Halt logging to preserve precious water (2)

Megan Clinton, St Kilda, The Herald Sun (letter), 3/4/2000

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WATER is a precious and finite resource and, as Melbourne Water managing director Brian Bayley is aware, is becoming more so.   Mr Bayley (Herald Sun, March 29) applauds various projects that are attempting to conserve our precious water resources, and calls for everyone to join in the spirit of these initiatives.

While agreeing with these initiatives, I find it alarming that no mention was made of the detrimental clearfell logging that is taking place in Melbourne's water catchments.   Several years of government research has been undertaken showing quite conclusively that younger forests have half the water yield of older forests. The logging practices carried out in Melbourne's water catchments ensure that the forests remain at a young age, where consumption of water is at its highest.

At this time, five of Melbourne's water catchments are opened up for seven months of the year for clearfell logging.  These unprotected catchments provide Melbourne with 18 per cent of its water. With restrictions looming, we as residents cannot afford to lose that amount.

It is therefore imperative that Melbourne's water catchments are protected from detrimental logging practices to ensure our limited water resources are not further reduced.


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