On 14 March 2012, environment group MyEnvironment lost their Supreme Court case against Vicforests.   The Court rejected their argument, made on their behalf by their lawyers Bleyer Lawyers and barristers Kristin Walker and Emrys Nekvapil, that Vicforests ought not be able to log forests at Toolangi that are habitat for the critically endangered Leadbeaters Possum.  The case’s many supporters w Read more about Why the Toolangi case was so important

The Victorian Government's Federal Court challenge to try to implement its controversial 'alpine grazing trial' begins at the Federal Court tomorrow.  The matter is listed for a 'First Directions' hearing, at 9:30am. Read more about Alpine Grazing Federal Court Case Begins

The Supreme Court yesterday decided in the case of MyEnvironment Inc v VicForests that the law did not protect an area of Leadbeater's Possum habitat in Toolangi from logging by VicForests.  Read more about Supreme Court Rules Against Toolangi

On 28 February 2012, the Victorian Government lodged an appeal with the Federal Court against the Federal Environment Minister, challenging his recent decision to refuse approval to the Government's 'alpine grazing trial'.  The Environment Defenders Office has obtained a copy of the application, which is available Read more about Victorian Government Takes Alpine Grazing to the Federal Court

The Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, has rejected the Victorian Government's proposal to return cattle grazing to the Alpine National Park as 'clearly unacceptable' under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.  The Victorian Government had referred the proposal to the Minister for assessment and approval under the Act. Read more about Federal Government rejects Alpine Grazing Trial

As of 3 January 2012, VCAT has reinstated its Major Cases List. The Major Cases List aims to speed up the planning appeal process for planning disputes that concern high-cost developments.

The Major Cases List was originally introduced in early 2010, but was suspended in March 2011 after it ran out of funding. Read more about VCAT Reinstates Major Cases List

Over the past year, the EDO has received lots of inquiries from people concerned about current or proposed mining projects in their area.  A common complaint is difficulty accessing information about the mining projects.  We have had reports of the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) not providing information to members of the public, which is required by law to be publicly available.  Read more about DPI and access to information about mining