April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Hancock promised 60m buffers on cool temperate rainforest in College Creek. At this location 30m buffers were granted between rainforest and what was logged. Hancock get around this arguement by redefining what rainforest actually is.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Most likely a non-plantation tree logged by Hancock within 30m of cool temperate rainforest.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Rainforest indicator species Mother Spleenwort about 20 metres from the stump image in the preceding photo. Note light entering rainforest altering the microclimate of the rainforest.
College Creek Approximate location of Hancock logging roads and log coupes as of April 10 2009.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Myrtle Beech growing ~30 metres from logged coupe on western side of College Creek.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Inside stand of Myrtle Beech on western side of College Creek. One beech tree at this location is already dead, possibly due to the disease Myrtle Wilt.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Young beech in regenerating cool temperate rainforest stand. This rainforest is probably recovering from past disturbances including unsustainable logging regimes in the 1970's when College Creek was last logged.
Rainforest indicator species inside College Creek rainforest.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Unidentified species growing in the rainforest
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Recent logging.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Recent logging.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Recent logging.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Recent logging.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. More logging. Local community group Friends of Gippsland Bush had got protection of College Creek with Victorian Conservation Minister John Thwaites agreeing to protect the area in October 2006. This agreement was later overturned by his predecessor Gavan Jennings. The later agreement was supported by Wilderness Society, who have never explained their actions. College Creek is of state conservation significance for its rainforest attributes. Why would Wilderness Society support logging of sites of such important conservation significance?
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Hancock having a picnic at the communities expense.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Head of gully trashed. Why?
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Stands of Mixed species including Ash and Mountain Grey Gum. Prime koala food ready for the chipper.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. New logging roads constructed into the heart of College Creek on the western side of the catchment. Post logging College Creek is supposed to be reserved, so why spend so much money on roads if the area is to be retired in the near future?
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Another new logging road punched into College Creek.
April 2009: College Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Reopening of existing track into College Creek on the eastern side of the catchment.
April 2009: Merrimans Creek Catchment/Strzelecki Ranges. Note erosion of this site.
April 2009: Flynns Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Recent bushfires hit the region hard.
April 2009: Flynns Creek/Strzelecki Ranges. Erosion already opening up after bushfires.
April 2009: Strzelecki Ranges/Merrimans Creek. Pine logging in Seasprays domestic water supply.
Morwell Sawmill; No mention of Forest Stewardship Council from McCormack Demby Timber Pty Ltd, major buyers of sawlogs from Hancock. http://www.mdtimber.com.au/certification.html About 20% of the trees logged at College Creek will end up as sawlogs, the rest going to Maryvale Pulp Mill.
McCormack Demby Timber Pty Ltd timber yard Morwell.
McCormack Demby Timber Pty Ltd timber yard Morwell. Mill originally started operation in 1996 as Planthard owned by the Roger Clarke group. Planthard fell on hard times and were bought out by Drouin West. McCormack Demby then bought out Droiun West in 2008. McCormack and Demby are big shareholders with Midway the Geelong based export woodchipper, probably meaning that much of the wood waste generated from sawmilling operations at this Morwell sawmill will end up in Geelong to be exported to Japan.
McCormack Demby Timber Pty Ltd, another product range Mt.Ash sourced from native forest and marketed as Vic Oak.