Module 5 - VicForests

3 Audit Approach
Major
Two non-compliances with EIA risk ratings of Major were determined for VicForests coupes. Both
involved machinery entry to rainforest buffers and rainforest (C10 and C12). These issues are
discussed in further detail in the Rainforest findings sections of this report.
Moderate
Thirty-one non-compliances with EIA risk ratings of Moderate were determined for VicForests coupes,
including those related to inadequate topsoil and retention of excess bark at landings; lack of noxious
weed assessments and control; inadequate or inappropriate drainage of sections of roads, snig tracks
and boundary tracks; inadequate management of cut and fill on roads; road construction on steeper
slopes than prescribed for the soil type; crossing of drainage lines without approval; failure to classify
a stream adjacent to a coupe; and an instance of stockpiling of soil for road rehabilitation in a
rainforest buffer without documented and approved plans.
Minor
Twenty-eight non-compliances with EIA risk ratings of Minor were determined for VicForests coupes,
including those related to inadequate ripping and retention of bark at landings; lack of noxious weed
assessments and control; inadequate drainage of sections of roads, snig tracks and boundary tracks;
instances of debris pushed or rolled into exclusion zones; and trees having been felled into buffers
and pulled out without adequate documentation.
Negligible
A total of 49 non-compliances with EIA risk ratings of Negligible were determined during the audit,
spread across most of the Compliance Elements. For VicForests coupes, these non-compliances
included instances of litter found on coupes, lack of noxious weed assessments and control, a root ball
having rolled into a habitat area, harvest debris having been pushed up around a designated habitat
tree, failure to close roads and instances of inadequate drainage or rehabilitation of sections of roads,
landings, snig tracks and boundary tracks,
Two non-compliances identified for DSE coupes were determined as having Negligible EIA risk ratings
related to incorrect location and marking of a filter on a temporary stream.
No impact
A total of 40 non-compliances with EIA risk ratings of No impact were determined during the audit,
generally spread across Compliance Elements concerned with planning, but also related to failure to
close roads no longer in use and undertake noxious weed assessments. For VicForests coupes,
these non-compliances related to not having planned for noxious weed control, some waterways not
having been classified, use of the wrong tape colour to delineate a buffer, failure to close roads no
longer in use, and vegetation clearance widths not meeting minimum requirements,
For the DSE coupes, non-compliances with No impact risk ratings included not having documented
approvals to temporarily close roads during harvesting, not having assessed soil characteristics for
one coupe, not having undertaken pre-harvest weed assessments and not having considered noxious
weed control in coupe planning.
34 42807504/01/01