Greens call for forest transition to plantations

The Victorian Greens today called for Labor and Liberal to join the Australian Greens in backing a new dialogue between the State's logging industry and conservation groups on how to complete the transition out of native forests and into plantations.

"Some of the key players involved in the historic Tasmanian logging agreement are also involved in the Victorian native forest logging industry—and they are ready to enter into a similar process," said Damian Magner, Greens candidate for Eastern Metropolitan.

“If we could give clear tripartisan support for the talks, it could be a matter of weeks or months before we can see the industry on a new path that completes the transition out of native forest logging and into jobs rich plantations.

“The Greens are committed to assisting affected workers with a targeted package of vocational training, relocation subsidies and generous redundancy payments to affected workers.”

“We must stop wood-chipping our native forests and start protecting them for the immense value they provide for climate, biodiversity and water,” said Samantha Dunn, Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria. "Our native forests should be protected and managed for these purposes, not squandered for woodchips."

“The people of Victoria don’t want to see our unique forests destroyed in this way, over 80% of Victorians are against wood-chipping. They want our beautiful forests conserved so that current and future generations can enjoy and value them.

“Every Green vote at the coming state election is a step closer to a win-win breakthrough on the logging issue, as the result in Tasmania clearly demonstrated."

“The transition in Western Victoria has been a resounding success," said Marcus Ward, Greens candidate for Western Victoria.

"In the Otways and the southwest, plantation logging is booming, employment is growing and the old conflicts are in the past. Plantation workers are being sourced from overseas. Across the state, the wood products industry continues to innovate and thrive with 85% of wood for building and processing now coming from plantations.

“Ending native forest logging east of the Hume will greatly reduce Victoria's carbon footprint, equivalent to removing 2.4 million cars from the state's roads as well as releasing an extra 60 gigalitres per annum of water into our domestic water supply. That's more than enough to supply the cities of Ballarat and Bendigo,” said Mr Ward.

“An historic window of opportunity has opened thanks to our Tasmanian neighbours. It's time to put the conflict of the past behind us and help Victoria's loggers secure a competitive, profitable future in plantation logging.”


Further information:

Samantha Dunn 0429 29 29 04 or samantha.dunn@vic.greens.org.au

Damian Magner 0402 687 472 or damian.magner@vic.greens.org.au

Marcus Ward 0427 235 254 or marcus.ward@vic.greens.org.au

samantha in the press - public transport

Steam over station
Mail Newspapers
by Casey Neill
9 November 2010

samantha in the press - public transport

Steam over station
Mail Newspapers
by Casey Neill
9 Nov 2010

a public transport plan for the east

I joined with Greg Barber MLC, Greens spokesperson for Public Transport, and Damian Magner, Greens candidate for Eastern Metropolitan to launch the Greens Public Transport Plan for the East of Melbourne at a mock station in Doncaster.

Pictured left to right: Samantha Dunn - Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria, Greg Barber MLC - Greens spokesperson for Public Transport and Damian Magner - Greens candidate for Eastern Metropolitan. It's a disgrace that commuters in the outer east have to wait 30 minutes for train services and up to an hour for connecting bus services, The Greens are committed to fast, frequent, well connected, safe and accesible public transport.

It was a fitting place for the launch, at the old council offices, built in 1892, sited there as it would be right on the railway line, the people of Doncaster have been waiting for their railway line ever since.

Initiatives in the plan that specifically cover Eastern Victoria include:
>Duplication of the single track sections of the Lilydale and Belgrave Lines (the Belgrave line will be limited to Upper Ferntree Gully due to significant topograhical constraints and environmental impacts)
>Triplication of the Box Hill to Ringwood line - this will allow more express services to Lilydale and Belgrave
>A new train station at Hull & Mooroolbark Rds on the Lilydale line
>Implementation of all of the recommendations of the Bus Service Review
>Ensuring all vehicles and stations are fully accessible to all
>Establishing a Public Transport Authority to plan, manage and integrate all public transport services across Victoria

If you'd like to know more about the Greens Public Transport Plan for the East, click here.

greens commit to ringwood station upgrade

It was terrific to hear Greens candidates commit to the upgrade of the Ringwood Station at a public transport candidate forum this week.

Ringwood Station is well overdue for an upgrade, it's ramps don't comply with DDA requirements making it near impossible for people with a disability to negotiate the station with dignity.

Pictured left to right: Damian Magner - Greens Candidate for Eastern Metropolitan, Samantha Dunn - Greens Candidate for Eastern Victoria, Cr Alex Makin - Mayor, City of Maroondah and Margaret Stephens - long time community advocate for accessible public transport with the missing piece of the public transport jigsaw in Ringwood.


The functionality and accessibility of Ringwood station plays a key role in enhancing travel along the Lilydale and Belgrave lines as it is a key interchange station between to two lines

The Greens are committed to a fast, frequent and well connected public transport system. Accessible, safe and fully staffed railway stations play a key role in that.

Upon hearing the announcement, Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin said, "I am absolutely delighted The Greens have pledged their support to transform Ringwood Station into an accessible, safe and integrated public transport hub."