Author:	Peter Campbell
Date of forest visit:	14 – 16 April 2007
Report issue date:	Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Version:	Final, v1.0

Executive summary

This report assesses some of the forest areas in East Gippsland that were announced for protection during the 2006 Victorian State Election campaign. The purpose of this report is to assess the quality and quantity of some of the forest areas newly protected and surrounding forests with respect to the stated aims of the Government which were to protect under the National Parks Act the last significant stands of Victoria’s old growth forests (available for logging) to enhance tourism and protect biodiversity.

The three areas covered by this report are outside of the proposed new reserve system and are considered to be also all worthy of protection.

The Brown Mountain region bounded by Errinundra Road to the east, Legge Road to the east and Errinundra National Park to the south contains numerous very significant old growth Mountain Ash trees with a largely intact understory. This forest area is a firm candidate for protection due to biodiversity value and age of the forest. This area should be included in the new reserve system to improve its continuity and enhance the wildlife corridor. In addition, National Park signage in this area is in need of immediate attention.

The Jungle Creek catchment south of the Aberdeen Track contains significant old growth Mountain Ash trees, cool temperate rainforest plant species and wet sclerophyll forest. This area should also be included in the new reserve system to improve the continuity of the reserve and further enhance the wildlife corridor. It is imperative that fuel reduction burning of this area of forest includes measures to protect both old growth trees and the wet sclerophyll forest.

Heavily logged forests along both the Mount Jersey and Yalmy Roads and the Rodger River Track detract from the visual characteristics of this region due to loss of forest canopy and large amounts of logging residue. In addition, regrowth areas will have little appeal or habitat value for many decades. This has a major negative impact on tourism potential. Logging activities in these areas should cease – they should be added to the National Park estate.

Some significant forest areas of high quality along the Yalmy Road adjacent to the Snowy River National Park have been newly protected. However, other adjacent areas of equivalent forest have not been afforded any protection. This indicates apparent inconsistencies in the decision making process regarding the selection of areas for protection.

An impressive stand of old growth Mountain Ash with very high visual appeal is located on the Yalmy Road close to the intersection with the Rodger River track. Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) is comparatively unusual in East Gippsland. While sections of this forest have been logged, the overall impression is of majestic trees. The rationale for excluding this area from the new protected reserves is not clear. It should be also be added to the reserve system both to protect the remaining old growth trees it contains, and to boost and improve the integrity of the adjacent Snowy River National Park.

While additional areas of old growth forest have been specified for protection in East Gippsland, there are good opportunities to further add remaining unprotected old growth and wet sclerophyll forest to the reserve system for the intrinsic value of these forests, to create a more robust wildlife corridor link between the Errinundra and Snowy River National Parks and to protect resident endangered species.

Introduction

This report assesses some of the forest areas about to be protected that were announced during the 2006 Victorian State Election campaign. Material and photographs for this report were gathered during a visit to East Gippsland forests in the Goongerah region on 14 – 16 April 2007.

The purpose of this report is to assess the quality and quantity of some of the forest areas newly protected and surrounding forests.

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Jill Redwood for her assistance and advice during my visit to East Gippsland to gather material for this report.

Background

During the 2006 Victorian State Election campaign, the Victorian Government made the following commitments relating to East Gippsland forests:

“Over the next 4 years a re-elected Bracks Government will:

Immediately protect the Goolengook Block and the last significant stands of Victoria’s old growth forests currently available for logging under the National Parks Act. In total this will add almost 33,500 hectares of forest to the National Parks and reserve system.

Create the Great Victorian Alpine National Park by adding a 5000 hectare section of State Forest currently available for logging to link the Errinundra National Park to the Snowy River and Alpine National Parks and pursue World Heritage Listing of a Great Alpine National Park in partnership with the ACT and NSW. 

Immediately add 2,500 hectares of icon State Forest in East Gippsland currently available for logging to the National Parks and reserve system.”

