Upper Yarra
Tuesday, 6 June, 2023
Emergency services respond to fatal crash and building fire
Coming together for Reconciliation Week at The Memo
Dutton and Violi say the Voice won’t affect marginal seats
Warburton Film Festival coming up this month
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A Star News Group Publication
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From left: Professor David Lindenmayer, Rick Ridgeway and Sarah Rees at the entrance to the Myrtle Gully Walk in November 2022.
Picture: ON FILE
Park plan revived By Callum Ludwig
but with great consideration and empathy also for those who are employed in this sector,” she said. “They have to undergo, in some cases, quite radical changes to their lives so my sympathy for them is strong.” The GFNP idea came to life in the most destructive of circumstances for forests in the
Yarra Ranges, following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. It was seen as a way to save what forest remained and protect the biodiversity, including critically endangered species like Victorian faunal emblems; the Leadbeater’s Possum and Greater Glider. Ms Rees said the proposal has been a long process. Continued page 3
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Following the announcement that Victoria’s native forestry industry will be shut down from 1 January next year, 1.8 million hectares of land previously slated for timber harvesting needs a new purpose. The Great Forest National Park (GFNP) proposal which materialised from the Yarra Rang-
es could be the possible solution. Founding member of the GFNP proposal and Toolangi resident Sarah Rees said she was somewhat surprised to see the abrupt end of Victoria’s native forestry industry. “A lot of money and time and effort has gone into finding solutions for this forest and naturally, we were, on the one hand, overjoyed,