Media Release
Sunday November 23rd
Historic rally demands Premier Brumby
removes bulldozers from water catchments
Today at midday the streets of Warburton will be filled with people from the Yarra Ranges Shire and
Melbourne calling for the protection of Melbourne’s water catchments from logging.
Formerly a timber community, Warburton residents now see ending logging of water catchments as
a mandatory step in their transition to a sustainable community. This
historic rally will also
highlight the massive carbon emissions associated with native forest logging.
"We are in the twelfth year of drought, feeling the impact of climate change and Melbourne's water
supplies are at an all time low,” said local councillor Samantha Dunn. “Premier Brumby must cease
bowing to the woodchip companies and stop logging our precious catchments. Our water supplies
need security, not bulldozers and chainsaws. Fourteen other councils agree with the Yarra Ranges
Shire Council, logging should be stopped in Melbourne's water catchments."
Sarah Rees, spokesperson for local environment group My Environment said, “Despite the
government’s own research showing that logging reduces water yield by up to 50% for 150 years,
Premier Brumby and Water Minister
Tim Holding refuse to act responsibly and protect the water
supply of Melbourne and regional communities.
The total impact of this is equivalent to the water
consumption of over 100,000 people.”
“It is not only the impact on our pristine water supplies that is at stake. Our forests store enormous
amounts of carbon, most of which is released when logged,” says Luke Chamberlain, The
Wilderness Society’s forest and climate campaigner. “The protection of these forests is a critical
plank of good climate change policy.”
“The government is well aware of the impacts of logging on our water supply and global climate, yet
are choosing to prioritise wood-chipping,” Ms Rees said.
“Warburton is making the transition from timber town to sustainable community. Logging of water
catchments is no longer an acceptable part of our vision for the future,” says local business owner
and environmentalist Keith Sarah.
For more information contact:
Sarah Rees
MyEnvironment
0438 368 870
Yarra Ranges Cr
Samantha Dunn
0407 364 509
Luke Chamberlain
The Wilderness Society
0424 098 729
Keith Sarah
Warburton Environment
0421 191 713
NEWS 
