Police, loggers break East Gippsland blockade
By Marcel Cameron
MELBOURNE — Thirty-nine activists have been arrested after attempting to stop the clear-felling of wilderness quality old-growth forest in East Gippsland.
The blockade of the Goolengook catchment, established six months ago, was broken in a pre-dawn raid by police on June 13. Among those arrested was federal Greens Senator Bob Brown.
The Goolengook forest block lies in the heart of East Gippsland on the slopes of Mount Ellery. According to sources from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the area is listed on the National Estate and has been identified by biologists as a site of national significance for rainforest.
Trevor Coon from Friends of the Earth said that the order to clear-fell was given on June 5, World Environment Day. "The people arrested should never have had to put their lives on the line to save this forest. Trees were felled close to protesters and a couple of people are very lucky to be alive", said Coon.
A party to raise funds for the blockade, featuring live music and environmental films, will be held on June 26 from 9.30pm at 244 Pitt Street at Sublime.