Source: Victoria’s National Parks and Biodiversity, Policy for the 2006 Victorian Election (Bracks Government), 17/11/2006

Further details on this policy were provided in an accompanying fact sheet:

• The investigation by the Victorian Environment and Assessment Council (VEAC) into the Goolengook block would cease as the block will be permanently protected.
• In addition to the Goolengook Block remaining significant stands of old growth forest currently available for timber harvesting will be immediately protect by including them in the National Parks and reserves system.
• It doesn’t make sense from an environmental or commercial perspective to allow the few remaining large stands of old growth forests to be logged. In addition to their visual majesty, old growth forests are rich sources of biodiversity and habitat to a range of species.
• The benefits for tourism, and market access opportunities for the timber industry from protecting the remaining significant old growth timber stands, clearly outweigh the on going minimal returns from the harvesting of old growth forest.

Source: Labor protects last significant old growth stands, 17 November 2006.

See Appendix 3 for more details

The fact sheet also contained a map of proposed new parks and reserves in East Gippsland (see Appendix 4 for a larger version of this map).

My interest in visiting East Gippsland was to assess the quantity and quality of the new proposed parks and reserves.

I chose to visit three main areas that were either adjacent to outside of the proposed new reserve areas identified on this map.

Overall context

The areas I chose to visit and their regional location are depicted in Map 1.

• B refers to Legge Track forest area on Brown Mountain
• A refers to the Aberdeen Track area in the Jungle Creek catchment
• Y refers to Yalmy eucalypt forests and the Yalmy Road

These areas are shown in more detail in Map 2 below.

The three areas visited overlaid on the protected areas map provided by the government are illustrated in Map 3.

Each of these three areas are outside of the announced new proposed reserve areas and will be covered in more detail in the following sections, with photographs provided.

Brown Mountain region

The Brown Mountain area visited was to the east of Legge Road just South of part of the Errinundra National Park. This area contains numerous very large old growth Mountain Ash trees with an intact understory. This forest area is a firm candidate for protection due to value and age of the forest, yet it has been omitted from the proposed new reserve area.

Summary and recommendations

The Brown Mountain region bounded by Errinundra Road to the east, Legge Road to the east and Errinundra National Park to the south contains numerous very significant old growth Mountain Ash trees with a largely intact understory.

This area should be included in the new reserve system to improve the continuity of the reserve and enhance the wildlife corridor.

Brown Mountain region

Aberdeen Track

The Aberdeen Track traverses a ridge above the Jungle Creek catchment to the north west of Goongerah. This area is outside the new reserve system announced.

A fuel reduction burn was scheduled and signed for Autumn 2007 season. I spoke with the Bendoc Department of Sustainability and Environment office and was informed that these burns were required as part of the fire management plan to protect local residents and to protect the ecological integrity of the forest.

I queried whether any management plans were in place to protect high conservation value parts of this forest area, specifically the cool temperate rainforest gullies the would suffer greatly from burning, and was informed that no special measures were to be taken in the regard.

Summary and recommendations

Areas of forest in the Jungle Creek catchment below the Aberdeen Track contain significant old growth Mountain Ash trees, cool temperate rainforest plant species and wet sclerophyll forest.

This area should be included in the new reserve system to improve the continuity of the reserve and enhance the wildlife corridor.

Fuel reduction burning of this area of forest should include measures to protect old growth trees and wet sclerophyll forest.

Aberdeen Track Photos

Yalmy Road and Mount Jersey Road

The Mount Jersey Road heads northeast through heavily logged forests to join the Yalmy Road. The Yalmy Road travels along the boundary of the Snowy River National Park (to the north west) and unprotected Yalmy forests (to the south east), many of which have been heavily logged.

Two prominent logged areas were visited on the Mt Jersey Road, numbers 17 and 18 in map 7. Photographs of these areas follow.

Mount Jersey Road logging

Significant logging activity has occurred in the forests along both the Mount Jersey and Yalmy Roads. This logging has resulted in the clearfell destruction of forests, which has detracted greatly from the value of these forests for both tourism and their biodiversity and habit value.

The Yalmy forests are of equivalent biological value to those of the adjacent Snowy River National Park.

Remains of previous forest being left to rot and loss of the forest canopy have a very high visual impact. Logging activities in these areas should cease. These areas should be added to the National Park estate.

Regrowth after logging with low intrinsic value and stump.

Yalmy Road newly protected areas

Some significant areas of high quality have been newly protected. However, adjacent areas of equivalent forest have not been afforded any protection. This indicates apparent inconsistencies in the decision making process regarding the selection of areas for protection.

