Module 5 - VicForests
Module 5 - VicForests
Module 5 - VicForests
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3 Audit Approach<br />
The two remaining non-compliances were associated with insufficient or incorrect detail on Forest<br />
Coupe Plan maps regarding areas to be excluded from harvesting. In one case (C19), the Forest<br />
Coupe Plan map showed the location of Barred Galaxias (Galaxias fuscus) habitat and its buffer of 40<br />
metres, however, the map did not show that rainforest had also been identified along the same<br />
waterway. The Forest Coupe Plan recognised the presence of rainforest in the text and the buffer was<br />
assessed as being adequate in the field, therefore the EIA risk rating was determined as No impact.<br />
On one of the coupes (C21), one of the streams marked as Barred Galaxias habitat was outside the<br />
mapped area where protection is required. The protection afforded to this stream is considered<br />
conservative, however, it suggests there may be weaknesses in planning or mapping processes.<br />
Exclusions zones<br />
All 27 Forest Coupe Plans were assessed as complying with the requirements pertaining to protection<br />
of forest harvest exclusion zones. Within the audited coupes, exclusion zones were created to protect<br />
a range of values, including fauna, water quality and landscape. Two of the audited coupes bounded<br />
national park or State park and the integrity of these boundaries was assessed, with the sampled<br />
length of boundary found to be intact. Landscape buffers were also found to be appropriately<br />
protected on all four coupes where they existed.<br />
In several instances, the audit identified non-compliances related to widths or mapping of exclusion<br />
zones, however these issues have been addressed in other sections of this report, so as not to<br />
‘double-count’ non-compliances.<br />
Table 4-4 summarises the compliance findings for the Forest Coupe Plans – Exclusion zones<br />
Compliance Element.<br />
Table 4-4<br />
Summary of compliance findings for the Forest Coupe Plans – Exclusion zones Compliance<br />
Element<br />
Compliance Element<br />
Forest Coupe Plans - Exclusion<br />
zones<br />
Total compliance 61<br />
Total non-compliance 0<br />
Non-compliance EIA breakdown<br />
Severe 0<br />
Major 0<br />
Moderate 0<br />
Minor 0<br />
Negligible 0<br />
No impact 0<br />
4.2.3 River health, water quality and soil protection<br />
General<br />
Water quality, river health and soil protection were assessed as having been well planned within the<br />
audited coupes overall. Of the 27 coupes assessed, the audit identified one non-compliance on a<br />
DSE coupe (C26), which was assessed as having a No impact EIA risk rating.<br />
42807504/01/01 33
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