VicForests Warburton Community Meetings 4 th / 5 th March 2020 1 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

VicForests ’ Warburton Community Meetings 4 th / 5 th March 2020 1

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View from Warburton 3

View from Big Pats Creek - North 4

View from East Warburton 5

Overview of Apu • VicForests first released the coupe (Apu – coupe number 345-528-0001) for public consultation as part of its Timber Release Plan amendment in 2016. • The coupe remained on the TRP as part of the latest amendment (2019). • Apu will be harvested using Variable Retention Harvesting. Variable retention harvesting is an alternative to traditional clearfell harvesting and will retain 10-plus trees per hectare on average. • Apu will not be clear felled. 6

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HCVs – retention, protection, compliance VicForests’ has developed a new classification system for key habitat elements to assist identification in the field (at varying densities) across different forest types 8

Apu coupe planning/surveys • A High Conservation Values (HCV) planning survey has been completed • Two Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) surveys completed – Leadbeater’s Possum Camera Trap survey – Old Growth survey • A Spotlight survey for Wildlife has been undertaken • A visual analysis survey has been completed 9

Apu bushfire mitigation measures • VicForests works closely with the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) which regulates bushfire management and mitigation measures. • We work within the ‘Bushfire Management Agreement’ (BMA) guidelines, taking into account the approach for relevant prevention, preparedness, response and recovery plans and actions for bushfire mitigation. • We also comply with Bushfire Moderation Zone (BMZ) restrictions, meaning that no more than five per cent of the BMZ in the district can be harvested in a five-year period. • Further information on VicForests ’ fire management and mitigation approach is available at: http://www.vicforests.com.au/planning-1/warburton-consultation 10

Maintaining Water Quality • VicForests does not anticipate any impact on water supply from harvesting. • As part of the operation, no more than 10% of the harvested area can be on slopes greater than 30 degrees. • Further, mandatory stream buffers will be supplemented by extended habitat retention areas where harvesting is excluded. • The retained vegetation acts as a filter and slows the movement of water across the ground. • See more on water, including relevant studies, at: http://www.vicforests.com.au/planning-1/warburton-consultation 11

History of this area of forest • This area of forest has experienced fire in 1939 and 1983 and successfully regenerated after these events. • The current forest is predominately 1939 Manna Gum regrowth with some Mountain Grey Gum and Mountain Ash. There are some older mixed species habitat trees present. • There is evidence of previous timber harvesting throughout the area including stumps, old snig tracks and past landing sites. 12

QUESTIONS Timber the ultimate renewable 13