Eight conservationists were arrested yesterday near Lavers Hill in
the Otways when Environment Minister Sherryl Garbutt sent in police to
break up a five-day blockade. Protesters had locked on to machinery to
stop clear-felling in a block bordering endangered myrtle beech rainforest.
The blockade was supported by Great Ocean; Road residents and business
groups, who said Ms Garbutt broke an agreement to defer the logging of
particular blocks this season in return for peace in the Otways. Ms Garbutt
has denied there was an agreement.