Should we still be able to harvest timber in the Otways?

Bracks said "No" to the public areas,  but now it seems, even those who manage forest on private land must let it rot or burn, rather than harvest it . No one in particular has made this decision , its just lodged in a formula in a big pile of paper that people in the highest authority in our land will refer you to once you have spent weeks filling out the other formulas  to get you there in the first place .Its like maths,only very simple maths.  It looks like decision making , but its nothing like it .
Lots of Victorians are rightly concerned to make sure we look after our forests because we have knocked them over too easily in the past .  If you are not clear when and where harvesting should occur   Click here
Duck shoving is a great Aussie word ( as early as 1850) that has now widespread use in the English language . It's not a word to be used lightly,  but it does apply to the type of decision making last week where no-one in particular is responsible for making a decision that says No  . If the problem is not dealt with , more paper will be printed and less tough real world decisions will be made . The system of referrals is dumb unfair , unworkable unreasonable and irresponsible .
The proposals that were knocked back last week were in the light green area  ( ECV 201 and 30 )
As you can see,  the biotype  at issue is extensive ( infact its the biggest and main type of tall timber forest in the Otways ) There are lots of private blocks under that green area and the high rainfall means the green area covers the most productive high quality forest for timber harvesting .   EVC 30 and 201 are listed geographically as " common " and the conservation status is listed as of " least concern" .
None of us have, I trust, any objection to being careful when the ecosystem is rare,  but the geographical extent is broad , the general status is" least concern",  and no clear statement of rarity or risk  has been made.
The point is,  if the light green area can be rated very high significance, no particular species issue identified, and then no logging is permitted as a result , how can anyone expect to safely regenerate timber on their own properties in the Otways in the future ?
Even "existing use rights" cases could take a bit of proving when you , your father and your grandfather have had to  leave the forest alone for at least 60 years ( while you made some money elsewhere) before you can get a return for the rates your family paid for all those years. And the proposal is to regenerate the forest to a standard better than the last fire left it . Questions welcome .
If you are interested in reducing the number of agencies hiding behind strategy plans and other excuses see the post below on "the arts precinct"( September 2008),  or add some newposts of your own .

Kana and other Festivals

Great  day and great display ---especially by all the schools .  
OCR FM won the musical prize of 100 CD's and the opportunity to go to APOLLO BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL   If you can't go, listen to Brian broadcasting live from the Bay between 3-5 pm Sundays( and maybe more )(Some photos please)

Smoke Concerns

Smelling smoke? - wondering where its coming from ? Some idea can be gained by checking  exactly where the wind is coming from ( click on Mt Pourndon on sidebar )

Thanks to those who have been talking about the need for a smoke information service .( see post below ) Bit of a paradox there somewhere . You know there is something burning somewhere,  and smoke is clouding the view,  but you are not sure where its coming from .
The Yeodene fire in the peat is reportedly burning as deep as 20 metres down and is unlikely to go out for years.( some pictures coming) The peats high water repellancy and petro chemical nature means it remains an ongoing risk.Seems that the coal type smell from this area is a distinctive
Smoke is also coming from DSE control burns at Aireys Inlet /Lorne area . More control burns are planned for this week.Some across Jancourt way see HERE.  Apparently even Lake Colac is on shedule for a burn.

Does someone have to die before Barwon Water is called to account?

Today several of this districts public spirited citizens were out following up one disaster created by mismanagemenet of our underground water resources when the very thing predicted to cause yet another type of environmental impact,  had started in the peat on Boundary Creek, Yeodene .
Smoke .
They rang the fire service and got the fire listed .  The point is, you can't easily control fires in peat.  Last time this happened,  the fires got away and one in 1998 nearly tore through the Otways (  the Yeodene fire of 1998)
The Yeodene fire on 12th March 1998 started in this drying peat and was going so well it spotted  into near Forrest within minutes . A call went out to evacuate the Otways as there was no way anyone would survive between Forrest and the sea . Amazingly , an earlier than predicted wind change prevented a really big Otways blaze .
Another fire got out of control there in 2007 .
Why worry you might say ? Well on the 12th March1998 the smouldering stuff  had been  monitored quite closely,  but it was obviously not monitored closely enough. Peat fires caused by excessive pumping of the water out of them are almost impossible to put out .
What does this mean for the residents of Forrest , visitors along the GOR , Lorne Wye and holiday makers along the coast and Otway hinterland?
A fire could start anytime day or night in the Yeodene area  , and be outside your door within  a very short time  . There is possibly nothing the government can do now but sit on such areas fulltime when the bushfire risk is high .They can't put such fires out ; not even with something  bigger than  Elvis.   ( you heard it first on blogger 11.30pm 2nd March 2010).