Members of the Wombat Forest community joined Extinction Rebellion to draw attention to the logging in Wombat State Forest.
The demonstration took place on the roadside of Forest Fire Management Victoria log storage site near Daylesford on July 1.
According to a state government spokesperson, works are continuing in Wombat State Forest as part of storm recovery works, after a storm in 2021 impacted about 45,000 hectares of the forest.
Larger fallen debris contributes to increased fire risk where it impacts the ability of firefighters to gain access to fires. Without access, fires could spread faster, according to the government.
The work is only targeting areas that were significantly affected by the storm and where safe and rapid access is required in the event of a bushfire, the government said.
Works are due to be completed in June 2026, weather permitting.
However, Wombat Forest groups remain unconvinced.
“Clearly, these salvage works are causing serious environmental harm. Soils are being compacted, young plants destroyed, and future habitat for many species is being lost – all the while failing to mitigate fire risk,” Wombat Forestcare convenor Gayle Osborne said.
“We have had three years of unrelenting industrial scale salvage of storm thrown trees from the forest. At one stage there were 14 35-tonne machines removing large logs and compacting the soil.”
A state government spokesperson said environmental values were considered as part of the works to remove storm debris and hazardous trees from the forest.
“Victoria is prone to bushfires that threaten communities and our unique environmental ecosystems, DEECA through Forest Fire Management Victoria is responsible for managing bushfire risk on public land including state forests and national parks to prevent, manage and suppress bushfires,” the spokesperson said.
“No timber harvesting is taking place in the Wombat State Forest, no trees are being removed unless they present a hazard and no clear-felling is occurring in these operations. These are not salvage logging or commercial timber harvesting operations.”
