wire next to the kerb. Develop one of your own. The life saved might be yours.

David Bowker, Croydon

Hang your head

THE release of the secret cabinet papers regarding the deplorable decision to prioritise the interests of international oil companies and relations with the military and murderous corrupt regime in Jakarta, is hardly a surprise. Just as the release of secret cabinet papers in 2033 regarding the reasons for supporting the similarly corrupt regime in Washington would not be a revelation in respect of the Iraq tragedy.

The listed dead, as detailed by East Timor's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, should hang heavy on the consciences of Malcolm Fraser and Andrew Peacock, along with those on the Labor side that followed.

Rob Park, Surrey Hills

We must learn the

lessons of history

CONGRATULATIONS to Michael Shaik (Comment & Debate 1/1) for his important call for careful examination of the facts concerning the situation in Gaza. When will we learn the lessons of history so that it isn't always repeated. The war in Iraq was launched based on lies that were later exposed. The people of Gaza have been forced to live in a virtual concentration camp, deprived of everything that makes life liveable. Now they are being slaughtered by a well-resourced army.

Will we wait until there are a million dead as there were in Iraq or will we demand that Israel cease its onslaught, that the people of Gaza have their land restored and their human rights recognised. Then there will be no need for Hamas to send their primitive missiles against their perceived enemy and peace can be restored in the Middle East.

Marion Harper, Reservoir

A different view

MICHAEL Shaik complains about Israel's supporters contextualising its attacks, but his response is to misrepresent the facts. To give just a few examples, he claims Israel withdrew from Gaza to consolidate West Bank settlements. It withdrew hoping there would be peace and it could make similar withdrawals in the West Bank. The rocket attacks from Gaza sadly made that impossible. Israel didn't punish Gaza for electing Hamas. It reacted to Hamas' refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel's right to exist.

When Israel crossed into Gaza in November, it was preventing a Hamas raid aimed at kidnapping Israeli soldiers. Israel has made numerous peace initiatives, while Hamas has responded with violence. Having exhausted all other options, Israel is now doing what it must to protect its citizens.

George Greenberg, Malvern

Farcical, but free

IMAGINE our disappointment, taking up the offer of free public transport to see the fireworks. After promising the kids an enjoyable evening and home early to bed we were all disappointed to see packed trains sail by with no room for passengers or prams. At these peak times the public transport system is nothing short of a debacle. We deserve better.

Andrew Allan, East Oakleigh

All part of the game

I DON'T know where this myth came from that our cricketers are bullies (Letters, 1/1). They are no more or less aggressive than any other world cricket team, especially India and England. They like to win and so they should - that's their job. They show no more love of winning than any other sports person. Look at the way soccer players carry on when they get a goal or the way AFL players rejoice when they win a game. How could you possibly be happy that our deserved world champions are going through a down phase?

Diana Sheldrick, Yarraville

Put a cap on it

WHY are journos suddenly referring to Australian cricketers as capped or uncapped (The Age, 31/12). It is a favourite cliche for English tabloid sports journalists reporting soccer, but has no connection with cricket. English soccer players haven't worn caps for years, anyway.

We get enough rubbish from the imported sporting journos with their pathetic attempts at deathless prose. Enough!

Donald McIntosh, Ocean Grove

The power of nature

THE constant pushing of the nuclear industry by its advocates (Comment & Debate, 31/12) once again distorts the reality of nuclear power generation. It is analogous to a city built without a sewerage system and the builders saying that all will be well as the waste will be taken care of when the time comes.

There was no mention in Leslie Kemeny's article about the carbon footprint of getting a nuclear facility up and running, its lifespan, or the energy required to render it safe for the next several thousand years, let alone the waste. Another problem is the mining and processing of uranium.

This is a serious subject as BHP Billiton plans to increase the Olympic Dam Mine to an open cut where they plan to move approximately 20 cubic kilometres of rock. This would make it the largest open-cut mine in the world. What sort of a carbon footprint would that leave?

Australia is in the fortunate position of having more harvestable sunlight, wind, geothermal (baseload power) and tidal power available than any other country. Why don't we use it?

Richard Thompson, Mossiface

What's in a Twain?

IN 1895, Mark Twain visited Melbourne three times, arriving and departing by train mostly, but also by ship from the Yarra River wharves near the location of the new pedestrian bridge (The Age, 29/12).

For practical and promotional reasons, the new pedestrian bridge over the Yarra should be called the Mark Twain, with a narrative plaque tracing his activities on his famous lecture tour that took in places as far apart as Adelaide, Maryborough, Sydney and Scone.

Mark Twain still rates as one of the top 10 authors ever in the US, a country that sends us many tourists. Many of these in turn might be then drawn to this corner of Melbourne, if the bridge was so named.

Yes a Dame Enid Lyons, John Monash, Evan Walker or a Weary Dunlop are more deserved in many ways, but using the name Mark Twain would provide a powerful boost for tourism just when it is needed. It would also remind people of Melbourne's drawcard role years ago. In Mark Twain's case, he stayed longer in and around Melbourne than Sydney - surely this is the clincher.

Tim Fischer, Wodonga

Filtering freedom

ON THE issue of internet censorship, Alan A. Hoysted (Letters, 31/12) should realise that Stephen Conroy has been misleading. The minister says that he wants the internet filter to ban "unwanted content". Yet he has not defined that term. Thus anything could be banned, even blogs that criticise the Government. The blacklist of banned websites is also secret and without appeal. Better policing will tackle child pornography; a filter will only handcuff our basic freedoms.

Andrew Thornton, Mount Eliza

Stuck in time

DEAR Premier, please can you help me? Over the past few months I have received six of your new-fangled four-minute water-saving gizmos for the shower. My problem is that I can't seem to get any of them to work.

Now I thought these would work like the el-cheapo four-minute egg timer I have in the kitchen. It's a simple device. There is sand in the bottom, you turn it upside down and voila, four minutes later all the sand is back at the bottom. Time's up!

Your sophisticated modern shower ones are a puzzle, for, try as I might, I can't get the sand to go to the bottom. I've tapped them, shaken them, dropped them. Nothing happens.

They do look lovely lined up on my shower wall, but I really would like at least one of them to work. Is there a PIN I need? Do I need to download firmware from the internet? Any assistance would be appreciated.

Stephen Mead, Rowville

© 2009 The Age

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