Hancock Watch
September 2014 Updates
September 2014: In September
2013, environmentalists had to go to the local press to reveal that regeneration
inside the Strzelecki Cores and Links Reserve had recently been bulldozed, as
it did not meet absurd regeneration standards agreed between Hancock and the
Department of Primary Industries in 2008. Nothing was resolved from the September
2013 issue, because 12 months later it can be revealed that Hancock is again
bulldozing regeneration inside the reserve. Not only was the community excluded
from the Cores and Links Reserve deal in 2008, after pushing for the reserve
for a decade, but the community had concerns then regarding regeneration inside
the reserve post logging - but were ignored.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges/College Creek: The regeneration
standard signed between the Department of Primary Industries and Hancock stipulates
that 300 eucalyptus trees per hectare are required before the logged areas are
added to the reserve system. If areas within the Cores and Links Reserve, do
not meet the unrealistic requirement of trees per hectare, Hancock is under
obligation to plant out the areas with eucalypts in order to get to the 300
number. This regeneration standard is not based on natural processes of regeneration
of forests after disturbance, which may take many more years for eucalypts to
emerge. The species that are currently being bulldozed are part of the natural
cycle of the environment trying to repair itself after mass disturbance.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges/College Creek: The regeneration
standard now means that further mechanical entries are made inside the Cores
and Links Rainforest Reserve, further delaying natural regeneration processes.
Rather than send teams in to work inside the natural renegeneration, Hancock
are sending in bulldozers to clear the land quickly and then do the required
hand planting. This sets back natural regeneration by 4-5 years and will be
expensive. The community wanted the logged areas to naturally regenerate, without
the need for replanting in most instances. What we see now is an expensive intervention,
caused by the signing of unrealistic regeneration standards. Who signed these
standards? They are costing Hancock dearly.
September 2014: College Creek - Cores and Links Rainforest
Reserve: Recently bulldozed and replanted site inside reserve.
September 2014: College Creek - Cores and Links Rainforest
Reserve: 4 year old regeneration likely to be bulldozed in the near future as
this would also be unlikely to meet absurd regeneration standard signed by company
and state government.
September 2014: College Creek - Cores and Links Rainforest
Reserve: 4 year old regeneration likely to be bulldozed in the near future as
this would also be unlikely to meet absurd regeneration standard signed by company
and state government.
September 2014: College Creek - Cores and Links Rainforest
Reserve: Type of 4 year old regeneration being cleared again by Hancock.
September 2014: College Creek - Cores and Links Rainforest
Reserve: Type of 4 year old regeneration being cleared again by Hancock.
September 2014: Morwell River - Strzelecki Cores and
Links Rainforest Reserve: Six year old regeneration at this site, looks healthy,
but how does the community know that this regeneration will not suffer a similar
fate to the regeneration at College Creek?
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges - Jefferey Creek/Little
Albert River: Remnant vegetation surrounded by pine plantations.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges - Jefferey Creek/Little
Albert River: Large scale cable logging occurring at this location.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges - Jefferey Creek/Little
Albert River: Recent pine logging.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges - Morwell River East
Branch: Recent clearfelled coupe.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges - Morwell River East
Branch: Recent clearfelling of 30-35 Mt Ash forest, a known koala food source.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges - Morwell River East
Branch: Remant stand of E. cypellocarpa providing important habitat for koalas.
Note clearfelling up to edge of native forest.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges - Vaggs Creek/Middle
Creek: A view south east from Darlimurla towards Vaggs Creek. Pine plantation
logging in Strzelecki Koala hotspot.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges: A common site in
clearfelled coupes are dead trees. It appears that many retained trees cannot
survive the impacts of clearfelling forest around them. Thousands of trees have
died as a result of clearfelling in close proximity.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges - Stony Creek Catchment/Darlimurla:
This site of state significance was heavily burnt during January 2009. 5 1/2
years later signs of recovery are apparent.
September 2014: Strzelecki Ranges - Stony Creek Catchment/Darlimurla:
Remnant E. viminalis riparian forest that survived the January 2009 fires. Koalas
found here.