Yalmy eucalyptus regnans forests

Near the junction of the Yalmy Road and the Rodger River track, an entire segment of forest depicted as the “bulge” in Map 8 and covering waypoints 24, 25 and 26, has been omitted from the new reserves. This area of forest contains large stands of eucalyptus regnans (Mountain Ash) trees of considerable age and visual appeal. This species is comparatively unusual in East Gippsland. While sections of this forest have been logged, the overall impression is of majestic trees. The rationale for excluding this area from the new protected reserves is not clear.

The “bulge” should be added to the reserve system both to protect the remaining old growth trees it contains, and to provide a contiguous corridor for wildlife.

Logging along Rodger River Track

Significant logging activity is evident adjacent to the Yalmy Road and Rodger River track junction and along the Rodger River track up to the boundary with the Snowy River National Park. This logging is characterised by large areas of clearfelling, many dead habitat trees and the loss of high quality forest.

From the summit of the knoll (WP028) logged skylines are visible in the distance in the Yalmy forests. This is a clear breach of the Code of Forest practice, which stipulates this practice is not permitted. The loss of biodiversity is evident in these logged areas too. Wattle regrowth often crowds out most other species, and little habitat is left for possums, owls, quolls and other animals that need them.

Near Rodger River tk & Yalmy Rd WP026, DSC_0755.jpg Near Rodger River tk & Yalmy Rd WP026, DSC_0756.jpg Dead habit tree, logged area Dead habit tree, logged area

Appendix 1: East Gippsland forest photos waypoint log

• Photographer: Peter Campbell
• Day 1 – 15 April 2007
• Location – Brown Mountain, Legge Road

Waypoint	From	To	Description
	DSC_0585.JPG	DSC_0586.JPG	Brown Mt, near Gap reserve P
	DSC_0587.JPG	DSC_0592.JPG	Gap reserve, P
	DSC_0593.JPG		Legge Road, l U, r P
	DSC_0594.JPG
WP0005	DSC_0595.JPG	DSC_0598.JPG	Legge Rd L U, r P
WP006	DSC_0599.JPG	DSC_0601.JPG	Legge Rd, Postmaster Tk l U, r P
	DSC_0602.JPG	DSC_0606.JPG	Unprotected
	DSC_0607.JPG		Protected
	DSC_0608.JPG	DSC_0619.JPG	Unprotected
	DSC_0620.JPG	DSC_0642.JPG	P. Errinundra NP OG
WP007	DSC_0643.JPG		UP, feed tree
WP008	DSC_0644.JPG	DSC_0647.JPG	UP, OG bases
WP009	DSC_0648.JPG	DSC_0653.JPG	Gramps base UP
WP010	DSC_0654.JPG	DSC_0656.JPG	Grey Gum, Shining gum UP
	DSC_0657.JPG		Ferns, unprotected
WP011	DSC_0658.JPG	DSC_0659.JPG	Tall tree UP
WP012	DSC_0660.JPG	DSC_0662.JPG	Tree ferns & trees UP
	DSC_0663.JPG		Tall tree base (Jill) UP
	DSC_0664.JPG		Tall tree UP
	DSC_0665.JPG	DSC_0669.JPG	Goongerah, Mt Ellery UP

Day 2 – 16 April 2007

Location – Aberdeen Track, Mount Jersey Road, Yalmy Road

Waypoint	From	To	Comments
WP014	DSC_0670.JPG	DSC_0672.JPG	Rainforest gully, burn scheduled
WP015	DSC_0673.JPG	DSC_0674.JPG	Gully, burn scheduled
WP016	DSC_0675.JPG	DSC_0676.JPG	Old growth, U, burn scheduled
WP017?	DSC_0705.JPG	DSC_0708.JPG	Regrowth, U
WP018	0709	0727	Coop regrowth
WP019	0728	0730	Protected
WP020	0731		SPZ
WP021	0732		Snowy River NP
WP022	0734		SPZ, New protected area L
WP023	0735		Snowy River NP L, New protected L
	0736	0739	New reserve
WP024	0740	0746	Mountain ash, not protected
WP025	0747		Coop
WP026	0748	0763	Unprotected
WP027	0764		Transition wattle (UP)
	0765		Transition eucalypt (UP)
WP028	0766	0775	Rodger river track area
WP029	0792	0793	Goongerah, protected

