"The organisations are also concerned that the present level of DNRE (Department of Natural Resources and Environment) funding is impinging on the ability of the department to manage the forest," the letter said. Signed at the Daylesford Town Hall in front of the Federal Environment Minister, Senator Robert Hill and various State and Federal MPs, the letter was welcomed by a State Government backbencher, Mr Dick de Fegely, who said it was a constructive contribution to the forest's management.
However, the rosy prospect of a new era of forest detente was dashed before the ceremony's conclusion, when timber workers hijacked the ceremony, complaining that they were left out of negotiations. The assistant federal secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Mr Michael O'Connor, told the mill owner's representative, Mr Geoff Proctor, and the Central Victorian Forestry Company manager, Mr John Slorach, that they should be ashamed of themselves for not involving the union when negotiations began 10 months ago.
Wombat Forest Society president Mr Tim Anderson said his group supported
logging in the area, but also wanted conservation values protected.
The idea of the joint letter arose when the society addressed a group of
loggers last year and found they shared many concerns.