FORESTRY CORPORATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES

NATIVE FOREST HARVESTING PLAN

Wang Wauk State Forest – Compartment 117

1. Certification This plan has been prepared in accordance with the Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (IFOA) issued under the Forestry and National Park Estate Act 1998.

Prepared by: Mark Stute Reviewed and Approved by: Dirk van Dijk

Senior Planner Acting Planning Supervisor

Signature: Signature:

Date: 9/11/2015 Date: 10/11/2015

Note: Approval encompasses the Harvest Plan Operational Map (HPOM) with the corresponding approval date displayed on the map, verifying final approved version.

2. Description of Proposal Native forest timber harvesting and associated road maintenance works. This operation will not be licenced under the EPL. Refer to Legal Conditions (Item 10). Attachment 1: Site Safety Plan – describes safety requirements and Medical Emergency Evacuation Plan (MEEP) for this harvesting operation. Attachment 2: Operational Road Works Plan – outlines roading requirements for this harvesting operation. Attachment 3: Standard Harvest Plan Conditions for Native Forest Operations under the IFOA: Central Region. 3. Area Identification and Yield Estimates

State Forest Compartment Management Price Zone Harvest Area Plan No. Wang Wauk 117 Bulahdelah Bulahdelah 32770

Cpt 117 PlanCptID 44155 Gross Area 360.5 Ha Net Harvest Area 248.1 Ha Treatment Area * 160.5 Ha Estimated Yield 4747 m3 % Treatment Area > 15° 42 %

* Treatment Area is the portion of NHA that is proposed for harvesting during this event less the area of slopes greater than 30 degrees as estimated by Hazard Calculator (est. area > 30° = 9.1 ha).

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HARVEST PLAN – Compartment 117, Wang Wauk State Forest

4. Silviculture and Harvesting Prescriptions Compartment History and Stand Condition Compartment 117 has a long history of forest management, including harvesting and hazard reduction burning. Records indicate regular logging from the mid 1960’s. More recently, the proposed treatment area for this harvest plan was harvested between 1970 and 1972 and again between 1992 and 1994. A very small area (approximately 1 ha) along Lemon Tree Trail was harvested in 2011 in association with harvesting in compartment 116.

The compartment were treated with a range of silvicultural regimes including thinning and STS harvesting, and AGS gapping. Some timber stand improvement (TSI) operations were conducted, mainly to the north-east of the compartment and outside of the current proposed treatment area.

Current stand condition is varied, with regeneration succeeding in some areas and failing in others. There are patches of high quality regrowth spars that should be retained to grow on and harvesting should avoid damaging these stands.

The compartment treatment area comprises; mixed moist hardwood stands containing the commercial species flooded gum, blue gum and tallowwood with some areas of pure flooded gum on lower slopes and along drainage lines, and high and low quality dry hardwood stands of white mahogany, red mahogany, grey gum and grey iron bark.

The stands of mature forest will be harvested intensively in order to maximise their commercial value and achieve regeneration. The silvicultural objective of this harvesting operation is to harvest end-point stands to create ground disturbance and conditions suitable to achieve regeneration.

Tourism and recreation values along Horses Creek Road are protected by a 50 metre wide (25m either side of the road) FMZ 3B special prescription zone. The FMZ 3B zone is shown on the HPOM. At least 50% of the canopy within this zone must be retained. Apply STS light to moderate to achieve this condition. Retain growers, seed trees and Koala preferred species (tallowwood, grey gum, swamp mahogany). Log dumps placed along Horses Creek Road must be located and sized in such a manner as to reduce impacts on visual quality, with due consideration given to safety.

Basal Area limits will be managed by offset areas within the compartment which may be harvested at a later date. A basal area assessment, with offset areas in place, estimated an average basal area retention requirement for the treatment area of 12.4 m2/ha.

Harvesting Prescription Stand type % of Example Treatment (STS, AGS, or THIN) treat and Prescription area Moist Harwood Stands. 68% Lower slopes and  Heavy STS. along drainage  Harvest intensively to remove lines. merchantable products as well as poor quality stems and suppressed trees.  Retain good quality seed trees1 of preferred species at 30 - 50m spacing.  Treat areas between seed trees to aid regeneration2.  Avoid damage to patches of regrowth spars of preferred species, where present. Mixed Dry Hardwood Stands. 30% Mid and upper  Moderate and Heavy STS. slopes.  Areas where regeneration has failed may be treated (by machinery disturbance) to provide another opportunity for regeneration  Avoid damage to regrowth spars and advanced regeneration where it is present.

