The bulk of the Strzelecki State Forest is now managed by Hancock Victorian Plantations. Statewide, 47.3% of public land is protected in reserves and parks, yet only 8% of the Strzelecki State Forest is protected in a scattering of small, and disjointed reserves, and HVP are logging at an alarming rate.
To voice your concerns or exchange information here is a contact list of relevant
authorities.
If you write, please consider sending us a copy to add to our archives to help
add weight to our push for a large reserve (approximately 30,000 hectares -
almost half of the Strzelecki State Forest) in the Strzeleckis. Any input
or letters of support would be welcomed. - K Devenish and J Constable, PO Box
213 Foster 3960.
If you Phone State or Federal departments, to save time and money phone Information Victoria, on 1300 366 356 and ask to be put through.
Local Federal Government Politicians:
*Peter McGauren (Member for Gippsland - Lower House) PO Box 486 Sale, Vic. 3850
0351446744 our local federal MP is 'interested', but prefers to call it
a state govt. issue 'out of his jurisdiction'.
* Christian Zahra (Member for Macmillan - Lower House) PO Box 318 Moe 3825 ......Ph
1300 132581
State Government Politicians:
* John Thwaites, Minister for Sustainability and Environment
Level 3, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 3002 Telephone: 96511222; This Minister
has the job of protecting the Victorian environment and has the power to create
reserves.
Brendan Jenkins.(Member for Morwell)66 George St Morwell 3840.....ph: 51339088
John Brumby, Minister for State & Regional Development, GPO Box 4509RR,
Melbourne 3001; tel. 96519999; fax 96515298
John Pandazopoulos, Minister for Major Projects & Tourism, GPO Box 4509RR,
Melbourne 3001; tel. 96519999; fax 96515298
Phillip Davis, MLC Gippsland Province. 60 Cunninghame Street, Sale 3850.
0351-431038 Fax 0351-431057 (This politician was Parliamentary Secretary for
NRE during the privatisation of the Strzelecki State Forest
Peter Ryan, Gippsland South MLA and Head of National Party ( was Chairman of
State Parliament's Scrutiny of acts and regulations Committee during the privatisation
of the Strzelecki State Forest) 0351 441987; 54B Cunninghame St, Sale,
3850
Peter Hall, Upper House. 190 Franklin St, Traralgon 3844. 0351747066;
Fax 0351-761266
Some top public servants in the Department:
Ken King, Executive Director, Parks and Forests,
8 Nicholson Street, PO Box 500, East
Melbourne 3002 Tel. 039-6378409 Last time we checked, the Forests Service carries
out the clearfelling of 12,000 hectares of Victorian public native bush, annually.
Diane Paterson, Manager Flora & Fauna Div.DNRE, 250 Victoria
Pde, Melb DNRE Offices in Gippsland
Traralgon Office (main office for Gippsland Region): 71 Hotham st, Traralgon
3844; 0351722111. Regional Manager, Peter McHugh
Yarram Office: 0351 825155
Foster Office (Parks Victoria): 822133; 822446, 822659.
Leongatha Office: 0356622204
Warragul office: 0356234660 70 Smith Street Warragul 3820
Local Government: The Strzelecki State Forest spans 3 Shires. Since 1993, the Shires have been expected to police the Forest Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting on the leased parts of the Strzeleckis, (previously the job of the state govt.) and deal with breaches and complaints regarding logging in the VPC's chunk of the Strzelecki State Forest. Local shires also need to devise local Management Prescriptions, which are extra regulations which are added to the Forest Code of Practice according to local needs and circumstances.
*South Gippsland Shire: Private Bag 4 Leongatha 3953 ph. 0356629200
CEO .....................; Mayor: Heather Bligh
Environment Officer: Chris Rankin 56629267
*Wellington Shire Council: PO Box 506, Sale 3850. 0351423411.
CEO -------------- Mayor, ------------
*LaTrobe Shire Council: Civic Centre, Kay Street, Traralgon 3844; PO Box 345;
Tel. 0351-731400; fax 0351-745832
CEO .....................; Mayor:............................
A full list of councillors is available from Shire Offices.
HANCOCK VICTORIAN PLANTATIONS
(HVP) - A.K.A. Grand Ridge Plantations- buyers of the VICTORIAN PLANTATIONS
CORPORTATION (VPC) and Australian Paper Plantations (A.K.A. Amcor, Paperlinx)
The VPC was a "self-regulated, semi autonomous" State corporation,
formed in 1993, which was given 40000 ha. (two thirds) of the Strzelecki State
Forest. The State Government sold the VPC to US based corporation, Hancock
Timber Resources Group in November 1998. Across Victoria, the HVP hold 167,921
hectares of Victoria's public land. Of this, only about 115,000 hectares is
plantation.
Melbourne Office: 3rd Floor, 517 Flinders Lane, Melb ph: 92891400
Managing Director, Kevin White Chairman Robin Clements
Yarram Office- (main Gippsland office). Livingstone Road Yarram 51826200
Gippsland Zone Manager - Ian Sandeman.
Mirboo North Office: 0356-681401
MEDIA
The Age 250 Spencer St, Melb 3000 96004211
Foster Mirror PO Box 93 Foster 3960; 056822577 fax 822876
GI FM PO Box, 330 Sale 3850 443980
Mirboo North Times 56681201
Warragul Gazette, 97 Queen st Warragul,,,56235666
Leongatha Star, 36 McCartin, Leongatha fax:56624350
Latrobe Valley Express, 21 George St Morwell
Prime TV, 5 Church St, Traralgon 0351762633
Ten Victoria, Princes Hwy, Traralgon 0351771210
WIN TV cnr Argyle & Mason St, Traralgon 0351762243
Yarram Standard News, 241 Commercial Road Yarram fax 51825684
Sentinel Times fax:56723351
WATER AUTHORITIES These bodies have
been given the responsibility of the protection of waterways.
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority CEOGeoff Hocking.Chair -
Liz Clay. Traralgon Office: 51757800 PO Box 1374 Traralgon 3844.
Hotham St Traralgon......... Leongatha office: PO Box 99 Leongatha
3953. Ph: 56624555 The WGCMA is also in charge of Biodiversity.
South Gippsland Regional Water Authority, PO Box 102, Foster 3960 CEO
Steve Evans 56821222. This body deals with town drinking water, waste,
effluent etc in South Gippsland.
Gippsland Lakes & Coast Management Board - 1st floor, 177 Mainstreet Bairnsdale
3875 Executive Officer: Murray Rankin deals with coastal issues in co-operation
with the WGCMA. Tel. 0351-530456;