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Chair
West Victoria RFA Independent
Panel
PO Box 502
East Melbourne, Victoria
3002
Submission for West Victoria RFA
Summary
The Otway Forum unanimously and unequivocally
calls for an end to logging in all water catchments which
directly or indirectly affect domestic water supplies. This
is with particular regard for the catchment for the Apollo
Bay area, but also includes water catchments for Geelong,
Warnambool and other towns within the region. It calls for
these catchments to be protected and enshrined in legislation
creating permanent conservation zones.
Introduction
The Otway Forum is a community group
that has been established for ten years. It is open to all
concerned residents or visitors of the Apollo Bay area,
and as such, its membership provides a broad and representative
cross-section of the community. It provides a setting for
round-table discussion of local issues or any other relevant
material. The Colac-Otway Shire and other local organizations
respect the voice it speaks with, because it is seen to
represent the best interests of the community.
Discussion
Due to the extensive nature of its membership
the debates within the Forum are penetrating and often vigorous,
but always thoughtfully conducted. Sometimes common ground
is difficult to obtain, but in this instance the Forum speaks
with a united and single consensus. At its last meeting
on Sunday, 30 January, The Otway Forum adopted a unanimous
position on logging in water catchments, which forms the
basis of this submission.
The Otway Forum calls for an immediate
end to all logging in water catchments which directly or
indirectly affects domestic water supplies. In particular
the Forum is concerned with the water catchment for the
Apollo Bay area, namely the West Barham. Community concern
is extremely high regarding the fact that the current "Consultation
Paper" for the West Victoria RFA carries no recommendation
or proposal to protect our water catchment.
Water Quality
During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s
the Apollo Bay water supply experienced a dramatic decrease
in its quality to such an extent that it failed to reach
World Health Organization standards. This resulted in public
notices being displayed throughout the town warning residents
and visitors alike of the danger of drinking the water.
We draw your attention to the attached document, "A
Report on the West Barham River Water Supply Catchment"
and a quote from Chapter 3;
"Until mid-1978, water quality
was reported to be satisfactory (coliforms <10/100ml.
W.H.O. Standard) at the reticulation point. Rising coliform
counts (Appendix 1) are probably a reflection of the increase
in ecosystem disturbance within the catchment".
And from Chapter 4;
".....the land use activities
producing the greatest hazards to the water supply at present
appear to be roading and forest management."
With logging still not excluded from
the West Barham River catchment we live in a state of continuing
apprehension as to the health of our water. In fact the
Forum finds it incredulous that the health of an entire
community would be risked for the sake of some very questionable
economics with regard to logging.
Tourism
The economic health of Apollo Bay
lies in its tourism industry. The future of this industry
is tied to the feeling visitors have of arriving in a pristine
environment. Imagine the impact on domestic and international
visitors alike if they had to be warned on the danger to
personal health of drinking the local water. How many would
come back? How many would warn others not to come? Let alone
the negative publicity that would surely follow in the media.
Again the Forum asks, why risk the economic health of our
community against the flimsy and negligible economic benefits
of logging.
Water Quantity
It is a well known and substantiated
fact that regenerating forests decrease water yield from
a logged area. This is due to the juvenile trees using more
water as they grow, increased losses through evaporation
and other factors. In the current enlightening environmental
climate we live in, the community at large is only now grasping
the value of water. Water is in the consciousness increasingly,
particularly in towns like Geelong, facing water restrictions
for the third year in a row. Why allow logging activities
to occur which decrease water yield when it is water which
is the most precious asset?
Economics
Various studies such as the report,
"Evaluation of the Economic Values of Wood and Water
for the Thomson Catchment" prepared by the consulting
firm Read Sturgess in 1992 (in association with Latrobe
University) show that the economic value of water is greater
than that of wood. The Thomson catchment being part of Melbourne’s
water supply. A further study in 1994 by Tasman Economic
Research for the DNRE and Melbourne Water backed up the
earlier conclusions. How much sense does it make for clearfell
logging to continue in the catchment of the West Barwon
River with the West Barwon Reservoir at 6% capacity? The
people of Geelong scrimp and save water while water bodies
such as Barwon Water must wonder at the lost economic resource.
Precedents
The Otway Forum is well aware of the
status of other water catchments. The water catchment for
Colac is totally protected and has never been logged. And
Melbourne Water and Yarra Water proudly promote and advertise
the undisturbed area from which their water comes. The Otway
Forum argues that the people and water catchments of other
communities be afforded the same respect.
Conclusion
In summing up, The Otway Forum feels
that the time is now right to put aside and protect for
future generations our precious water catchments. Along
with clean air, water is our most valuable resource. The
continuation of logging cannot be justified against the
various arguments of water quality/quantity, tourism potential
and the economic value of water. We call on the RFA process
to show vision and responsibility in protecting our water
catchments.
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