Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DSE REFUSES INDEPENDENT ECOLOGICAL AUDIT
Calls for an independent ecological audit into the disastrous 2008 Browns Camp burn in the
Barmah
forest following the release of a report yesterday on the burn by University of
Melbourne professor Peter Attiwill were refused by Department of Sustainability and
Environment Land and Fire Manager Peter Farrell.
After acknowledging on ABC radio the burn had destroyed some habitat trees for the
nationally vulnerable superb parrot, Mr Farrell was asked to agree to an independent audit of
the burn site to confirm Rivers and Red Gum Environment Alliance claims that up to 80 red
gum trees had been killed in the burn.
Professor Attiwill’s reports confirmed research carried out for
Parks Victoria by Professor
David Kemp that there were environmental benefits from controlled seasonal grazing.
Departmental officers also privately agreed with this assessment as shown in Freedom of
Information documents obtained by the Alliance.
There
is no evidence these views were put to the Minister for the Environment prior to his
decision to ban cattle grazing in the forest.
Deputy Leader for the Nationals, Peter Walsh and member for Rodney, Paul Weller were at
Browns Camp to launch the report at the site of the contentious burn.
Standing in a sea of head-high scotch thistles and Paterson’s Curse and pointing to a nearby
400 year old red gum tree that was destroyed by the burn, Mr Walsh said if the burn site was
an example of park management, the community had nothing to look forward to in the area
being declared a national park.
“There are no environmental benefits at Browns Camp from the current management” said Mr
Walsh. “We will use this report to inform the debate on new red gum national parks in
parliament next week.”
“The Brumby government should plan to use controlled seasonal cattle grazing as the most
effective fuel reduction tool available for the Barmah forest”.
-
ENDS -
Media Contact: Max Rheese 0428 621320. info@rrgea.org
The Rivers & Red Gum Environment Alliance is a not-for-profit community and user group
based environment organisation having no political affiliation. A viable solution to the land and
water management challenges facing the red gum forests along the Murray River and its
major tributaries is paramount for the environment as well as the communities along the
rivers. For more information about the Alliance, visit www.rrgea.org
November 6th 2009
NEWS 
