Media Release
Tuesday Feb 7
Bulldozers move-in on quokka

Peter Murphy (right) talking to a logger

The Forest Products Commission supported by police from Bunbury and Donnybrook - moved into Arcadia forest near Bunbury this morning and began bull-dozing trees in rare mainland quokka habitat, despite protests from members of the local community, who were threatened with arrest if they didn't leave the forest.

"Quokka and their habitat are protected under several wildlife conservation Acts including the internationally recognised Montreal Agreement of which Australia is a signatory, and therefore the logging operation in Arcadia is illegal." Spokesperson for the Preston Environment Group and local eco-tour operator Peter Murphy said.

"The police threatened to arrest the wrong people, when it should have been the FPC arrested; not members of the local community, who were only trying to protect the quokka. It appears the police have now become an instrument of the loggers." Mr Murphy said.

"The logging of Arcadia and death of the quokka will be a huge economic and ecological loss to all Australians - especially to the nature based tourism industry. The Minister for the Environment Bill Marmion has negated his responsibility in protecting an Australian iconic mammal on the edge of extinction, and now has quokka-blood on his hands." Mr Murphy said.

More protests are expected in Arcadia over the next few days.

For more information contact PEG on 97 321 270 or 043 997 6507
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For directions to Arcadia forest: Head to the town of Dardanup and follow the Ferguson Valley Rd until you get to Pile Rd on the left. Follow Pile Rd until it becomes a gravel road (it then becomes Mungalup Rd) and proceed (down-hill) past South Rd (on right), and then turn right onto Yabberup Rd. Follow Yabberup Rd until you come to Arcadia forest on right.
Maps to Arcadia