Appendix 2: Waypoint coordinates

Datum	WGS 84	Number	Zone	Easting	Northing	Latitude	Longitude
WP	UTM	1	55H	356926	5806268	-37.87985	145.37312
WP	UTM	2	55H	346569	5813330	-37.81454	145.2569
WP	UTM	3	54H	739340	5720275	-38.63377	143.74966
WP	UTM	4	54H	739943	5715479	-38.67678	143.75823
WP	UTM	5	55H	655269	5875049	-37.25818	148.75093
WP	UTM	6	55H	654957	5873682	-37.27055	148.7477
WP	UTM	7	55H	655366	5874674	-37.26154	148.75211
WP	UTM	8	55H	655410	5874665	-37.26162	148.75261
WP	UTM	9	55H	655437	5874658	-37.26168	148.75291
WP	UTM	10	55H	655492	5874688	-37.2614	148.75352
WP	UTM	11	55H	655529	5874718	-37.26112	148.75393
WP	UTM	12	55H	655559	5874735	-37.26096	148.75427
WP	UTM	13	55H	655237	5874607	-37.26217	148.75067
WP	UTM	14	55H	649015	5869467	-37.3095	148.68156
WP	UTM	15	55H	647492	5871654	-37.29004	148.66394
WP	UTM	16	55H	646009	5871075	-37.29549	148.64733
WP	UTM	17	55H	644748	5872851	-37.27968	148.63276
WP	UTM	18	55H	643818	5873607	-37.27301	148.62213
WP	UTM	19	55H	640241	5870820	-37.29867	148.58233
WP	UTM	20	55H	638434	5869212	-37.31343	148.56225
WP	UTM	21	55H	633239	5867756	-37.32731	148.5039
WP	UTM	22	55H	633332	5867344	-37.33101	148.50502
WP	UTM	23	55H	632557	5867243	-37.33203	148.4963
WP	UTM	24	55H	630667	5867586	-37.32921	148.47491
WP	UTM	25	55H	629998	5867634	-37.32887	148.46735
WP	UTM	26	55H	629657	5867295	-37.33197	148.46356
WP	UTM	27	55H	629197	5866801	-37.33649	148.45846
WP	UTM	28	55H	629566	5867848	-37.327	148.46244
WP	UTM	29	55H	650763	5869797	-37.30624	148.70121
WP	UTM	30	55H	637630	5850763	-37.47979	148.55661
WP	UTM	31	55H	635458	5844569	-37.53592	148.5332

Appendix 3: Labor protects last significant old growth stands (Fact sheet)

Issued: 17 November 2006

A re-elected Labor Government will immediately protect the remaining significant stands of old growth forest in Victoria, including the Goolengook Block, by adding them to the National Parks system. This will add another 33,500 hectares of State Forest currently available to the timber industry to the National Park system.

In 2002 the Bracks Labor Government placed a moratorium on logging in the Goolengook Block in East Gippsland pending the outcome of an investigation by the Victorian Environment and Assessment Council (VEAC). The Goolengook Block contains substantial areas of rainforest and old growth forest, long footed potoroo and other threatened species habitat. As the Goolengook Block can be permanently protected under the National Parks Act without any adverse impact on volumes available to the timber industry, a Labor Government will immediately wind up the VEAC investigation and protect the Goolengook Block in the National Parks system.

In addition to the Goolengook Block, a Labor Government will immediately protect remaining significant stands of old growth forest currently available for timber harvesting by including them in the National Parks and reserves system.

While over half a million hectares of old growth forest is already protected in reserves and National Parks in Victoria, it doesn’t make sense from an environmental or commercial perspective to allow the few remaining large stands of old growth forests to be logged. In addition to their visual majesty, old growth forests are rich sources of biodiversity and habitat to a range of species.

The benefits for tourism, and market access opportunities for the timber industry from protecting the remaining significant old growth timber stands, clearly outweigh the on going minimal returns from the harvesting of old growth forest.

Appendix 4: Proposed new parks and reserves in East Gippsland

Source: Labor protects last significant old growth stands (Fact sheet), 17 November 2006

See also

• Brown Mountain old growth forest