April 2004: Northern Strzeleckis/Jeeralangs. Traralgon Creek Catchment - west side. Ex state government plantation planted to pine in 1973. This photo taken from Middle Track reveals over 70 native trees lopped from the roadside verge. (It has also been reported that hundreds of non-plantation trees may have been removed from this plantation at other locations). It is standard practice in plantations to remove native trees that have grown within the plantation, when the plantation is logged. This practice is unsustainable and we especially take exception to removal of native trees from roadsides within plantations (i.e. non plantation areas). For more information about this ex state owned plantation click here.
April 2004: Northern Strzeleckis/Jeeralangs. Traralgon Creek Catchment - west side. Ex state government plantation planted to pine in 1973. Main tributary of Traralgon Creek which shows plantation trees cut into gully. This gully was badly eroded and bulldozers had been used within metres of the drainage line to remove radiata pine within supposed buffer area. This area needs to be replanted with indigenous species for 50 metres on each side as was the decision made in the historic 8 point agreement signed between Amcor and Friends of Gippsland Bush in 1997.
Hancock must also take into account FSC Revised Condition 10.9.1: 'By the end of Year 1 , HVP is to have in place a policy and plan related to the regeneration of native vegetation on areas previously cleared and which have not been planted to plantation species, as per the 8 point agreement with Friends of the Gippsland Bush and other directly interested or affected parties' and FSC Condition 6.5.1: 'Starting in Year 1, and continuing through the certification period HVP will: ... Harvest pine trees in buffers where they occur (but continue to protect intact native vegetation) and allow regeneration of native vegetation, in sensitive waterways. This regeneration is to be assisted by planting of native vegetation or other means where necessary to provide effective ground cover. The intention is that sensitive waterways will have stable undisturbed native understorey vegetation that is to be protected from damage during harvesting in subsequent operations'.
For more information about this ex state owned plantation click here.
April 2004: Northern Strzeleckis/Jeeralangs. Traralgon Creek Catchment - west side. Ex state government plantation planted to pine in 1973. A tree most likely older than 30 years old taken from the roadside - probably Middle Track. FSC Condition 6.10.1: 'By the end of Year 1, HVP is to incorporate effective monitoring of the Native Vegetation BMP into the Environmental section of the Monitoring & Reporting Register (see Principle 8.1). Through field auditing (monitoring), HVP is to demonstrate consistent compliance with this BMP and consistent implementation of native vegetation conservation practices'. For more information about this ex state owned plantation click here.
April 2004: Northern Strzeleckis/Jeeralangs. Traralgon Creek Catchment - west side. Ex state government plantation planted to pine in 1973. Massive loads of dislodged sandy soil caused by the building of logging access track. This will cause erosion problems. FSC Condition 10.6.1: 'By the end of Year 2, HVP is to complete a peer-reviewed analysis of its watershed management activities that presents a refined erosion hazard assessment procedure. This fine-tuning of the current system may lead to a regional assessment approach that takes account of local soil, rainfall, topography and other conditions'. For more information about this ex state owned plantation click here. Land in question will be aerially sprayed sometime in the future.
April 2004: Northern Strzeleckis/Jeeralangs. Traralgon Creek Catchment - west side. Ex state government plantation planted to pine in 1973. Massive erosion potential from dislodged soil in very close proximity to this tributary of Traralgon Creek. This drainage line requires a 50 metre buffer as per the 8 point agreement between Friends of the Gippsland Bush and Amcor. For more information about this ex state owned plantation click here.
April 2004: Northern Strzeleckis/Jeeralangs. Traralgon Creek Catchment - west side. Ex state government plantation planted to pine in 1973. Close up of soils on logging track inside plantation. In the event of heavy rainfall this will create massive soil movement. For more information about this ex state owned plantation click here. Note also that applications of herbicides on sandy soils can lead to groundwater pollution.
April 2004: Northern Strzeleckis/Jeeralangs. Traralgon Creek Catchment - west side. Ex state government plantation planted to pine in 1973. Old Growth retained inside plantation although many younger indigenous trees which had regenerated inside the plantation at this location were logged by Hancock - see background of photo. For more information about this ex state owned plantation click here.
April 2004: Northern Strzeleckis/Jeeralangs. Traralgon Creek Catchment - west side. Ex state government plantation planted to pine in 1973. Very poor logging track on the south east boundary of the plantation and native forest currently owned by Hancock in the Parish of Traralgon. This track is a target for off-road users and will create massive erosion problems in the event of heavy rain. For more information about this ex state owned plantation click here.
