A LIMESTONE Coast harvesting company and a national peak forestry group says the devastating koala slaughter near Portland has nothing to do with the regional logging industry.
This follows dozens of koalas being killed or injured on a private bluegum plantation property near Portland, which has triggered widespread condemnation.
The regional forestry industry yesterday said it was “appalled and shocked” by the scene where dead and injured koalas were left scattered across a felled property.
People – who have visited the scene – yesterday described it as “complete devastation”.
The regional harvesting industry adheres to strict regulations regarding the safeguarding of koalas in bluegums.
These practices include the use of koala spotters and drones.
Officers from the Victorian environment department have been combing the property near Cape Bridgewater.
It is understood a Green Triangle logging company finished at the site late last year and left the koala population untouched.
Veteran Limestone Coast logging operator Snow Merrett said it was important animal liberationists did not use this incident to tarnish the regional logging industry.
He warned it was easy for “mud to stick” despite the regional logging sector not being involved in the bulldozing of these trees.
Mr Merrett said koalas were cute and cuddly animals and nobody within the sector wanted to hurt these animals.
“Koala spotters work in front of the harvesters and if they are spotted these trees are marked with paint – no harvesting takes place in this area,” he said.
He said it was not the industry’s intention to hurt koalas and the sector did everything it could to reduce the risk.
These comments were echoed by Australian Forest Products Association chief executive Ross Hampton yesterday who described the incident as a “callous act of animal cruelty”.
“All those who work in our forest industries join with the community in appalled shock at what appears to be a callous act of animal cruelty,” Mr Hampton said.
“Koalas are prevalent in many of our plantation forests and providing feed for koala populations is one of the great benefits of having plantations whilst the trees are growing,” he said.
“When time comes to harvest the plantation trees, forestry operators scrupulously and meticulously follow koala preservation procedures overseen by the Department of Environment in Victoria.
“Trees where koalas are resting are left untouched enabling the animals to move to another part of the plantation when the activity moves away,” Mr Hampton said.
“I’m advised the operators in this case were so careful they even took an injured koala which they found during inspection to the vet.
“I’m advised harvest of this area ended in November and the land was handed back to the owner before Christmas.
“It is unclear as yet who bulldozed the trees with the koalas apparently still in them, but it is absolutely certain that this was not a plantation or a forestry company.”
Mr Hampton said the association supported all those calling for the full force of the law to be applied to the perpetrator.
“AFPA will be launching its own investigation. Furthermore we will be ensuring that none of the timber which has been cleared is touched by any AFPA member,” Mr Hampton said.
Victorian politician Andy Meddick – from the Animal Justice Party – told The Border Watch yesterday the culprit who bulldozed these trees must face the full brunt of the law.
Visiting the site over the weekend, Mr Meddick described the scene as “complete devastation”.
“They have been felling these trees with koalas still in them – they have then been bulldozing these trees into massive piles that run the length of the property,” Mr Meddick said.
He said it appeared the perpetrator had no concern for these animals.
“This is a horrendous loss of life …. and some koalas have died from starvation,” Mr Meddick said.
“25 koalas had been euthanised on Saturday and there will still be more to come.”
The politician said the investigation would also uncover whether the logging industry was involved.
He said the “blame game” had already begun.
Mr Meddick said there were reports from locals the bulldozing occurred last Wednesday.
