Invested In Our Future
The local Guttrum and Benwell Forests to the west of Koondrook are part of the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project. The proposed works to the forests form part of Victoria’s commitment to the Murray Darling Basin Plan. The projects...
The local Guttrum and Benwell Forests to the west of Koondrook are part of the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project.
The proposed works to the forests form part of Victoria’s commitment to the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
The projects seek to improve environmental outcomes in the forests.
Sadly, serious concerns with the fundamentals of the project have forced the community to proactively lead on how the projects are delivered.
Well-funded government departments appear to have lost the ability of true engagement, reporting, ethics, risk management and common sense.
The health of the forests is vital to our community, eco systems and future generations.
Unaddressed concerns include-
- Salinity
- Power costs
- Duration of inundation
- Disruption of natural flood events
- Fire risk
- Cultural sites
- Third party impacts
- Forest access
- Monitoring
- Outcomes
- Bird breeding
- Topography
- Tree health
- Tree density
- Weed infestation
An initial community meeting to discuss the concerns and to seek better outcomes for the project was attended by 14 community members. Many attendees, who were encouraged by the work at the Pollack Swamp in achieving a balanced common-sense approach, do not wish to see a top-down approach with no accountability.
Improved outcomes in the Guttrum and Benwell Forests can be a beacon for school and community education and science, celebrating cultural history, balanced natural resource management and our natural world.
The concerned community members will now form part of Myall Landcare.
Guttrum-Benwell Community Thoughts
