Hancock Watch

November 2006 Updates

Hancock enter Morwell River linkages.

New: Cores and Links Background Information here

October 29 2006 - Strzelecki Ranges: Hancock busy logging inside Morwell River linkage area, off Snakesback Track. Once logged this area will have to be regenerated with indigenous species, retired from timber production and added to the Strzelecki Cores and Links Reserve. About 1000ha of planted forest within the reserve will be logged and then be included to the 8000 ha reserve. Hancock started logging this area about a week after the Strzelecki buy back was announced by the Victorian Environment Minister John Thwaites.

October 8, 2006 - Strzelecki Ranges: Take a last look at the forest now being logged at Snakesback Track by Hancock Victorian Plantations. These trees are now gone!

October 29 2006 - Strzelecki Ranges: Sawlogs coming off the Snakesback Track coupe. Hancock's major contract for hardwood chips is the Australian Paper pulpmill owned by Paperlinx. For sawlogs it is probably Drouin West Timber based near Morwell.

October 29 2006 - Strzelecki Ranges: Hancock busy logging inside Morwell River linkage area, off Snakesback Track.

October 29 2006 - Strzelecki Ranges: Spur Track inside the linkage area in the Morwell River catchment. Logging will also commence here in the near future.

October 2006: Strzelecki Ranges. Macks Creek plantation. Large recently logged pine plantation in close proximity to the very rare Strzelecki warm temperate rainforest.

October 2006: Strzelecki Ranges. Strzelecki warm temperate rainforest growing in very close proximity to Macks Creek plantation just off Roberts Road. Hancock's current warm temperate rainforest best management practice has not met independent peer review because Hancock do not grant any buffers on warm temperate rainforest. Such stubborn behaviour could see the company lose its FSC certification.

October 2006: Strzelecki Ranges. Very dodgy creek 'crossing' on Macks Creek between pine plantations.

October 2006: Strzelecki Ranges. Recent logging of E.regnans hardwood 'plantations' in the Middle Creek catchment. Regnans which is indigenous to the Strzeleckis is being replanted with Shining Gum which is not indigenous to the Strzeleckis. Plantation conversion?

October 2006: Strzelecki Ranges. Smiths Creek in very close proximity to cool temperate rainforest. Has Hancock granted 20 metre buffers on this coupe? This is inadequate according to independent peer reviewers of Hancock's rainforest Best Management Practice. This stubborness could mean that Hancock's FSC certification is revoked.

October 2006: 1100 ha Salvage operation in pine plantations located near Scarsdale in the Ballarat region (Woady Yallock catchment).

October 2006: Deep contour ripping inside Scarsdale plantations. Are plantations really a good sink for carbon?

Ditto. Much carbon is stored in the top metre or so of soil. How much is released by the above practice?

November 2006: Connelly Creek tributary in the Acheron River catchment of Central Victoria. More information on this plantation here.

November 2006: Mill Creek tributary in the Acheron River catchment of Central Victoria. Note lack of buffers on this drainage line. More information on this plantation here.

November 2006: Mill Creek tributary in the Acheron River catchment of Central Victoria.