Region: Strzeleckis

Legal Number: LEGL/93-88

Plantation: Albert

Conservation Priority: High

Area within PaperlinX area of supply.

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

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

Located in Yarram Water Supply Protection Area - Groundwater

Albert River/Jeffrey Creek Catchments (between yellow lines) showing extent of plantations within catchment (numbers eg 76 refer to the year of plantation establishment). Most (approximately 600ha) appear to have occurred before September 1976. Post September 1976 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. Hundreds of hectares would probably have been sprayed with the Atrazine (4 l/ha/Amitrole 7l/ha) mixture.

Prior to September 1976, it is highly likely that aerial application of 2,4,5-T @ 1.1 litres a hectare occurred.

Perhaps 30 houses (60-70 people) lie downstream of the headwaters of the Albert and Jeffrey Creek catchments, including campgrounds and swimming holes at Hiawatha.

Strzelecki Ranges Maps 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.

1967 aerial photograph of this 'plantation' area (north = top). Cleared land at bottom left of photo is known as Beech Hill near the crossroads known as 'Christies' (A) and has been retained as farmland. Land to the right of Christies is the headwaters of the Little Albert River (B) and Jeffrey Creek showing obvious signs of regeneration.

The large cleared land in the photos centre (Albert River Catchment) (C) was largely replanted with radiata pine in 1978 and 1980. The portion of native forest just south west of this cleared land is located at Rytons Junction (D). Much of this forest was cleared between 1969 and 1972. Most was replanted with hardwood (Mt Ash) with the remaining forest replanted with Radiata Pine. Road veering right on photo from large cleared land is Albert River Road. Much of the forest to the north of this road was cleared in 1969 and replanted as hardwood (E). Land south of this road is Jeffrey Creek. A large proportion of Jeffrey Creek (particularly in the south) was logged in 1984 and replanted with hardwood (F). A vast area of Little Albert River headwaters as seen in this photo was gutted and replanted to pine in 1979 and 1985 (G).

Road at top of photo is the Midland Highway. Much of the regenerating forest just south of the Highway was gutted for Pine in 1969 (H). Livingston Road can be seen in top left hand corner of photo (Morwell River Catchment) (I).

Herbicides Used by Grand Ridge Plantations - Strzelecki Ranges and Gippsland Victoria

Hancock Site visit:

Large mass of 'plantation' approximately 4 1/2km x 6km in size. The 'plantation' takes in much of the headwaters of the Albert River, Jeffrey Creek as well as some of the headwaters of the Little Albert River. Site Visit: December 01: Entered area along Albert River Road. At McClean Road headed south along an area of remnant vegetation, including older ash trees, in the headwaters of the Jeffrey Creek. At one vantage point along this road a view was gained of the Jeffrey Creek catchment. Much of it appeared to be intact regenerating native vegetation, although probably a large proportion was young regeneration. Turned back onto Albert River Road and then headed east. It was apparent that much logging activity had been taken place in the northern portion of Albert River Road with many recent logging operations apparent. The southern side of the road consisted of the Jeffrey Creek of which it was difficult to assatain 1970 'plantation' from areas of regnerating native forest - although it could be said that much of the Jeffrey Creek headwaters is definately not plantation and is marked that way on LEGL maps. Much of the recent clearing of 1969 'plantation' to the north of Albert River Road appears to have left minimal buffer zones in many places. This is unsatisfactory and more width to buffer zones needs to be established throughout this area.

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

Responsible Authority: Wellington Shire Council

Plantation Catchment: Many Creeks HW Albert River
Several creeks HW Jeffrey Creek/Albert River

Catchment Managment Authority: West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority

Albert River - Above Staceys Bridge: A fast flowing stream running through partly cleared hills, rock bottom. Contains brown trout to 350g, abundant, mainly small river blackfish, tupong and grayling.

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.

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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