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FMZ 3B. 2% 25m wide special  Light and moderate STS where at least prescription strip 50% of the canopy must be retained. along Horses  Care must be taken to avoid damage to Creek Road advanced regeneration. Mixed dry hardwood stands Displayed as  Do not harvest. Retain for future dominated by young regrowth “Future harvesting events. spars resulting from pole Treatment” Areas  Snig tracks may be permitted through operations in 1989 to 1991 and on HPOM these areas where access is otherwise mining timber harvesting in impractical. Care must be taken to avoid 1992/1993. damage to advanced regeneration.

Notes: 1. Retained seed trees must be mature, have good form and large, healthy crowns. Trees chosen as seed trees must be of preferred species and must be dominant or co-dominant in the pre harvest stand. Do not retain suppressed trees as seed trees. 2. Areas between seed trees should be treated to aid regeneration, including removal of shade-tolerant stems as far as practicable under the conditions of the IFOA and as market conditions allow. IFOA Limits STS Basal Area(BA) limit (40%) Sections of native forest will be retained within the NHA (displayed as ‘future treatment areas’ on the HPOM) to ensure BA limits are not reached. The Harvest Planning Forester must be contacted if changes to this plan are proposed.

5. Special Conditions Non-Harvest Areas In this compartment, non-harvest areas comprise:  FMZ 2 (Wildlife - fauna, runs parallel with the Wang Wauk River. This zone is obscured on the HPOM as it lies beneath the 4th order drainage riparian protection zone applied to Wang Wauk River).  FMZ 3A (associated with rainforest).  Ridge and headwater habitat (40m and 80m wide).  Slopes over 30 (mapped indicatively).  Riparian protection zones.  Threatened species exclusions.  Owl landscape reserves.

Endangered Ecological Community (EEC) Subtropical Coastal Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion EEC may be present in the compartment associated with Wang Wauk River. The potential EEC areas indicated on the attached HPOM are excluded from logging unless assessed in the field as not meeting the criteria for EEC. The Senior Field Ecologist must be notified prior to any harvesting occurring on mapped indicative EEC locations. If during the course of mark-up you identify any additional areas that you feel may possibly be EEC, contact the Senior Field Ecologist prior to any activities occurring in those areas.

FMZ 3B There is a FMZ 3B (Special Prescription Zone) area which is 50 metres wide (~25m either side of Horses Creek Road) and runs parallel with Horses Creek Road. The dominant value of the zone is “Tourism & Recreation”. The actual purpose of the zone is not clear, however, it may have been created when several roads within Wang Wauk State Forest (including Horses Creek Road and Wang Wauk Forest Way) were used as tourist drives at the time Wootton Way formed part of the Pacific Highway. The area is available for harvesting under modified harvesting prescriptions.

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Koala High Use Areas and Intermediate Use Areas Although recent ecology surveys did not identify any Koala High Use areas, previously identified areas in 2012 will be excluded from harvesting. Ecology surveys did determine the compartment to be a Koala Intermediate Use area as a whole requiring tree retention conditions where 10 primary browse trees (Grey gum, Tallowwood, Forest Red Gum, Swamp Mahogany) must be retained for every 2 hectares of NHA.

Haulage Pattern All timber will be hauled to the north via Horses Creek Road to Manning Hill Road, and to the south via Horses Creek Road and Wang Wauk Forest Way to Wootton Way.

Critical Boundaries Compartment 117 lies entirely within Wang Wauk State Forest and is not adjoined by National Park, freehold lands, or other land tenure. The boundaries of compartment 117 comprise roads, trails and drainage features, all of which have been accurately defined for this harvesting plan based on LiDAR data sets and on-ground GPS data capture.

Harvesting Debris Management Logging debris must be removed within 5 meters of the base of retained seed trees and hollow bearing trees to avoid damage in burning operations.

Traffic Management Harvesting operations adjacent to Horses Creek Road are likely to require traffic control especially as there are several log dumps positioned alongside Horses Creek Road. The harvesting contractor must provide an adequate traffic management plan and adequate implementation of the traffic management plan. Refer to Forests NSW Safety Standard OSS009 – “Traffic Management”.

Koalas In Care – Koala Emergency Rescue Plan The local community group Koalas In Care have agreed with Forestry Corporation of NSW that the following procedure will be adhered with in case of a sick or injured Koala being located during the course of this timber harvest event. Please note that KIC may request a FCNSW employee transport a sick or deceased koala to the intersection of Willina Road and the Pacific Highway and meet with KIC at this location. This should only be done if safe for both the employee and the koala.

Koala Emergency Rescue Plan:

Daily Pre Harvesting Check:

 The active work area should be checked for the presence of koalas in the morning prior to harvesting commencing.

 However FCNSW staff and Contractors should be aware of the possibility of Koala entering the work site at ANY TIME due to noise/vibrations from harvesting machinery and truck movements disturbing Koalas causing disorientation.

Koalas In Care will be immediately contacted by Forestry Corporation NSW or Contractor/s in the following circumstances:-

 If a Koala is injured during harvesting activities or observed to be diseased (i.e. dirty rump area or red sore eyes).  If a Koala is found on route to a harvesting area and appears to be injured, diseased or disorientated.

