Softwood Forests

VICTORIA Report of the FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA for the Year ended 30 June 1982 Ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be printed MELBOURNE F D ATKINSON GOVERNMENT PRINTER 1982 No. 50 - 55561/82-IF2339) Forests Commission Victoria Forestry House, 601 Bourke Street, Melbourne, 3000 ANNUAL REPORT 1981-82 In compliance with the provisions of section 35 of the Forests Act 1958 (No. 6254) the Forest Commission has the honour to present to Parliament the following report of its activities and financial statements for the financial year 1981-82. Chairman A.J. THREADER Commissioner R.J. GROSE Commissioner G. GRIFFIN Secretary RA. SAUNDERS Melbourne CONTENTS Page 1 The Year's Highlights in Brief 10 The Forest Estate 10 Forest Areas 10 Forest Assessment 11 Forest Survey and Mapping 11 Land Purchase 12 Management of Forests 12 Planning and Conservation Statutory Planning, Management Plans, Environment Effects, Land Use Planning, Forest Environment 14 Native Forests Areas Harvested, Regeneration and Planting, Silvicultural Treat ment, Afforestation, Seed Supplies for Regeneration, Nurseries, Research - Hydrology, Nutrition and Weed Control, Genetics, Management and Mensuration, Forest Environment, Pests and Dis eases, Pathology, Silviculture 20 Softwood Forests Areas Harvested, Replanting, Silvicultural Treatment and Mainte nance, New Plantations, Seed Supplies, Nurseries, Research Hydrology, Nutrition and Weed Control, Genetics, Silviculture, Pa thology, Pests and Diseases 25 Protection of Forests 25 Fire Protection Fire Season, Number and Causes of Fires, Fire Suppression, Fire Prevention, Detection, Training, Communications, Aircraft Opera tions, Fire Research 32 Biological Protection Insects, Weeds, Animals 33 Forest Offences 34 Forest Produce and Forest Industries 34 The Sawmilling Industry 34 Timber Promotion 35 Sawlogs and Pulpwood 35 Veneer Logs 35 Other Forest Produce 5 Page 37 Departmental Production 37 Grazing and Apiculture 37 Economic Studies 39 Public Use of Forests 39 Forest Recreation 40 Forest Parks and Other Reserves 40 Community Education and Information 41 Community Interest Projects 41 Search and Rescue Operations 42 Construction and Maintenance 42 Roads and Tracks Public Use of Forest Roads, Road Construc- tion and Maintenance 43 Buildings, Bridges and Other Works 45 Flood Control and Drainage 45 Reclamation and Conservation Works 45 Fire Protection Installations 46 Mechanical Plant and Motor Vehicles 47 Fire Equipment 48 Advisory Services 48 Nurseries 48 Farm Forestry 49 Tree Growing Assistance 50 Public Enquiries 50 Forest Products 51 Forestry Education 51 School of Forestry 51 Library 52 Personnel 52 Staff and Employees 53 Employment Schemes 54 Staff Development and Training 55 Finance 63 Major Publications, Conferences and Study Tours 66 List of Principal Officers 6 THE YEAR'S HIGHLIGHTS IN BRIEF Recession in Sawmilling Industry There were fewer houses completed during the year than in any of the previous 30 years. This reduced activity in the housing industry brought about a reduction in markets for sawn timber. The difficult marketing conditions for local timber were aggravated by competition from imported timber particularly from New Zealand and North America where there was a coincident and pro nounced recession in the housing and construction industries. Particularly towards the end of the year there were significant retrench ments of labour in the sawmilling industry, with some mills ceasing operations and others operating over a shorter working week. Sales of hardwood sawlogs from State forests were down 7.6 per cent to 1.08 million cubic metres and of softwood sawlogs by 3.1 per cent to 0.33 million cubic metres on the previous year. Estimated income from timber roy alties was reduced proportionately. Tree Growing Assistance Scheme Over 1 000 applications for grants of assistance for growing and pro tecting trees on farms and on other rural and urban lands were received during the year. Nearly 90% of these were from farmers and graziers, and mostly from the northern and western sectors of the State where there is a general lack of trees in the countryside. Offers of assistance to the value of $410 000 were made and accepted during the year. The grants are mainly to assist with fencing and for purchase of plants. New Dimension in Aerial Attack on Forest Fires Technologically advanced equipment for aerial attack on forest fires was borrowed from the United States Forest Service for testing under operational conditions in Victoria. The system is known as the 'Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System' (MAFFS) and is designed for use in Hercules aircraft. 