April 2004: Northwest Strzeleckis. Ex APP land. Allotment 14 - Parish of Allambee East (Deadlock Creek/Tarwin River Catchment). A logging road has been 'upgraded' through the western side of Deadlock Creek. This road building has dislodged massive amounts of soil, which has created a soil erosion problem. Once heavy rains occur much of this sediment will be transported into Deadlock Creek and eventually the Tarwin River which not only supplies domestic water but also contains native fish such as the Australian Grayling and Blackfish which are extremely susceptible to sedimentation of waterways. For more information about proclaimed water catchments in Gippsland click here.
April 2004: Northwest Strzeleckis. Ex APP land. Allotment 14 - Parish of Allambee East (Deadlock Creek/Tarwin River Catchment). A logging road has been 'upgraded' through the western side of Deadlock Creek. For more information about proclaimed water catchments in Gippsland click here. About 1000 hectares of pine plantation occurs in the Deadlock Creek catchment. This pine will use approximately 9000 ML (Megalitres) of water per year whilst growing. If pine is to be replanted in the catchment after logging this could also lead to the application of approximately 3 tonnes of the herbicide Hexazinone - given that application rates are usually at 3 kg/ha. Low flows in Deadlock Creek could be attributed to both the effects of drought and plantation water consumption.
April 2004: Northwest Strzeleckis. Ex APP land. Allotment 14 - Parish of Allambee East (Deadlock Creek/Tarwin River Catchment). A logging road has been 'upgraded' through the western side of Deadlock Creek. This point lies about 1km from the confluence of Deadlock Creek and the Tarwin River West Branch and less than 30 metres from Deadlock Creek. A heavy downpour of rain could wash hundreds of tonnes of silt into the Deadlock Creek. For more information about proclaimed water catchments in Gippsland click here.
April 2004: Northwest Strzeleckis. Ex APP land. Allotment 15 - Parish of Allambee East (Deadlock Creek/Tarwin River Catchment). Recent road 'upgrading' has dislodged massive amounts of soil, which has created a soil erosion problem. This is a gully with culvert. Many more poor drainage lines were observed in this plantation. Much of the deposited sediment will be washed into the gully in the event of rainfall. For more information about proclaimed water catchments in Gippsland click here.
April 2004: Northwest Strzeleckis. Ex APP land. Allotment 14 - Parish of Allambee East (Deadlock Creek/Tarwin River Catchment). A new logging road has been punched through the western side of Deadlock Creek. Another gully with culvert, but observe the very high erosion potential of soil lieing around the culvert. Much of the deposited sediment will be washed into the gully in the event of rainfall. For more information about proclaimed water catchments in Gippsland click here.
April 2004: Northwest Strzeleckis. Ex APP land. Allotment 14 - Parish of Allambee East (Deadlock Creek/Tarwin River Catchment). Reconfiguration of Deadlock Creek and removal of pine trees and willow trees may lead to further erosion. This site lies only a km from the Tarwin River West Branch. For more information about logging impacts on native fish see here.
April 2004: Northwest Strzeleckis. Ex APP land. Allotment 14 - Parish of Allambee East (Deadlock Creek/Tarwin River Catchment). These creek riparian areas need to be replanted with indigenous species as soon as possible in order to prevent excessive amounts of sediment washing downstream. Is this a sustainable outcome in a domestic water supply catchment?
April 2004: Northwest Strzeleckis. Ex APP land. Allotment 14 - Parish of Allambee East (Deadlock Creek/Tarwin River Catchment). Removal of Willow Trees is to supported, but the removals here could spark potentially worse problems in terms of sedimentation. Note lack of water due to drought. Revegetation needs to occur ASAP. For more information about logging impacts on native fish see here.
April 2004: Northwest Strzeleckis. Ex APP land. Allotment 14 - Parish of Allambee East (Deadlock Creek/Tarwin River Catchment). Close up of sediment bulldozed into Deadlock Creek and recently cut Willow Tree.
Further Comments about Deadlock Creek by Anonymous (19/5/04).
"...No new logging roads have been established. The logging roads referred to above were established at the same time as the plantation, as evidenced in aerial photographs dating back to the 1980's. Existing tracks have been upgraded to enable logging to take place with due regard to OH&S issues...
In 1999, in response to requests from the local landholders who abutt the Deadlock Creek, the West Gippsland CMA' undertook a massive willow removal program below the plantation currently being logged leaving only a short section of willow on the Deadlock within the plantation. The riparian zone between GRP boundary and the West Branch of the Tarwin has now been fenced off and revegetated by landholders. This resulted in significant improvements in the stream bed depth and contains significant stretches of rock and pebbles rather than silt, and landholders have noticed an overall reduction in silting and flooding ...
