Region: Ovens

Legal Number: LEGL/93-127/1

Plantation: Porepunkah

Conservation Priority: Medium

Plantation within Australian Newsprint Mill (ANM) Ltd area of supply.

Plantation within Carter Holt Harvey (now owned by International Paper) area of supply.

Plantation within Dominance Industries (Alpine MDF Industries) area of supply.

Plantation within D & R Henderson/Monsbent area of supply.

North East Victoria Plantation Map here

Proclaimed Water Catchment Area: This plantation area is located in the Ovens River (Wangaratta) Water Supply Catchment.

This plantation was very likely to be aerially sprayed with 2,4,5-T between 1968 and 1977. The Dioxin TCDD may still exist in soil in this plantation. For more historical data on 2,4,5-T click here. For more information concerning the continuing health crisis concerning 2,4,5-T please forward to here.

Herbicides Used by Hancock in Pine Plantations - North East Region Victoria

LEGL93-127: Porepunkah plantation lies just northwest of the Victorian town of Bright. Note the close proxity of houses.

MURRAY RIVER SUPPLIES WATER TO YARRAWONGA, COBRAM, BARMAH, ECHUCA , KERANG, PIANGIL, SWAN HILL, ROBINVALE, MILDURA

Old Gold Mining Area: South slope of the ridge between the Ovens River and Roberts Creek - Good Templar's was worked in the 19th Century.

THREATENED FISH NOTES - OVENS RIVER: Most important river in Victoria in regard to the survival of the Murray Cod. Murray Cod spawn almost as far up as Myrtleford and the Ovens supplies recruitment for the Murray River as well. The Ovens has no dams and is a river of extreme national significance. Trout Cod are now being found in the Ovens and may set up a self sustaining spawning population. Trout Cod have been successfully stocked into Ovens and upper Ovens, downstream of Myrtleford and going up the King River - past Moyhu. All the tribs of the Ovens are important for native fish including King, Buffalo and Buckland Rivers.

Responsible Authority: Alpine Shire Council

Plantation Catchment: Tribs of Ovens River.

Catchment Managment Authority: North East Catchment Management Authority

Hancock Watch site visit Mar 01: Drove past but did not inspect the plantation due to time constraints. Some of the roading appeared to be very steep. 03: Recent logging looked like it had taken place on the flat portion of the plantation, but most of the plantation had not been logged in some time. This plantation lies on the north west side of the Ovens River very close to the township of Bright.

“Special Investigation: North-Eastern Victoria - Ovens Softwood Plantation Zone. Land Conservation Council 1981.

p12 The eastern region The eastern part of the study area - which extends north from Mount Beauty, along the Kiewa Valley, and as far west as Havilah - consists of mountainous terrain composed of metamorphic rocks. These rocks are more resistant to erosion than the sedimentary rocks of the central region and have been subjected to intensive faulting, which in turn has influenced the alignment of major streams in the area. The Kiewa Valley is bounded by faults, and many of its tributaries - for example, Running Creek and Glen Creek - follow fault lines. Friable reddish and brownish gradational soils dominate the steep mountainous country, while duplex soils are common on the lower valley slopes and alluvial fans. These soils are generally suitable for the growth of softwoods unless they are poorly drained.”

Ovens River: The rivers all flow north, from heavily forested mountain country through excessive river flats to the Murray River. Murray cod populations close to the Murray River. Small river blackfish are common in many rivers, Macquarie Perch are still occasionally caught, and catches of golden perch are also being reported. Brown trout widely distributed through system with rainbow trout most abundant in upper reaches. Upstream from Myrtleford - Brown Trout to 1.3kg, some rainbow trout, small redfin and river blackfish.

Ovens River: Upstream from Myrtleford - Brown Trout to 1.3kg, some rainbow trout, small redfin and river blackfish. Source: A Guide 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)

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