RALLIES have continued in the city and in the forest coupes of Sylvia Creek as protesters vow to stay united in their stance against logging by VicForests.
More than 40 protesters – including Toolangi residents, city conservationists and members of the Wilderness Society and My Environment – stood outside Premier Ted Baillieu’s office in Camberwell for more than two hours on Thursday.
They called on the premier to intervene and protect the habitat of the endangered Leadbeater’s possum and native trees.
It follows a series or rallies, including one that took place inside the forest coupe.
More than 28 Black Saturday bushfire survivors and conservationists placed yellow ribbons on native trees around Sylvia Creek in the Toolangi State Forest on Wednesday as an emblem of support for bushfire victims.
The forest is one of the few that have survived the bushfires.
Wilderness Society forest campaigner Luke Chamberlain said some of protesters were people who had lost homes or a loved one in the fires.
“There are a lot of people who were directly affected by the bushfires and are very upset by the logging,” he said.
“We lost some of our own members during the bushfires.”
McMahons Creek resident Rosey Hallewas, who attended the protest, said
it was unnecessary to “destroy” the forest.
“There are so many other more ethical options VicForests could be pursuing. We will continue to remain defiant until our message is heard.”
Mr Chamberlain said the “peaceful rallies” would continue until the state government took action
and she called on the Department of Sustainability and Environment to further investigate the land. A DSE spokesman said the department had asked VicForests to conduct further surveys of the area.