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“They are also not consistent with relevant scientific research,” Justice Richards said.
“VicForests’ current approach falls short of what the precautionary principle requires for the conservation of greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders.
A logging coupe at Rubicon, in Victoria’s Central Highlands.Credit:Karena Goldfinch/supplied
“The ecological evidence was that those gliders living in [logging] coupes that are harvested in accordance with VicForests’ current practices will probably die as a result of the harvesting operations.”
Sue McKinnon, the president of Kinglake Friends of the Forest, said her group was relieved the gliders would now have an improved chance at survival.
“It’s outrageous that the Department of Environment, in particular the Office of the Conservation Regulator, has not been regulating the laws around government logging of Victoria’s state forests,” Ms McKinnon said.
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“Customers of VicForests, including the Nippon Paper Mill and Chep Pallets, should move immediately to 100 per cent plantation wood and stop purchasing from VicForests.”
Justice Richards ruled that VicForests should pay costs to the environment groups, with an amount to be determined at the next court hearing.
Until the next hearing, the existing injunctions or bans on logging remain in the Central Highlands and East Gippsland, an area of about 7000 hectares. VicForests cannot log any coupe that has a greater glider in it, or within 240 metres of it.
A VicForests spokesperson said the organisation was disappointed by the court’s decision and was reviewing and reconsidering its options.
Last week another community group, Warburton Environment, won its case against VicForests, which determined that the logging agency must survey for and protect a threatened plant species, the tree geebung.
A state government statement said it noted the proceeding and would take time to reconsider the judgment.
“Final orders have not yet been issued,” the statement said.
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