13 The Great Eastern Mail MARCH 2018 THE wisdom of the government’s ongoing facilitation of old growth forest logging is increasingly being called into question by senior citizens across East Gippsland, and a new movement affectionately called ‘Oldies for Old Growth’ has recently sprouted. These ‘oldies’ are a group of free individuals who say they are tired of successive governments trying to label forest protectors as a minority of young radicals; when surveys show that the majority of Australians are opposed to the logging of native forests and would rather see their timber come from sustainable plantations. The launch of this new group coincides with pressure mounting on VicForests and the Victorian government, currently defending claims in court of unlawful logging and illegal rainforest clearing in East Gippsland. EAST Gippsland Shire Council began live streaming its council meetings in February using the first meeting of the year to trial the new technology. An upgrade to the audio- visual equipment in the Council Chamber means people who are unable to attend in person can now watch meetings from anywhere they have an internet connection. People will be able to watch meetings live on YouTube or at a later time. The live stream and video archive are available at eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/ meeting. Mayor Cr Joe Rettino said the move will allow more residents to take part in civic life. “Our shire is very large with distances that can make attending council meetings difficult. Now, our residents, ratepayers and people with an interest in our shire will be able to watch council meetings where and when it suits them,” Cr Rettino said. “For the trial, we enlisted the help of a number of residents from across the shire, in particular those who had requested live streaming in the past, so we could get a user perspective of how the technology worked. “Everything worked well, except for a slight hiccup with one microphone. Thanks to the instant feedback from the residents watching at home, we became aware of the issue and remedied it during the meeting. “I’d like to thank the community members who assisted with the trial and provided their feedback,” Cr Rettino said. “For the past couple of years council has made council meeting audio available to the public after the meetings. Live streaming builds on this beginning and I am sure it will a valuable tool in broadening community involvement in council meetings,” Cr Rettino said. The Victorian Ombudsman’s recent report on local government transparency listed live streaming of council meetings as one measure that contributes towards a council being transparent with its community. Council meetings are generally held on the first Tuesday of each month, alternating between afternoon and evening. A full list of this year’s meeting dates, locations and start times is available on council’s website, eastgippsland.vic.gov.au. FOLLOWING questions in State Parliament to the Public Transport Minister, it appears the V/Line carriage air conditioning trial that was to be completed in 2016 is still uncompleted, and possibly not even started, as we entered February 2018. “The initial time frame we were given was the trial would be finished 12 months ago and the actual upgrade itself would commence last year, but information we received this week is the trial is very different,” said Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull. “I am at the stage where I am wondering if any trial has even commenced as the Government cannot provide me with even the most basic information. I specifically asked the Minister: (1) On which line was the air conditioning trial completed; (2) What type of air conditioning unit was used in the trial; (3) Between which dates did the trial take place; (4) What were the findings of the trial; “However, the only response I have received in relation to this matter is: “The air-conditioning upgrades program which includes the design and development and testing of a prototype unit for the N-Class carriages is currently underway and will continue in 2018. “Blind Freddy would be able to read this as the trial, that was meant to be have started around 18 months ago, is not happening, as if it has, answers the above queries would be able to be answered,” he said. Mr Bull said his office had received a number of complaints about the service over summer, recently highlighted when the mercury closed in on 40 degrees Celsius. “The air conditioning was again not working, with a number of elderly passengers on board.” WORK on the new Orbost Skate Park is progressing well, with the project expected to be finished this month. It is being built in the same location as the old skate park which was removed last December. The old steel ramps have been replaced with contemporary concrete elements and new quarter pipes, roll ins, kickers, skate rails and more. All the concrete structures have been poured, and the steel sections have