A community group that says state-owned logging company VicForests has failed to properly survey for threatened species in a harvesting area has expanded its case to allege breaches in multiple western Victorian forests.
Key points:
The Supreme Court has extended an injunction to halt VicForests timber harvesting in a Wombat State Forest coupe indefinitely
VicForests says a new reptile survey found endangered mountain skinks in the area
Wombat Forestcare is extending its case to allege breaches in multiple areas
Wombat Forestcare won a temporary injunction in September that halted VicForests' timber harvesting operations in a Wombat State Forest coupe near Daylesford.
The injunction was extended indefinitely by Justice Melinda Richards in Melbourne on Thursday after the Supreme Court heard that VicForests surveys had discovered nine endangered mountain skinks in the area.
VicForests says it has notified the Department of Environment of the discovery in the coupe – known as Silver Queen – and is waiting to hear whether any special protections will be introduced.
Wombat Forestcare has now expanded its case to allege breaches of species survey requirements in other western forests, including Mount Cole, Pyrenees, Lerderderg, Cobaw and Enfield.
Survey ongoing
During a previous court hearing VicForests said it had not surveyed for reptiles or quolls because there was no evidence of the species being found in the Silver Queen coupe.
"You don't find them in this part of Victoria," barrister Fiona Hudgson said in September, in reference to the skink.
"It is a reptile that doesn't move very far, Your Honour."
Justice Richards questioned that assessment, noting that the Department of Environment had created a special protection zone for mountain skinks six kilometres from the boundary of the coupe.
VicForests says it started the new on-ground reptile survey last week, but was unable to complete it due to the wet weather.
The survey is expected to be finalised when the weather clears.
Broadened scope
VicForests has been conducting salvage logging operations in Wombat State Forest to clear debris following wild storms in June and October, 2021.
VicForests' barrister has argued removing wind-thrown timber was not a timber harvesting operation, but Justice Richards said it was premature to address that point at this stage of the case.
Yesterday the court ordered VicForests to provide documents to Wombat Forestcare detailing current and planned timber harvesting coupes in western Victoria.
Wombat Forestcare's barrister, Jonathan Korman, said the group wanted to assess whether to seek urgent protections for these other forest areas.
"There may be serious environmental damage going on," he said.
The case will return to court for a directions hearing in February and is expected to go to trial next year.