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 In the event that a joey is found separated from its mother during harvesting/on-route to harvesting zones, then all vehicle/machinery movement will cease while a search is conducted. It is essential that KIC be contacted immediately for search & rescue. These koalas will be admitted into care for assessment & observation as it can be common for a female koala to reject its joey after such an event. These koalas must not be released by Forestry Corporation NSW staff or contractors.  In the event of a Koala being injured during harvesting operations the Koala is to be contained on the ground (it should not be allowed to climb a tree whenever safe to do so) with a blanket or alternative thrown over the top of the animal to restrict its movement. The area should be kept quiet to reduce stress on the Koala, shade should also be provided until the Koalas In Care members arrive to assess the Koala’s condition and provide assistance.  In the event of a Koala being sighted during harvesting operations for recording of location and other data  Upon arrival the Koalas In Care members will assess and stabilise the Koala and prepare it for transport to Taree Veterinary Hospital for a post mortem.  In the event of a Koala suffering fatal injuries Koalas In Care is to be contacted immediately so the body can be collected and taken to Taree Veterinary Hospital for a post mortem.

For all situations outlined above – the FIRST CALL SHOULD BE TO KOALAS IN CARE (as it has been found that this group can respond quicker than local vets).

Contact details: 24 hour Koala Rescue Service number Ph: 65522183. If the 24 hour phone number is not answered then call the 24 hour Mobile Koala Rescue Service number Ph: 0439406770.

IF NO CONTACT AFTER THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE TRIED – Contact should be made with Koalas In Care’s preferred vet, contact details are:

Taree Veterinary Hospital, 47 Chatham Avenue, Taree Ph: 65522633

The following Koalas In Care members are to be given a site induction if requested such that these members can enter the work site and attend to Koalas:

Christeen McLeod (Koala Care Facility Manager/ Rescuer/ Rehabilitator) Paul McLeod (President/ Rescuer/ Rehabilitator) Mandy Penhall (Rescuer/ Rehabilitator)

Harvesting staff and Contractors must provide clear access for Koalas In Care rescue vehicles. Koalas In Care Rescuers will use UHF Radio Ch 24 on arriving at the location and then change channel as required by site induction instructions.

If required the following FCNSW staff or Contractors should be contacted in relation to Koala care and management as per this rescue plan:

Anthony Drummond (Harvesting Contract Coordinator) – First Contact – 0447 227 023 Peter Clark (Field Technician) – Secondary Contact – 0447 744 412 Phil Carter – (Contractor) – 0428 451 411

Occupational Permits - Beekeeping Occupation permits (four Beekeeping permits) exist across the compartment. Permit holders have been notified. Any active bee hive sites MUST remain undisturbed during the course of logging. At the time of planning there were no active bee permit sites located in the compartment.

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6. Forest Management Zoning

Zone Management FMZ 2 Special Management – excluded from harvesting  Along Wang Wauk River (80m wide strip parallel with the river). Obscured on HPOM as it lies beneath 109 metres wide riparian protection zone for Wang Wauk River FMZ 3A Harvesting Exclusion  Mapped rainforest area. FMZ 3B Special Prescription – available under modified harvesting prescriptions.  Tourism/Recreation values which are maintained by a 50 metres wide zone that runs parallel with Horses Creek Road. FMZ 4 General Management – available for harvesting.

7. Cultural Heritage An Aboriginal cultural heritage site survey was performed by Forests NSW Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer (ACHO) in 2015. Contact the Harvesting Contract Coordinator and ACHO if further sites are uncovered during harvesting operations.

8. Flora and Fauna Refer to the Threatened Species Licence (TSL) Booklet for Conditions. General TSL Prescriptions  SFO Mark Up Searches – Conditions 5.1(h), 5.2 and 5.13 (general, Koala and bird roost and nest searches) must be implemented. 2 Koala star search triggers were identified during the desktop process and 2 star searches completed. Insufficient scats were found during these star searches to implement a Koala high use area or intermediate use area. 1 Koala star search trigger was generated during the spotlight search which resulted in an intermediate prescription for this compartment. For this harvest event, previously identified Koala high use areas will be protected.

 Tree Retention – Regrowth Zone. Conditions 5.6 (d), (e) and (f) must be applied - Glossy Black Cockatoo feed trees. Koala High Use area and Intermediate Use areas. Condition 6.14 must be applied.

 Riparian Habitat Protection – Condition 5.7 must be applied.

 Ground Habitat protection – Condition 5.17. Commercial firewood collection is permitted in these compartments.

