Vic: Protesters ready to stop Otway logging today

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2001
Vic: Protesters ready to stop Otway logging today

MELBOURNE, April 19 AAP - Anti-logging protesters have wired trees with heavy cables
in preparation for another stand-off with police and forest workers today in Victoria's
Otway Ranges, south-west of Melbourne.

A 24-hour moratorium on logging in the contentious Ciancio coupe expires today, but
protesters have vowed to prevent any trees being felled.

Otway Ranges Environment Network spokesman Simon Birrell said about 40 protesters had
resumed their position in the coupe following at least six arrests by police at the logging
site yesterday.

Ten of the environmentalists had taken up positions in trees, with their platforms
joined to other trees by an intricate pattern of cables.

Mr Birrell said the cables meant that any trees felled would also bring down the protesters
on platforms.

"They are all down there wired up and ready to go," Mr Birrell said.

"They have wired the forest.

"They have put cables through the trees to stop them being felled. The cables are attached
to tree-sit platforms."

The protesters were also armed with large right-angle shaped pieces of steel which
they used to lock themselves to the trees, forcing arresting police to use cutting equipment
to remove them.

The protesters regrouped at the site yesterday following Tuesday's clash with police
which prompted Victorian Environment Minister Sherryl Garbutt to suspend logging at the
site for 24 hours "in the interests of public safety".

The minister said protesters had compromised the safety of timber workers, police,
Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) officers and search and rescue
personnel who were removing them from the coupe.

AAP bp/cjh

KEYWORD: LOGGING DAYLEAD

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