Region: Otways Legal Number: LEGL/93-44 Plantation: Boonah Conservation Priority: Med Click here for Otways map. Approximate Size: 450ha

93-44a Feb 01: Retreat Valley Road. Otways soils are very dispersive and are similar to those of the Strzeleckis. This means that good road construction is vital.

Plantation within AKD Softwoods area of supply.

Plantation within SPE Exports (Geelong) area of supply.

Portion on plantation borders Painkalac Creek (Airey’s Inlet) Water Supply Catchment. Proclaimed 13/5/81.

Land System: Forrest Rainfall: 900-1100mm

Landscape: Deeply dissected Hills

Native Vegetation: Open Forest: E. Obliqua, E. radiata, E. cypellocarpa. Tall Open Forest: E. cypellocarpa, E. obliqua.

Soils: Brown Duplex soils; brown gradational soils.

Forms of Soil Deterioration: Sheet and Landslip erosion.

Herbicides Used by Hancock in Pine Plantations - Ballarat Region Victoria

THREATENED FISH NOTES - BARWON RIVER: Probably Blackfish in mid to upper reaches. The lower reaches have 1 of 2 of the main spawning areas for Australian Grayling west of Melbourne.

Responsible Authority: Surf Coast Shire Council/Colac-Otways Shire Council

Quote of the year 2002: "Colac Otway Shire 6/12/02. Freedom of Information Request.

In response to your request for information relating to the use of herbicides by plantation companies, I advise that there are no records within Council, as plantation companies are not yet required to advise either Council or the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of their intention to conduct herbicide applications.

Plantation Catchment: HW of Several tribs of unnamed creek that flows into Retreat Creek/Barwon River.

Catchment Managment Authority: Corangamite Catchment Management Authority

Hancock Watch Site visit Feb 01: Entered the plantation from the east side along Retreat Valley Road. Drove along road and saw very poor examples of roading, where the batters were eroding away in front of me - in the late summer! Took many photos highlighting poor quality of roads, culverts and drains. This road will be a disaster in the wet months - especially when the area is to be logged. Slopes appeared to vary from OK to 20 degrees - however erosion potenial bound to be large. Very few signs of native vegetation except some remnant trees along Retreat Creek.

Other notes: A study of the Land in the catchments of the Otway Range and Adjacent Plains - Soil Conservation Authority 1981.

p143 "Both establishment and harvesting of hardwood and softwood forests cause serious changes to the natural hydrological balance. Pine establishment on disused agricultural land and previously forested land has led to widespread deterioration. The steep north and west facing slopes of Lorne, Forrest, Moggs Creek, Aire, Mt Mackenzie, Bunker Hill and Yahoo Creek land systems are the most severely affected.

Sheet erosion losses can be minimised by working in coupes along the contour, and by maintaining adequate vegetative cover with litter layers over the soil surface. The incidence of landslips increases following harvesting, when the binding effect of tree roots is removed and the soil is subject to saturation for longer periods. The study area share the current trend to reduce the total area of productive forest land and manage this smaller area for higher yields. As with agriculture, nutrients removed in forest produce need to be replaced through the use of fertilisers. The fertiliser requirements of soils designated for long-term hardwood and softwood production require investigation.

p142 Steep slopes in and around drainage lines are more stable under hardwood than softwood forestry, because of longer growth period and more selective logging practices.

Barwon River above Winchelsea: Usually a slow flowing river with extensive shallow reaches and pools up to 2.5m deep. Flows from moutainous forested country upstream of Forest to grazing land, sand and mud bottom. Lower section modified by agriculture and flow is controlled by water releases from West Barwon Reservoir. Trout spawning occurs in the headwaters. Contains river blackfish to 140g, some brown trout to 600g, redfin, short-finned eels and spiny freshwater crayfish.

Source: A G uide to the Inland Angling Waters of Victoria by BR Tunbridge, PL Rogan, CA Barnham. Department Conservation and Environment. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, 123 Brown St, Heidelberg, 3084. (4th ed - 1991)

93-44b Feb 01: Retreat Valley Road - Pine falling onto road due to eroding soil.

93-44c Feb 01: Retreat Valley Road - High erosion potential. What will happen to this area after a heavy rainfall?

93-44d Feb01: Retreat Valley Road - High erosion potential. Shot taken in mid-summer.

93-44e Feb 01: Retreat Valley Road - High erosion potential

93-44f Feb 01: Retreat Valley Road - Erosion of drain alongside logging road.

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