Site-Specific Conditions, Exclusion Zones & Modified Harvest Areas Mapped exclusion areas occur for the following. Site-specific conditions must be implemented

Boundary TSL Prescription Name Prescription Summary Type Condition Number 2, Accidental 5.04 Rainforest Mapped Exclusion Mapped exclusion, 30 m buffer on mapped Giant-barred or streams within 200 m of records and no UMDL 3, Machinery 6.03 Stuttering Frog within 200m of records. Revert to 10m UMDL EPL protection Mapped exclusion, 30 m buffer on mapped first 3, Machinery 6.20 Golden-tipped Bat order streams and second order streams

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within 200 m of records and no UMDL within 200m of records. Revert to 10m UMDL EPL protection. Mapped exclusion, 20 m buffer on 90% of 3, Machinery 6.23 Threatened Flora individuals: Cynanchum elegans. Ridge and 4, Limited 5.08 Mapped Exclusion Headwater Habitat Mapped exclusion – Wang Wauk Planning 4, Limited 6.09 Owl Landscapes Unit. 4, Limited 6.14 Koala High-use Area Mapped Exclusion Koala Intermediate 4, Limited 6.14 Tree retention requirements Use Yellow-bellied Glider Tree retention requirements, 100m radius of 5, Modified 6.17 g) i Tree Retention sap feed tree, observation or den detection. Yellow-bellied Glider Tree retention requirements, 200m radius of 5, Modified 6.17 g) ii Tree Retention heard call detection. All hollow bearing trees with DBHOB of >60cm Stephens Banded- 5, Modified 6.06 within 100m of the record/s must be retained. snake Damage to these trees must be avoided.

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9. Soils and Water Protection

Refer to Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) Booklet & Standard Plan Conditions

Site-Specific EPL conditions Conditions Element Unmapped Drainage Lines Best Management Practices for Unmapped Drainage Lines apply Drainage Feature Protection Estimated channel widths for 2nd order drainage features and above are 2nd order – 3m, 3rd order 5m, 4th order and above – 9m. See HPOM for drainage feature soft protection zone widths. Inherent Hazard Class 2 Dispersible Soils No Mass Movement Potential Low Seasonal Harvesting Exclusions Nil. Seasonal Burning Exclusions Nil. Log Dumps Refer relevant conditions for IHC 1: Conditions 26, 27, 30, and 33 of EPL Schedule 4. Maximum allowed soil disturbance for log dumps: rut depth 25cm, length 10m. (Forest Practices Circular 2008/4) Snig Tracks Refer to special conditions below. Roads See schedule 5 of EPL Booklet

Snig and Extraction Tracks

Element Schedule 4 EPL Conditions Technique Conditions 38-40 Schedule 4 EPL Drainage Conditions 70-80 Schedule 4 EPL Conditions 42-68 Schedule 4 EPL Crossings Condition 5.7 TSL Downhill Snigging Condition 82 Schedule 4 EPL Wet Weather Condition 81 Schedule 4 EPL Max grade must not exceed 25° except for short sections Grade under certain circumstances. Refer to Cond 41 Sch 4 EPL. Rutting Max allowed soil disturbance limits for snig / extraction tracks: rut depth 20cm, length 10m. (Forest Practices Circular 2008/4)

Note: Snig track crossing “SP-A” has been identified in the planning stage and is located on 117 South Trail to the north-west of dump 10. The crossing is stable. If the crossing is used for snigging logs to dump 10, the harvesting contractor will be required to position bumper logs at the crossing to prevent damage to road batters and retained vegetation, and to prevent soil from entering the drainage feature.

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10. Legal Conditions This operation must comply with:  Licence Conditions issued by Forestry Corporation under the Forestry Act (2012).  State Forests of NSW Forest Practices Code - Part 2 Timber Harvesting in Native Forests 1999 and Forest Practices Code Part 4 Forest Roads and Fire Trails (1999).  Integrated Forestry Operations Approval issued under part 4 of the Forestry and National Parks Estate Act 1998 (IFOA) as amended March 2013 including associated licences for Lower North East Region. o Threatened Species Conservation Licence (TSCL) issued under the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) as amended March 2013 o Part 7 (Div 3) Fisheries Management Act (1994) as amended March 2013  This operation is a non-scheduled operation under the Environment Protection Licence issued under section 55 of the Protection of the Environment Act 1997. This Harvesting operation including the roads and trails associated with harvesting are not licensed. All EPL conditions will be applied to harvesting operations, except for schedule 4 condition 6 relating to filter strips on unmapped drainage lines. The Best Management Practices detailed in Standard Harvest Plan Condition for Native Forest Operations in Central Region are to be applied to unmapped drainage lines.

11. Pre-Operational Briefing I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Harvesting Plan for Compartment 117 in Wang Wauk State Forest and that I have been briefed on the conditions of the Plan and understand the supervision and operational control requirements as explained to me by the Forest Planner or his/her delegate.

Position Name Signature Date

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