PLANTATIONS
Sep 07: New Macquarie Bank/Midway plantations targeting Fernbank and Munro regions in East Gippsland. Macquarie and Midway are also wanting to establish bluegums at Ensay.
(PaperlinX are planning to rely on 20,000 hectares of newly bluegum plantations for all their fine paper hardwood needs by 2017. This could see them exit the native forest industry but what are the consequences for Gippsland communities having to live next door to these plantations? Approximately 2000 hectares of new bluegum plantations need to be established in the region each year until 2017 for this project to be viable).
Sep 07: Plantation Objections from a Local Perspective
May 08: Australian Paper sourcing from Strzelecki Rainforest Reserve for 19 months
New: April 2007 15 year old bluegum plantations failing. Torn down. See here
NOTE: As of 31/7/01, Hancock Victorian Plantations Pty Ltd announced that it had agreed to acquire all the shares of Australian Paper Plantations Pty Ltd from PaperlinX for AUD $152 million. The property includes approximately 54,600 hectares of pine and eucalypt plantations and 26,900 hectares of non-plantation land including firebreaks, roads, other non-forested areas and native vegetation. This will be addition to the 165,000 hectares of plantations Hancock Timber Resource Group purchased from the Victorian State Government in November 1998. All photos taken before 31 July 2001 of Australian Paper Plantations will appear on this site. For plantation photos of ex- Australian Paper Plantations starting 1 August 2001, please go to the Hancock Watch website: www.hancock.forests.org.auPlantation photos from Reflexwatch Archives
RECENT PHOTOS (ADDED OCT 2001)
Link to eight point agreement between Friends of Gippsland Bush and Australian Paper
1996 independent panel report:
In 1996 an independent panel was established by the State Government planning minister after Amcor applied to clear 2,000 hectares of native vegetation for plantation establishment. The panel recommended that the clearing not go ahead. We believe that the reasons given by the panel were the right decisions. A full copy of the independent report is included here, but we have created links to the sections that we consider important on ecological grounds. We also believe that these same issues are relevant for all native forest logging, and should be applied as such.
It is also a desired policy of Australian paper and has been of Hancock Victorian plantations to plant Shining Gum and other exotic species, so that there will be no debate in the future about naturally regenerating forest and planted forest. Australian Paper should be planting indigenous species rather than introduced trees.
1. Habitat for Native Plants and Animals
is Protected
2. Ecological Processes and Genetic Diversity
are Maintained
3. Carbon is Stored and Does not Add to the
Greenhouse Effect
4. Soil is Protected from Degradation, Including
Salinisation and Erosion
5. Adverse Effects on Groundwater Recharge
are Minimised
6. Rivers, Streams, Wetlands and Water Resources
are Protected
7. Land is Used and Managed in a Sustainable
Manner
8. Visual Amenity and Landscape Quality are
Preserved and Enhanced
Below are some photos showing typical mismanagement of plantations by Australian Paper
Jumbuk Road, May 2001. Total Destruction of wet forest and understorey along length of gully.
Jumbuk Road. Destruction of native vegetation. 2001.
Middle Creek Road, 2000. Removal of non-plantation veg.
Jumbuk Road. Destruction of gully vegetation
Below Jeerlang West Road. Herbicide application, April 2001. Are local residents and users of downstream water advised of spraying regimes by Australian Paper? Herbicide application most likely to be Velpar (Hexazinone). For more info. about herbicides used in plantation forestry go to: www.hancock.forests.org.au
