Region: Ovens Legal Number: LEGL/93-143/1 Plantation: Ovens Conservation Priority: Low/High

93-143 March 01: Native vegetation within plantation surrounded by pine.

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

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

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

April 2003: Logging has recently taken place in Connellys Gully. This photo shows a drainage line - clearly marked on topographical maps - but granted no buffer protection inside the plantation. A pool of water can be seen in the drainage line.

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.

Responsible Authority: Alpine Shire Council

Plantation Catchment: Headwaters and tributaries of Nil Gully/Barwidgee Creek/Ovens River. Headwaters and tributaries of Carleys Gully/Happy Valley Creek/Ovens River. Headwaters and tributaries of Connellys Gully/Happy Valley Creek/Ovens River. Numerous drainages into Happy Valley Creek.

Catchment Managment Authority: North East Catchment Management Authority

Hancock Watch site visit Mar 01: Extensive plantation taking in whole mountainside east of Myrtleford. Saw some evidence of logging carried some months earlier, however poor roading and steep gradiants made access into most of the plantation very difficult. Slopes ranges from steep to flat with little or no buffer zones on creeks evident from our brief visit. Most of the area not logged at the moment. Some native vegetation was evident on the plantation's eastern side. Site Visit April 03: Recent logging had been taking place in Connellys Gully catchment and a catchment that feeds into Happy Valley Creek. Poor roading formation will probably mean that a large amount of sediment may be generated off the site. Very poor buffer zones on natural drainage lines was evident. Steep slopes had been clearfelled in the past few months.

April 2003: Recent roading extensions in the plantation showed no proper drainage and culverting. Here is an example of poorly structured roads (Road 9). In the event of heavy rainfall much of these roadsides will erode into the natural drainage lines that eventually feed into Happy Valley Creek.

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

p11 Central Region

To the north and east of the Eastern Boundary Fault lies an extensive area of mountainous terrain composed of Ordovician sandstones and mudstones that are less resistant to erosion than the rocks of the south-western region. The drainage pattern is dendritic and the streams are seperated by sharp ridges and spurs. The mountains to the south of Mount Buffalo are typical of this region, which extends east to Mount Beauty and north to Myrtleford. In the north-west around Moyhu and Bobinalwarral the ridges of Ordovician sediments become buried beneath the alluvial deposits of the riverine plain.

Within the region, exposures of granitic rocks have intruded into the surrounding Ordovician sediments.Intense heat associated with the intrusions has altered (or metamorphosed) the adjacent sedimentary rocks. The granite outcrops at Mount Buffalo and Mount Emu are extremely resistant, while the surrounding sedimentary rocks which are less resistant have been deeply dissected.

In contrast, the granite in the Pinnacles area to the east of Myrtleford is more susceptible to weathering and erosion and as a consequence the terrain in this area is more subdued. A ridge of metamorphic rocks borders Happy Valley to the east of Myrtleford. Friable reddish and brownish gradational soils occur on the Ordovician sediments of this region, while the granitic rocks of Buffalo Plateau and Mount Emu exhibit a variety of soil types. Stony loams are characteristic of rocky outcrops while poorly drained sites contain organic loams and peats. Sandy loams and friable gradational soils are found on the lower slopes of these intrusions. The less resistant granitic rocks at the Pinnacles and Abbeyard carry a variety of gradational soils on the upper slopes and a range of duplex soils at lower elevations. The gradational soils are suitable for softwoods, but the poorly drained duplex soils are not.

Barwidgee Creek, Myrtleford: Flows from forested country, through grazing land and tobacco crops to join the Ovens River between Myrtleford and Gapstead. A shallow stream with a fine gravel and sand bed. Carries mostly brown trout to 700g, some rainbow trout to 350g, river blackfish and some small redfin.

April 2003: Recently logged plantation which drains directly into Happy Valley Creek. This shot was taken from Road 11. Note obvious steepness of the terrain.

Happy Valley Creek, Mytrleford: A small creek flowing through grazing land, sand bed, joining Ovens River below Myrtleford. Contains some brown trout to 640g, and some river blackfish and redfin. Some trout spawning occurs in the stream, and trout enter the creek from the Ovens River.

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)

93-143: March 01: Whole mountainside covered in pine. Massive erosion potential when harvested.

93-143 March 01: Inside plantation. There are some milder slopes.

93-144: Recent pine clearance. Northern slopes. March 01.

93-144 March 01: Photo taken from north east of plantation. Whole hillside is pine.

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