Region: Strzeleckis Legal Number: LEGL/93-94/1

Plantation: Jack

Conservation Priority: High

Responsible Authority: Wellington Shire Council.
Plantation boundary lies within yellow lines. Area most likely sprayed with 2,4,5-T in mid 1970's marked within red line. A larger area of plantation in the Jack River can be seen here.

Jack River Catchment showing extent of plantations within LEGL93-94 (numbers eg 76 refer to the year of plantation establishment). Approximately 50ha appear to have been planted in 1976 (plantations within red line).

Plantations established in 1977/81 (`~1130ha) were most likely established with a concoction of Amitrole (Weedagol T.L. Plus) and (Gesaprim 500) Atrazine may have been sprayed. In 2002 scientists in the United States found that Atrazine at levels as low of 0.1part per billion altered hormones in frogs. Since then Atrazine has been found to have the same effect across a range of animals. 1130ha would probably have been sprayed with the Atrazine (4 l/ha/Amitrole 7l/ha) mixture. Totals 4520 litres Atrazine, 7910 litres Amitrole). The highest risk years for drinking water quality would have been between 1976-82.

Prior to September 1976, it is highly likely that aerial application of 2,4,5-T @ 1.1 litres a hectare occurred. ~50ha would have been aerially sprayed with 2,4,5-T in 1976. 55Litres of 245-T would most likely have been used in the catchment with 2500 litres of diesel.

Perhaps 40 houses (120 people) may have been accessing drinking water from the Jack River during plantation establishment time.

November 2001: Remnant vegetation and pine plantations in Jack River catchment.

Area within PaperlinX area of supply.

Located in Yarram Water Supply Protection Area - Groundwater

Area within Planthard Hardwoods (Drouin West Sawmills) area of supply.

Area within Brown and Dureau Softwoods (Morwell) area of supply.

THREATENED FISH NOTES - STRZELECKI STREAMS: Habitat for Spotted Galaxias, Mountain Galaxias, Broadfinned Galaxias, Tupong , Blackfish and the FFG listed Australian Grayling.

Approximately 50 hectares of this plantation area was sprayed with 2,4,5-T in 1976. 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 Grand Ridge Plantations - Strzelecki Ranges and Gippsland Victoria

Herbicide Label Rate max as kg/ha Used to control Euc/Rad Notes Application
Clopyralid 2.55 Woody Weeds Radiata and Eucalypts Highly Toxic/Potential Ground water Contaminant aerial or ground
Glufosinate Ammonium 1 Woody Weeds Radiata   aerial or ground
Glyphosate 3.6 Herbaceous and woody weeds, noxious weeds Radiata, Eucalpts and Custodial    
Haloxyfop-methyl 0.13 Annual and Pernneial Grasses Eucalypts Carcinogen aerial or ground
Hexazinone 4 Woody Weeds Radiata Ground Water Contaminant Aerial, ground, spot
Metsulfuron-Methyl 0.06 Woody Weeds, Noxious Weeds Radiata, Eucalyptus and Custodial Potential Ground Water Contaminant Aerial, ground or spot
Sulfometuron Methyl 0.6 Annual and Perennial Grasses and broadleaf weeds Eucalyptus Potential Ground Water Contaminant Aerial or Ground

 

Strzelecki Ranges Maps Here

 

November 2001: Gully of tributary of Jack River.

Hancock Watch visit November 2001: This is a large plantation mass stretching approximately 6km east to west and about 2-3 km north to south. Access was made into the plantation via Kalladay Road through pine plantations established in the late seventies. At the junction of Jack River Road we headed west then north. A small portion of the plantation on the easterly side was native vegetation including a tributary of the Jack River. Most of this area was dominated by farmland and radiata pine. After returning back to Kalladay Road we then headed west along Egans Road alongside plantations established in the early eighties. No logging appeared to be occurring although some of the slopes appeared to be quite steep. More work is needed to be done understanding this area.
Plantation Catchment: a) Several tribs Jack River/Albert River.
b) Several tribs Jack River/Albert River.
c) Several tribs Stony Creek/Jack River/Albert River.
d) 2 tribs Jack River/Albert River.
e) 1 trib + main arm Jack River + 2 tribs Billy Creek/Albert River.
Catchment Managment Authority: West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
Albert River - Below Staceys Bridge: Flows through open country, mud and sand bottom. Highly modified by agriculture, water is often turbid with wide variations in flow and water level. Where the habitat is suitable, trout will be found but, like the Agnes River, these areas are relatively inaccessible. Eels abundant and a few brown trout from 200 to 600g, occasional small river blackfish. Estuarine section often has estuary perch.
Jack River, Yarram: A tributary stream of the Albert River, fast flowing and running through partly cleared hills, rock bottom. Contains brown trout to 520g, average 160g, abundant mainly small river blackfish, tupong, both species of eels and grayling. 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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