The Alexandra and District Traders and Tourism Associaton says that Murrindindi Council does not understand business and job creation.
ADTTA President Andrew Embling spoke on Monday, following Coun-cil’s press statement.
“It is most disappointing to read the Murrindindi Shire Council press release regarding their view on the future of forestry in the Shire,” Mr Embling said.
“According to their own feedback, in their Council Plan, the community wants economic development and jobs to keep our communities alive. They do not want to see more shops closing and numbers continue to drop at our schools.
“It is not a case of jobs versus the environment, with world’s best practice both can support each other.
“Sadly, the message is Murrindindi Council does not understand business and job creation,” Mr Embling said.

COUNCIL SNUBS BUSINESS GROUPS
Murrindindi Shire Council is ignoring the protests of business groups, and will continue its anti-native timber harvesting policy.
The Alexandra and District Traders and Tourism Association says the Council is “not walking its talk by sitting down and working with gusiness groups to work together to ensure we support our current jobs that keep our towns alive”
The Council this week issued a statement, maintaining its position which calls on local timber harvesting to cease.
Last month, the Traders Association and Murrindindi Inc representatives attended a special meeting with Council to voice their concerns. They said that more than 100 local families rely on jobs associated with the timber industry.
Council adopted the ‘Central Highlands Statement’ at its May meeting, acknowledging that it had not spoken with all stakeholders.
Councillors justify their stance by again referring to their ‘Have Your Say’ survey which involved only 11 per cent of the local population.

COMMENT
by Ash Long, Editor
The Left-leaning Murrindindi Shire Council has again referred to its simple three-question ‘Have Your Say’ questionnaire to justify its anti-timber industry stance.
The random survey, in which 89 per cent of the local population did not participate, is yet again being used as the reference point on which Councillors rely to justify a stance against an industry which provides 100 jobs in the municipality.
The Alexandra District Traders and Tourism Association says that the Councillors do not understand business and job creation.
Mayor Cr Charlie Bisset issued a statement on Monday (Oct. 9) that ignores the business case put to Council by the ADTTA and Murrin-dindi Council late last month.
“Murrindindi Shire Council Mayor Charlie Bisset said Council
was aware of the importance to our
communities of prioritising economic development and jobs growth to ensure a prosperous future for the Shire.
““We also know that people want to maintain the fantastic natural environment in which we live and value the landscapes and forests around us. “We wanted to ensure the Statement about the Central Highlands Forests got this balance right,” said Cr Bisset.
“In adopting this Statement, Council was keen to acknowledge and capture the complexities of managing the Central Highlands Forests.
“It also wanted the Statement to reflect Council’s commitment to protecting and enhancing the economic future of the Murrindindi Shire and to work with the timber and related industries to support the inevitable change.
“Council recently met the Shire’s industry representatives to discuss their views about the future of their industry and listen to their concerns about the Statement.
“Council understands the entire logging industry is under pressure and that those involved in the sector within the Shire are concerned for the future.
“This is a sector which has gone through immense change and significant job losses over the last 10 years across the State, including in Murrindindi Shire.
“In Victoria, there has been a 25 per cent reduction in the harvest of Mountain Ash (and similar species) from native forests since 2009.
“VicForests is now predicting a further 40 per cent reduction in the harvest of Ash timber species will occur between 2017 and 2020-21”, Cr Bisset said.
“The VicForests Resource Outlook shows the available timber resources will not support sustained harvesting at current levels in the long term.
“It is likely that harvesting volumes in the Shire will decline in coming years. We don’t want to – and simply cannot – ignore this”.
“Instead we want to ensure we help support the change that is coming in a way that ensures a secure economic future and jobs in this area and supports the families in our communities.
“The Statement calls on investment from State Government to help achieve this. We will shortly be meeting with the Minister for Environment, Lily Ambrosio, and will discuss with her a list of priority projects the Government can invest in to advance this,” said Cr Bisset.
““We know from Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ engagement that people are really keen for us to prioritise economic development and jobs growth in the Shire.
“We also heard another message
loud and clear – that our communities really value the natural environment,” Cr Bisset said.

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS STATEMENT
Murrindindi Council adopted the Management of Central Highlands Forests Statement at its May 2017 meeting.
This explanation appears at the Council’s website:
“Murrindindi Shire Council is concerned about the impact of current timber harvesting on the landscape, biodiversity and a range of other current and future uses of Victoria’s Central Highlands forests, particularly in the Rubicon Valley.
“The Council is also concerned about the future of businesses in the Murrindindi Shire that rely on timber harvesting – an industry in transition.
“Following Murrindindi Shire Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ survey, we know preserving the natural environment of the Murrindindi Shire and supporting our economy are top priorities for our communities.
“The Council calls on the Victorian Government to:
n Phase out current native timber harvesting activities in the Central Highlands forests within the Murrindindi Shire, and in particular to cease harvesting in the Rubicon Valley pending resolution of the best approach for the future protection and use of these unique areas; and
n Invest now to assist in industry transition and ensure that communities reliant on timber harvesting can continue to be part of a thriving economy in the future, including transition to alternative, plantation-base timber supply.
“The Victorian Government made an election commitment to establish an Industry Taskforce to provide leadership on the future issues facing the forest industry, and protection of our unique native flora and fauna.
“There is a lack of clarity about when or if this process will deliver a clear direction for the future of forest management.
“It is only appropriate that the continued harvesting in the Central Highlands Forests, and particularly current substantial harvesting underway in the Rubicon Valley, cease until a clear future direction for forest management is established.
“Council is also opposed to any harvesting in old growth forest and urges the Victorian Government to act quickly to preserve these forests.
“The timber harvesting and processing sector is in transition and no more so than in the Murrindindi Shire.
“Following the 2009 fires, the available timber resources will not support continued harvesting at the level and using the approaches employed historically.
“Murrindindi Shire Council recognises concerns that continuing to do so is causing damage to our environment.
“It is also undermining the range of our forests that underpin the economy of Murrindindi Shire and limiting possible alternative uses of forests, including for tourism and recreation purposes.
“The last 10 years that has seen a major reduction in the number of timber processing facilities operating in the Murrindindi Shire with a commensurate reduction in employment.
“While Council continues to support local businesses involved in timber processing, saw logs are largely transported out of the Murrindindi Shire.
“As a result, Murrindindi Shire communities bear the adverse impacts of harvesting activities (for example, impacts on roads and other uses of state forests, visual impacts on the landscape) but do not share fairly in the economic returns.
“While change is occurring, currently the timber industry and associated businesses continue to be important employers in Murrindindi Shire.
“Timber resources in the region are limited and continued harvesting at current levels will see these exhausted in coming years.
“Investing in a new, sustainable future for this region is critical, including a transition to plantation-based timber supply.
“Now is the time for the Victorian Government to invest in the necessary transition for this sector, rather than waiting for changes in the sector to impact future options involving alternative forest uses which could assist with this transition and help bolster the local economy.
“Murrindindi Shire Council stands ready to work in partnership with a Victorian Government that is ready to invest in a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable region.
“Local government has been excluded to date from the process for determining the future management of the Central Highlands forests. This is unacceptable.
“Murrindindi Shire Council looks forward to a positive response to its continued efforts to meet to discuss these issues with Victorian Government ministers to advance this critical issue for the future economic prosperity of the Shire.”