| Back to Letters | Back to Forest Letter Watch |
Goolengook has a unique mix of warm and cool temperate rainforest found only in this corner of the state. David Bellamy, after visiting Goolengook, once said that East Gippsland contained the most important example of temperate rainforest in the world.
Several years ago I stayed at the Goolengook protest camp for two of the most pleasant, unforgettable weeks of my life. I was guided through amazing primaeval virgin rainforest. There were massive shining gums up to 600 years old with thick-trunked jungle grape vine twisting up to the canopy; endangered slender tree fern 20 metres high; and gnarled kanooka trees more than 1000years old - all to the sounds of a hundred different bird songs. It was like stepping back in time. The area is also a stronghold for the endangered long-footed potaroo, spot-tailed quoll and powerful owl.
Unfortunately, I must respond to the "greenie bashing" in the media. The protesters at the camp were the most intelligent people I have ever met. They included a maths teacher, an environmental scientist, a biologist and a retired state politician. They were pleasant and cooperative.
There were no heroin addicts, weapons or razor wire in sight. It's also important to remember the fort was built not to keep the police out, but to protect the protesters after they were attacked by locals with baseball bats.
The Goolengook river catchment area of 5000 hectares, which protesters believe should be made into a national park, makes up only 0.5 per cent of East Gippsland's forested area. I believe, along with many other people, that this precious virgin rainforest deserves top priority for protection. Places like this should be internationally praised for being eco-tourism destinations.
Victoria is home to some of the world's most spectacular and tallest
forests. Would you rather Goolengook was protected or sold by the government
as woodchips for less than 10cents a tonne, profiting a few corporations
and ending up as paper?
| Back to Letters | Back to Forest Letter Watch |