The 350 Upper Bunyip Block remains in a relatively pristine condition when compared to most other forest areas close to suburban and rural Melbourne, and particularly in the vicinity of the Bunyip River headwaters. Such condition can be attributed to the relatively low levels of logging in recent times and its proclamation in 1963 as a catchment for town-water supply. As such, it has not been visited as much as other surrounding areas.

The 350 Block exhibits a wealth of bio-diversity values, both flora and fauna. Many of these values are now listed as threatened values and are protected under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. The 350 Block also has a significant and widespread distribution of Rainforest Sites of Significance (RSOS) that are, apparently, not yet affected by Myrtle Wilt or Cinnamon Fungus. Therefore an argument should be made for the forests in the 350 Block to be set aside for reference-monitoring and research purposes.

It should be noted that the current 1998 Central Highlands Forest Management Plan fails to list the Upper Bunyip as a Site of National Zoological Significance, even though scientists from the old Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands (CFL) rated it as such in a significant 1984 Report on the Westernport Region. The UBAG addresses this deficiency in its own documents - see:

Damning evidence from DSE...

and download the PDF file
The Upper Bunyip is a Site of National Zoological Significance

On the other hand, the current Forest Management Plan does list the Upper Bunyip River as a National Site of Botanical Significance (in its Appendix G), noting that this site includes the regionally-significant Rainforest Site of Significance CH23, and that five rare botanical species have been recorded within the site - two of which are registered under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1998.

The natural values associated with flora and fauna and water conservation within the 350 Block are already recognized to be so significant nationally that it is imperative that the area be thoroughly researched before any future logging of the area be allowed to occur. Indeed, since the area has not been allowed to recover to a mature forest since last logged, consideration should be given to the long term potential of the area for its major contribution to an environmentally sustainable forest supporting a wide range of rare and threatened flora and fauna.

Details of threatened natural values are provided in sections 2.5 & 2.6 of the UBAG's 2004 Coupe Objections Document.

Download 2004 Coupe-Objections Document (as PDF)
(Note: You will need Acrobat Reader to display and print this document.)

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