7 The system is used for bombing fires with chemical fire retardant in quantities up to 11 000 litres per load. One such load can effectively cover an area 350-400 metres long and 30-50 metres wide. Using Hercules aircraft hired from the Royal Australian Air Force, MAFFS was used effectively in suppression of forest fires in Broadford, Bright and Orbost forest districts. Forest District Achieves 100 000 Injury-Free Manhours Swifts Creek forest district became the first district to achieve a period of 100 000 manhours for its work force during which there were no lost-time injuries. This achievement is seen as an encouraging result of the intensive work safety programme that has been implemented by the Commission with the assistance of the National Safety Council of Australia. Community Education in Forestry Two further significant initiatives were taken during the year to improve the Commission's ability and facility for informing the community on all aspects of forestry. A Community Education and Information branch was established and given a charter to explain forests and forestry to people. The branch comprises three sections: public relations, education and information, interpretation. A contract was let for construction of a new complex at Toolangi forest district which combines a community education and information facility with a new district forest office. The facilities provide for static display and capability for combining indoor lectures with lectures and demonstrations in the nearby State forests to give school children and other groups of people opportunity to learn about the ecology, management and importance of forests. Development Planning for Alpine Resorts Consultants made significant progress on preparation of a development plan, environment effects statement and financial feasibility analysis for the development of Mt Stirling Alpine Resort as a major recreation and tourist resort for all-year-round use. Public participation in planning the project has been invited. The task is scheduled for completion by September 1983. Consultants have also been engaged to advise on and assist in the im plementation of the final stages of the Mt Buller Alpine Reserve central village area redevelopment plan. 8 New Industries for Processing Victorian Softwood Timber Sales of softwood pulpwood and softwood veneer logs from Victorian State plantations were boosted by two new industrial complexes that were opened during the year. Up to 120 000 tonnes per annum of softwood pulpwood from north eastern plantations will ultimately be supplied to Australian Newsprint Mills Ltd new pulp and paper complex near Albury-Wodonga. Australian Forest Industries Ltd integrated wood-using complex at Myrtleford was extended to include a modern veneer mill which will obtain its raw material supplies from State softwood plantations in the Ovens valley. 9 THE FOREST ESTATE Forest Areas The area of State forest in Victoria is approximately 6. 9 million hectares. At 30 June 1982 the area of reserved forest was 2 889 933 hectares, an increase in the past year of 4 78 782 hectares. Excisions from reserved forest under Sections 42 and 49 of the Forests Act 1958 were 195 hectares. Dedi cations of reserved forest under the provisions of Sections 42, 45, 48 and 49 of the Act were 496 067 hectares while 17 090 hectares were excised under the National Parks Act 1978. Forest Assessment Statements of areas and classes of native forest under both Crown and private ownership were updated following assessment reports on felling, re generation, acquisition arid changes in land use and tenure. These and other resources data provided the basis for reviews of future sawlog and pulpwood availabilities. Development continued on computer processing systems for analysis of both hardwood and softwood resources information for future wood pro duction planning. Data from resource inventories of 17 500 hectares of mixed species forest in East Gippsland were analysed to determine both total and available volumes. Ten thousand five hundred hectares of immature regrowth stands of alpine ash E. deiegatensis were classified, mapped and sampled by inventory plots to assist in management planning in the North-eastern field division. A report on future resources from regrowth was completed for 18 000 hectares of mountain forest in the eastern region of the Otways forest district and in cluded maps showing types and ages of vegetation. State plantation area statements were updated by field mapping to account for fellings, new plantings and replantings. Statistics on private plan tations were collected from questionnaires issued to land owners. Softwood plantations total17 4 200 hectares in area, comprising 86 300 hectares of Commission plantings, 3 600 hectares of other public plantings and 84 300 hectares under private ownership. 10 Young plantations of softwoods on 3 680 hectares in various

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