Module 5 - VicForests

4 3BAudit Findings
VicForests stated that large quantities of bark had been left on some landings due to the usual
practice of undertaking regeneration burns, during which the bark heaps would be burnt. However, in
order to reduce the incidence of burning, VicForests has initiated assessment of regeneration, and if
regeneration is adequate, do not undertake the burn. As a result, bark heaps have remained unburnt
and in the cases identified in the audit, exceed the prescribed bark volume limits.
Recommendation 4 – It is recommended that VicForests builds into its systems a process for ensuring
that excess bark is not retained around landings in the absence of regeneration burning.
Failure to fill in a trench dug to store logs on one coupe (C21) and rip lines being spaced wider than
the maximum prescribed (C11) resulted in non-compliances with EIA risk ratings of Minor and
Negligible respectively.
Whether topsoil had been stockpiled appropriately during landing construction was unable to be
assessed during the audit on 11 coupes, due to the stage of the operations and the natural or fire
induced paucity of topsoil at some of these locations. Whether the required depth of ripping had been
achieved was unable to be determined at five coupes, as while the depth was assessed as less than
required at the time of the audit, it had been up to two years since ripping had been undertaken and
some degree of natural compaction would be expected during that time.
The audit was unable to assess whether the landing on one coupe (C8) had been appropriately
rehabilitated, as it was observed to have been excavated, according to VicForests staff, to provide fill
for construction of another road. Assessment of this activity was outside the scope of this audit.
Snig and forwarding tracks
Snig and forwarding tracks were generally assessed as having been managed appropriately, with
some issues identified with rehabilitation. The Auditor noted a good example of the minimisation of
snig tracks and their impact (C12) and particularly good examples of rollover drains with effective
outlet channels on a relatively steep slope (C14), constructed using an excavator (Refer to Appendix
K, Photograph 17).
Generally, rehabilitation of snig tracks after harvesting was assessed as being well managed, with
appropriate spacing of effective drainage structures. A total length of 5,894 m of snig tracks was
assessed across 23 coupes, with 4,773 m assessed as compliant. The sampled length of snig track
was assessed as compliant on 15 coupes. In some of these compliant coupes, potential for
improvement in the design of drainage structures was noted, but due to the soil type and/or
topography, were considered adequate. In most of the compliant coupes, rollover drains had been
constructed to a high quality, with effective outlets to channel water away from the track.
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