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The Cabanandra-Avonleigh PlantationsFrom the road, nothing seems to have changed in theplantations on McKillops Road apart from a missing gate at themain entrance near the former house. In fact, a great deal hasbeen happening although the effects of these changes are notyet visible.When Willmotts was put into receivership /liquidation inSeptember 2010, management of the plantations went intolimbo. Gates were opened to ensure access for emergencyvehicles and weed and other pest control ceased. There wasno maintenance of firebreaks, declared noxious weeds, fencesor other infrastructure, although some locals say there waslittle enough of that when Willmotts was solvent.The job of selling Willmotts’ assets went to liquidators PPBAdvisory. The process was slowed by a court action fromWillmott Action Group (WAG).“Investors who pumped about $150 million into forestryschemes run by the failed agribusiness group Willmott Forestshave launched a class action against the company, itsdirectors and the Commonwealth Bank. In court documentsfiled in the Federal Court …, lawyers for the investors havealleged that documents spruiking three forestry managedinvestment schemes failed to disclose all the risks attached tothe investments.The investors have also alleged that Willmott overstated thevalue of assets including land and future wood sales andunderstated its liabilities '’by failing to provide for the cost offuture plantation maintenance work’''.http://www.smh.com.au/business/forestry-group-faces-classaction-20111223-1p8fu.html#ixzz21h4NuGTkThe judgement of the Federal Court failed to fully satisfy WAGwhich launched an appeal against the February decision. Thelatest news on the court process is bad news for WAG: thegroup has been ordered to pay the legal costs of theliquidators after Justice Davies’ decision on June 27 th thisyear.WAG explained its reason for its appeal against an earliercourt decision as follows: “The WAG Executive is of the viewthat what is happening so far is an improper and courtendorsed transfer of wealth from investors to Banks (andothers) and this cannot be allowed to be successful if at allpossible. There are, in our view, a host of improper andunconscionable conflicts between banks/liquidators/courtofficials/lawyers/Forestry Players all to the detriment ofgrowers WHO HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG IN THISWHOLE PROCESS AND WHOSE INVESTMENTS WERENEVER IN LIQUIDATION.” (Capitals in original on WAG’s website) http://www.willmottactiongroup.com/Action_updates/actionupdate21042012.htmlWhile WAG was fighting in the courts, another group callingitself Willmott Growers Group (WGG) was negotiating to retaincontrol of those plantations planted for them by Willmottbetween 1996 to 2000, in hope of recouping some of theiroriginal investment.“It is WGG’s view that, with the collapse of Willmott ForestsLimited (WFL), the Project is no longer being adequatelymanaged. In order to restore the Project as close as possibleto its original status, it is necessary to appoint a newresponsible entity (Trustee) and also to provide amechanism whereby ongoing and future maintenanceand management costs will be funded by Growers.Converting the Project to a contributory scheme is thebasis of the WGG Proposal. In addition, there will bean initial management fee to pay for the costs ofsaving the Project as well as to cover any requiredforestry remediation costs.”Their efforts resulted in the appointment by CourtOrder in late-December last year of Primary SecuritiesLtd to manage the Willmott 95-99 Project, the Treerights for almost 5000 hectares of their plantationtrees, though management really only becameeffective from early April this year. The Cabanandra-Avonleigh plantations make up 20% of the total.Primary Securities is the ‘responsible entity’ (Trustee)managing the land on behalf of the lessee Treegrowers.John Byrne, a forester from Bathurst NSW, iscontracted by Primary Securities Ltd to provide theday to day management of these particularplantations. [Note that the growers only lease the landon which the trees are growing, for 25 years from theirplanting date, but not the actual land. on which thetrees are planted. There are, however, moves afoot totry to purchase the land from the Liquidator.The balance of the Willmott Forests’ of the Bombalaregion plantations – 10,000 hectares – both land andtrees - is now owned through Global Forests PartnersLP which has set up a new company called SnowyMountains Forests. Most of those plantations wereestablished between 2000 and 2008, though GFP alsonow owns a number of the older Bendoc plantations.I recently spoke to John Byrne who tried to make thecurrent situation clear to me so that I could report inthe Tubbut Tattler. He has been down to look at theAvonleigh/Cabanandra plantation twice this year, andplans to be in this region again for a week from August12th. He tells me that there have already beenenquiries from neighbours adjoining the 95-99 Projectplantations. Primary Securities will not be taking onemployees at this stage; all work initially will beperformed by contractors. A contractor has alreadybeen hired to slash the perimeters and major roadswithin plantations, but wet weather has delayed thiswork. Weed-spraying, particularly on the boundaries,has also been arranged. Issues like fencing are out ofhis ambit however, and should be reported directly tothe landowner (currently PPB Advisory).John Byrne will be available at the Tubbut CommunityCentre from 4pm to 6 pm on Thursday 16 th August toprovide additional information and answer yourqueries.Information for this article has been taken from theweb sites of WAG, Primary Securities Ltd and theSMH. Thanks to John Byrne for his time in providinginformation and checking its accuracy.Deb
