Hazard reduction burns in a Victorian state forest will continue after the Federal Court ruled they were unlikely to impact local endangered possum populations.
Environmental group Save Our Strathbogie Forest was seeking an injunction against Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action for planned burns in the Strathbogie state forest, over risks to the southern greater glider.
In handing down his decision, Justice James Horan said burns would generally result in low-intensity fires with limited impacts on the canopy.
“I’m not satisfied that the four planned burns … will have or are likely to have a significant impact on the southern greater glider population in the Strathbogie state forest or on the species as a whole,” Justice Horan said.
He noted the collapse of hollow-bearing trees could kill or injure gliders sheltering inside, but said it was unlikely to be common or widespread.
“The evidence does not establish that this is likely to lead to any significant reduction in the abundance of gliders in the planned burn areas nor in the Strathbogie State Forest,” Horan told the court.
The court was not required to consider the efficacy of planned burns or balancing environmental values against the objectives of reducing bushfire risk.
