Gippsland › Latest news › East Gippsland Local News

East Gippsland Shire Council approves native timber harvesting application at Cabbage Tree Creek with environmental safeguards

East Gippsland Shire Council approved a native timber harvesting application at Cabbage Tree Creek, following DEECA consultation. The proposal includes environmental safeguards and may be appealed to VCAT due to community objections.

By news@gippsland - 20th March 2025 - Back to News

East Gippsland Shire Council has approved an application for native timber harvesting and regeneration at Cabbage Tree Creek. The application on privately-owned land follows several years of consultation between the permit applicant and the Victorian government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

East Gippsland Shire Council approved a native timber harvesting application at Cabbage Tree Creek after years of consultation with DEECA and the permit applicant

Sustainable timber management

Mayor Cr John White said the decision was based on advice from DEECA, and the potential environmental impacts are addressed in a property vegetation plan, prepared in accordance with the Victorian government's 'Guidelines for the Removal, Destruction and Lopping of Native Vegetation', and endorsed by DEECA.

"The timber is proposed to be harvested using a Variable Retention Harvesting method which aims to retain and protect a broad range of forest values with a focus on high biodiversity conservation values. Council considers that there are sufficient safeguards in place to allow the proposal to proceed," John said.

Responsible timber harvesting

In 2022, the council adopted a position paper on native timber harvesting which "supports a high quality, low volume native timber harvesting industry where communities continue to thrive, forests have multiple uses, biodiversity is protected, and where harvested timber is used for the highest value purposes".

Last August, the previous council requested the Minister for Planning to decide on the application. The Minister responded in January this year and did not agree with the request. As there were objections to the proposal, the council's decision may be appealed to VCAT.

Pictures from Victorian Government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com