Following Hancock's acquisition of APM holdings, the Hallston Landcare Group approached Grand Ridge Plantations with respect to removal of the remainder of the willows along the Deadlock Creek within the plantation. It was noted that there was Radiata Pine planted down to the waters edge (as a result of a lax forestry code when the plantation was established). Following discussion GRP agreed that willow removal would be undertaken in conjunction with harvesting (as has occurred) and that the riparian zone would be revegetated. Following more recent consultation with the community, GRP has advised us that local indigenous species including the endangered Strzelecki Gum, Manna Gum and Mountain Ash sourced from a local nursery utlizing local seed will be used and the area in question will now be permanently retired from forestry.
It should be noted that one of the long term aims of the Hallston Landcare Group is to link the Hallston Bush with Mt Worth State Park. One of the proposed linking corridors is along Deadlock and thus this work currently being undertaken has the full support of the Group and local landholders.
Prior to undertaking willow removal works GRP consulted with the West Gippsland CMA to seek their advice.
With respect to the 'lack of water', had your reporters consulted with the local community they would have discovered that this is an annual occurrence. The Deadlock Creek has been dry each summer at least since 1995. Consequently it does not have a fish population..."
April 2004: Northern Strzelecki Ranges - Allotment 3A Parish of Callignee. Natural regeneration of Bluegums occuring near logging track in the Stony Creek Catchment. The logging track was made in order to cut out pine trees from gullyline. This entire riparian zone needs to be retired from timber production and allowed to regenerate with indigneous species as per the 8 point agreement.
April 2004: Northern Strzelecki Ranges - Allotment 3F Parish of Callignee. This is a tributary of Traralgon Creek (east side). Erosion is already occurring along gully and rainfall will increase sedimentation problems downstream. This clearcut is between 30 - 40 hectares in size and erosion problems at this site are very bad. This site also comes under the 8 point agreement
April 2004: Northern Strzelecki Ranges - Allotment 3F Parish of Callignee - Traralgon Creek catchment. Slumping roadside batters. Hancock appears to have no intention of rehabilitating outdated logging infrastructure - with budgets being limited for for much needed drainage and culverts. This is an untenable situation - especially considering that the Australian operations are Hancock's most profitable. While most of the Hancock profit$ generated by clearfelling the Strzeleckis will move offshore (to the US), the local environment will continue to be degraded.
April 2004: Northern Strzelecki Ranges - Allotment 3F Parish of Callignee - Traralgon Creek catchment. Slumping roadside batters in Traralgon Creek catchment. Very high erosion potential. More profit$ for Hancock.
April 2004: Northern Strzelecki Ranges - Allotment 3F Parish of Callignee. Slumping log landing and road batters in Traralgon Creek catchment.
This November 1972 (Top = North) photo shows the massive deforestation of the northern Strzelecki Ranges. Land was either leased from the Crown (1961) or privately owned by Australian Paper Manufactuers (APM). The bottom of the photo shows clearcutting of several hundred hectares of forest in the headwaters of Middle Creek which was then replanted with Mountain Ash 'plantations'. The massive clearfelling by APM at the top of the photo is located in the Jeeralang Creek Catchment. This clearfelling and associated 245-T spraying must have caused immense environmental problems at the time. Now 30 years later these catchments are again being targeted for logging. The headwaters of Traralgon Creek lie to the right of the photo and much of the upper catchment here were cleared by farmers and loggers.
Latrobe Valley Express Monday, 15 March 2004
Images - York Road: November 2001. For more information see here.
p3 "Three men on forest charges. Police have arrested three men in relation to the alleged theft and destruction of forest vegetation in the Strzelecki Ranges. The charges relate to the alleged removal of forest vegetation, including tree ferns, Mountain ash and Blackwood trees from private and public land. It is believed the offences took place between January 2001 and March 2004 on land around York Road, Boolarong, approximately 20 kilometres south of Boolara. Police said a significant amount of damage was caused to the forest and it is believed a large amount of rubbish, including tyres and drums of oil or oil based products were left at the scene. Property, including bulldozers, vehicles and other logging equipment, was seized. Police were assisted in the investigation by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the South Gippsland Shire and the Environment Protection Authority. The three men, from Traralgon, were arrested at the scene. Two men, aged 59 years and 26 years, have been charged with criminal damage and eight counts of theft. A 21 year-old man has been charged with two counts of theft. They have been bailed to appear at the Moe Magistrates court on 8 June."