been installed. The finishing touches of the project are being applied with landscaping works underway. Council has appointed Drover Projects to complete the work, which will cost $75,500. Bairnsdale resident, Joanna McKean said, “My grandchildren should have the same opportunities that I had growing up, being able to walk through forests which have been in existence for hundreds of years. “Short sighted politicians who support this out-dated industry for a few votes are selling-out the future of our grandchildren”, she added. “It seems counterproductive for our government to be spending millions of dollars to reduce carbon pollution, while at the same time spending millions of dollars subsidising VicForests’ logging practices. “Our grandchildren deserve to live in a clean and healthy ecosystem. Our beautiful forests are being decimated before our eyes and if we do nothing, then our old growth forests will disappear, and our children and grandchildren will have the right to make us accountable for their loss.” Catherine Roadknight of Lakes Entrance said, “The main volunteer workforce in organisations such as Landcare are senior citizens, who are feeling betrayed by the government’s lack of forest protections. “I am a regular Landcare volunteer who is feeling this frustration. Why should I use my free time and energy planting tiny young seedlings, when a few kilometres down the road VicForests are logging thousands of trees, including old growth forests containing trees more than 400 years old. “Old trees are known as the best carbon stores, water attractors and water filters on the planet and are the friend of farmers and water authorities alike.” She asks, “Why is there a war on trees in East Gippsland when they are our life support system, and one of our major tourism assets?” Oldiesfor OldGrowth Forests OrbostSkatePark nearingcompletion Watchcouncilmeetings fromyourhome MAIN: The ‘Oldies for Old Growth’ group learning about threatened old growth forest on a recent field trip. BELOW: Some ‘Oldies for Old Growth’ admiring the magnificent tall trees they are hoping to save through their awareness raising campaigns. Jointhe Metung LionsClub forits Seafood Festival Hasair-con trialonlyjust begun? METUNG Lions have a proud history of feasting at Easter Time. Seafood lunches of local fish, prawns, oysters and scallops with chips and coleslaw available on the village green, with wines and soft drinks. A live band, Top Shelf, entertains from the top of a red double decker bus. Childrens activities include a bouncy castle and face painting, And then the Easter Bunny arrives with a basket of Easter Eggs. All funds raised support local community groups and Lions Projects. Metung Seafood Festival is held on the Village Green, Sunday 1st of April, starting from 11:30am. Brad Kasch of Drover Projects works on the construction of the new skate park in Orbost. mail THEGREATEASTERN BAIRNSDALE • PAYNESVILLE • LAKES ENTRANCE • METUNG Where Community Matters LADY OFTHE LAKES EDITION 2, FEBRUARY 2018 .50¢ Over The Counter WHEN the Tall Ship ‘Lady Nelson’ graces the shores of Paynesville this March it will be the first time since the 1980s a sailing ship of it’s size has done so. As part of the Biennial Paynesville Classic Boat Rally the ‘Lady Nelson’ will be sailing from Hobart to the Gippsland Lakes region as one of the main attractions at the weekend event, held March 3rd to 4th. The Lady Nelson is a Replica Clipper modelled on the ship of the same name built in 1798-9 that set sail to Australia in 1800. It was on December 3rd the crew sighted the land of New Holland (near Mt Gambier) then became the first ship to sail through the Bass straight from west to east to begin charting the then unknown coastline. The ‘Lady Nelson’ had a vital role in helping establish settlements in Hobart and on the Tamar River. The Paynesville Classic Boat Rally will showcase the best of locally owned and built classic boats with over 150 already registered and a further 50 to be displayed on shore both the Saturday and Sunday. Along with the exhibited sailing boats, speeds boats and other small vessels, the Expo, located near the GLYC, has over 30 marquees. Showcasing Marine equipment and accessories the Expo will also feature a variety of catering and entertainment for both adults and children. CONTINUED PAGE 3 Shop 2/182 Main St. Bairnsdale, Vic 3875 Ph: (03) 5152 5629 YOUR LOCAL COMPUTER STORE! BAIRNSDAL E 30DAYS LABOUR WARRANTY ON ALL REPAIRS WE GIVE YOU... NEW & USED MOBILE PHONES SMASHED SCREENS NEW/REFURB COMPUTERS PHONE & TABLET REPAIRS We can help you with... YOURCHANCETO WINANORMNEILSON PHOTOGRAPH PAGE6 BEPARTOF‘THEGEM’ NEWSPAPERANDSEND USYOURSTORYDETAILSPAGE4 Photo: Courtesy of the PCBR Plain sailing: 2016 Paynesville Classic Boat Rally was a huge success, and this one promises to be the same. Display Advertising: John 0414 597 422 Rick Holst 0413 278 422 Office (03) 9686 0858 EmailAdvertisingqueriesto: rick@holstadvertising.com