Region: Ovens Legal Number: LEGL/93-141 Plantation: Beechworth 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.

93-141 March 01: Native vegetation within holding.

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.

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

Probably one of these plantations was sprayed with Hexazinone and Ulvapron in November 1985, which in turn led the then Minister for Conservation Forests and Lands, to introduce a ban on all aerial spraying of pine plantations in the Stanley region in February 1986. Stanley Orchardists called for a ban on spraying in January 1986 after they found chlorotic spotting on many of their orchard trees and fruit (chestnuts, walnuts, cherries, apples etc). This was the result of overspray by the State Government run Forest Commission. A similar incident occurred near Ballarat in 1993

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

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.

Ex Gold Mine Area: Gold workings occurred in the headwaters of Burgoigee Creek during the 19th Century.

Responsible Authority: Indigo Shire Council

Plantation Catchment: Many creeks into Burgoigee Creek/Ovens River.

Catchment Managment Authority: North East Catchment Management Authority

Hancock Watch Site visit Mar 01: Entered site from the north. Drove through access road which headed south. Saw quite substantial vegetation running in gully along creek draining westward. Travelled until Flagstaff raod. Came across another patch of native vegetation at corner. Headed through uncleared plantation until Kojak Road. Headed south following plantation boundary. On western edge of plantation came across some recent thinning operations. Some of the access tracks had been cut directly through road batters - felt that this was quite unsatisfactory.

Hancock Watch Site Visit May 2001: Drove right off Gap Road just up from 93-139. Road drove almost on a ridge and was connected to Kojak Road. The plantation in question is actually two plantations, with the smaller plantation located in the headwaters of Myrtle Creek. From the vantage point above the plantation it was difficult to determine if there were adequate buffers on Myrtle Creek. The plantation looked quite young and was probably replanted a couple of years ago.

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)

93-141 March 01: Thinning operations can also increase erosion potential.

93-141 March 01: Remnant vegetation/buffer zone on gully line.