Victoria's state-owned logging company VicForests has put Melbourne's drinking supply at risk by illegally logging on steep slopes in an important water catchment, according to the government regulator.
VicForests did not deny the two breaches found by the regulator, but noted the regulator didn't find any impacts on drinking water or the environment.
According to Professor Jamie Pittock, an expert in water management from ANU — who was not involved in the report — soil washed into the water can increase the chance of dangerous algal blooms and increase the cost of filtration. "It should be preventing these kinds of problems by actually doing the analysis in the first place to show VicForests the parts of the forest that they cannot log," he said.
VicForests denied allegations it took timber it wasn't allowed to, and said it was awaiting the results of an appeal against the recent federal court decision.The finding by the government's conservation regulator of breaches in two logging areas was originally uncovered in 2019 by ANU ecologists Professor Lindenmayer and Chris Taylor.
"[That's] more than 16 years of logging breaches right across the landscape throughout this part of Victoria. The regulator argued the map data used by the scientists was not accurate enough and included too few on-the-ground measurements.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Urgent virus alert for dozens of Melbourne suburbsThousands of households across Melbourne’s eastern, outer northern and western suburbs are being urged to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 after traces of the virus were detected in nearby sewer catchments.
Read more »
Urgent virus alert for 18 Melbourne suburbsThousands of households across Melbourne’s eastern and outer northern suburbs are being urged to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 after traces of the virus were detected in nearby sewer catchments.
Read more »
Melbourne mulls making outdoor dining parklets permanentMelbourne’s pop-up outdoor dining and drinking venues could become a permanent fixture under a City of Melbourne proposal to enshrine the “parklets” and footpath eateries that popped up during the pandemic | Melbourne CBD hospitality
Read more »
Many remote Territorians' drinking water contains above the recommended levels of mineralsIn many of the NT's remote Aboriginal communities water supplies contain above recommended levels of minerals such as uranium, iron, manganese and nitrate. Now the government plans to spend millions improving it.
Read more »
Of the nearly 100 drinks on the menu at this bar, only one is alcoholicThe demand for non-alcoholic drinks is skyrocketing and the idea of socialising without getting a hangover is trend that's catching on at a new bar in Melbourne.
Read more »