Goulburn Murray Rural Report
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Latest Report
35 cattle released into the Barmah Forest
The Barmah community has driven cattle onto Barmah Island in a move they say will reduce the high fire risk to the town.
The community, which includes members of the Rivers and Red Gum Environment Alliance, have moved the cattle in defiance of a DSE decision to not allow short term controlled grazing in the forest.
Chairman of the Alliance, Peter Newman says they have had no response from the Environment Minister's office to reverse the DSE decision.
"This is clearly a case of the department trying to manage the forest in isolation from other values such as human well being and adjoining property," he said.
"We have asked the department to immediately advise what fire prevention works, as required under the Forests Act, will be undertaken to alleviate the high fire risk to Barmah community and we have had no response."
Department says they are doing all they can do
The Department of Sustainability and Environment says they are disappointed with the Barmah Communities decision to graze cattle.
Peter Farrell North East land and Fire Manager with the DSE says they have done all they could do in planning and consultation with the community.
" We see it as an integrated plan looking at not only the public land that's close by to the Barmah township itself but also all the private property within the township and I understand there is some fire protection works that need to be done within the town and we'll certainly be looking at what works might need to be done on the public land."
Premier weighs in on debate
The Victorian Premier, John Brumby, is urging graziers to remove their cattle from the Barmah state forest.
Three dozen cattle were yesterday let loose in the forest, north of Shepparton, by protesters.
They're angry at the Department of Sustainability and Environment's decision to ban cattle grazing in the forest this summer because of the drought.
Protesters say the fuel loads in the forest are a big fire risk, that will threaten properties and the town.
But Mr Brumby says the DSE's decision was based on science and is in the best interest of the area.
"I hope the graziers will make the right decision and withdraw their cattle from the area because you know it's the right thing given all of the climatic and rainfall conditions that we've had, you just can't have the cattle in there because they'll do irreparable damage to the native vegetation that's there."
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GM canola harvest starts in Victoria
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No Pain, No Grain
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Sheep sales hit peak in Victoria
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GM crop contamination fears
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Feeding time at Werribee Zoo
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Benalla sets its sights on a healthy future
The Waminda Community House in Benalla, north-east Victoria, is working to improve the health of residents in a public housing estate, where many people say they cannot afford healthy food.
