Wood chopping future remains in doubt due to court action

Northeast Victorian wood chops will soon be plunged into doubt with enough logs left for only three more competitions.

Northeast Victorian wood chops will be plunged into doubt from next month with enough logs left for only three more competitions.

Northeast Axemen’s Association secretary Brent Smith said securing logs before a court order limiting harvesting timber in VicForests-managed areas was handed down, proved a saviour for events at Tolmie, Tallangatta and Mitta Mitta.

“But very soon it’s really going to come home to roost for us,” he said.

“We were lucky before all the issues were created with the court injunction to get a load of logs back in August, September.

“But future supply and future events are really in question.”

A wood chopping competition at the Ballarat Show.

Victorian timber workers were forced out of the bush following a Supreme Court ruling on a drawn-out case involving Environment East Gippsland and VicForests in November.

A VicForests appeal set for late March is too late for some events including the Berwick Show this weekend, with doubts also hanging over the Melbourne Show in September.

NSW is experiencing its own supply issues with the Royal Canberra Show wood chop also cancelled this year.

Victorian Axemen’s Association president Brad Meyer. Picture: Jason Edwards

Victorian Axemen’s Association president Brad Meyer said there had been a run of cancellations in western Victoria with the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo chop in late March also in doubt.

“We’re running out of logs fast and there are grave fears still for the Melbourne Show,” he said.

Mr Smith, a third generation wood-chopper, said the major threat to the sport came at a time when it was undergoing a resurgence.

The Mitta Mitta event on the Labour Day long weekend is holding a women’s only chop for the first time and organisers of car “show and shines”, heritage sports days and music festivals have made contact about adding wood chops to their programs.

“We can’t commit to them without having that timber supply behind us,” he said.

The Seymour Alternative Farming Expo wood chopping competition is in doubt.

Mr Smith said Victoria had always been a “safe area in terms of timber supply” due to a sponsorship agreement with VicForests.

“Even if the likes of private bush was available it is just so labour intensive,” he said.

“We’re a small club and it’s a finite number of people you are drawing on.

“Safety also comes into it on the harvesting side of things.”

Nationals MPs including the member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, have raised the issue in the Victorian parliament.

“This is a decision that affects the lives of regional Victorians all so Labor can garner favour with the inner-city voters they represent,” Ms Kealy said.