VALUABLE mountain ash timber will be salvaged after being devastated in this year's bushfires. Environment Minister John Thwaites approved the operations, which will harvest six times the annual quota of mountain ash over 18 months. The timber industry applauded the Government decision, claiming saw-logs needed to be cut before the dead trees split and became worthless. But Environment Victoria said the Government had failed to consult with green groups before allowing the loggers into the ecologically fragile burnt-out areas.