Five councillors targeted by group

By Melissa Meehan
ENVIRONMENTAL group The Melbourne Water Catchment Network has declared war against five councillors just weeks before the election.
Following the Greater City of Dandenong’s decision to not support a motion against logging in water catchment areas, the network has launched an attack on councillors who do not support the group’s stance.
Spokesman Simon Birrell said councillors Roz Blades, Paul Donovan, Pinar Yesil, Jim Memeti and Youhorn Chea would be targeted by the group through advertising campaigns.
“We believe that the public has a right to know who they are voting for,” Mr Birrell said. “These councillors blatantly ignored their constituents and voted against the motion to oppose logging in water catchments.”
He said claims that residents in Greater Dandenong would be affected by flow-on issues, including job losses and hard times, was a matter of “clutching at straws”.
“We have done some research after those claims and have found that it would be pretty hard to see how there would be any job losses,” Mr Birrell said. “Dormit has a sawmill in South Dandenong and is the largest manufacturer of pallets in Australia.
“At most, only 8 per cent of logs used by Dormit could possibly come from the Melbourne catchments.”
The network has taken out advertisements in local newspapers asking readers: “Which Dandenong councillors voted to reduce your water supply?” The advertisement then names the five candidates.
In the past year, 15 Melbourne councils and the Municipal Association of Victoria have passed resolutions opposing logging in water catchment areas. Greater Dandenong is the first to oppose the motion.