Bits & PiecesWe’d like to introduce you to Sheilas – an exciting newinitiative of the Victorian Women’s Trust. Sheilas is amonthly, national e-publication. We unpack news andinformation through quality analysis by top shelfcontributors. Each issue will cover topics relating toAustralian women alongside some excellent writing onsocial issues at large. We also throw in some arty fun justto keep you entertained!To visit Sheilas, follow this link: http://sheilas.org.au/We would also like to offer you a free subscription toSheilas. This includes monthly email access to each edition,and a monthly round-up of outsourced relevant news linksbetween editions via our Sheilas Monthly Mail. Tosubscribe, type in your email address at the top of thehomepage (you are free to unsubscribe at any time, simplyby clicking the link at the bottom of your Sheilas mail).Spread the word to friends and associates! If you areinterested in supporting the initiative further or have anyquestions, please email Sheilas editor Sarah Capper:sarah@vwt.org.au, or call the VWT on (03) 9642 0422.Writers, Contributors and Photographers Please Note:We welcome contributions and can offer payment oncertain pieces. If you have an idea for an article, pleasesend us an email at sarah@vwt.org.au.Photographers of all persuasions should check out theKeeping it Reel section celebrating ‘Pictures of You’ – thelived experience of women. If you wish to submit a photofor publication, please email us at sarah@vwt.org.au.Grazing management project at JarrahmondAn exciting project is commencing in Gippsland that willsupport the farming community gain practical knowledgeon the impacts of different grazing regimes through agrazing management demonstration.The 48 acre site is at Peter and Jeanette Honey’sJarrahmond property as they, along with many otherfarmers, are keen to understand whether changing grazingmanagement systems will better protect and enhance theirsoil and pasture assets, improve productivity and befinancially viable in this region.The project will be focused on two identical sets of threepaddocks. Set stocking will be compared with a mediumrotation and a longer one. The aim is to examine theimpact of different stocking rates and grazing lengthperiods in relation to pasture recovery time, feed qualityand total production.One block of three paddocks will be top-dressed accordingto soil test data and the other left un- treated. Data will begathered from the soil and pasture to test for any changesand the economics involved in adopting differenttechniques will be examined.Regular field days will be held on the site, with the first oneplanned for September. If you would like more informationcontact stuclarke@y7mail.comFriends of Errinundra working beeI would like to express my thanks to those who wereable to put aside some time to help with the installationof the Delegate River Campground info shelter lastweekend (July 14-15). I was quite pleasantly surprisedby how easily the structure went together.After a long day’s work on Saturday we had thestructure erected and the concrete footings poured andthe only job remaining was to put the roof on.I was able to go out the following day with my father(does this make him an honorary member?) and screwthe roof on so that the timber will be somewhatprotected from the elements until a second coat of oilcan be applied.David Butterworth, Parks Ranger_____________________________________________Aust Post, farmers team upFRUITS and vegetables will be delivered fresh from thefarm to the consumer's doorstep in a new Australia Postprogram. For the first time consumers will be able tovirtually `meet' various farmers, see their farm and buytheir produce at their prices through the internet, PerthNow reports.Australia Post's pilot paddock to plate venture is calledFarmhouse Direct and marries the country's largestdelivery network - servicing close to 10.7 millionaddresses every day - with local producers.The promise is to connect "you directly to the best localproduce'' and make local farmers markets and "artisan''produce an everyday experience, Australia Postcommunications manager Melanie Ward said.The pilot program started out as a collaboration withthe Victorian Farmers' Markets Association this year butits popularity has led to a national rollout involving 70producers and 680 products so far.Australia Post has set up a website - atfarmhousedirect.com.au - where farmers set up shopfor free and set their own prices. Users can explore thewebsite by region, product, produce and even by localfarmers markets like the Flemington Farmers Market toorder online.Farmers prepare the shipments, which are either pickedup by Australia Post from the farmer or handed in to adepot, and Australia Post looks after the delivery."It's an exciting project for us. Still in its early stages, butthe popularity has been overwhelming,'' Ms Ward said."These days it's important to set up an online presenceand we are helping some of the local smaller businessesdo that at no cost. The producers are the heroes.''An official launch of the program is expected towardsthe end of this year.http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/07/17/510941_business-news.html
Page 2: AUGUSTBIRTHDAYSSharon BuckmanEleni
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Page 20 and 21: OpportunitiesMonaro Library invites
Page 22: Kids CapersThis term the school has

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