Proposed TRP Amendments

Proposed 2010 Amendments to VicForests’ Timber Release Plans

**Please Note: this TRP Amendment process does not allow an increase to VicForests' total annual harvest rate

VicForests is seeking to amend our Timber Release Plans (TRP) for the North East, Benalla-Mansfield, Central, Central Gippsland, Dandenong, East Gippsland, and Tambo Forest Management Areas in 2010. All TRPs prepared by VicForests are in accordance with Part 5 of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004. A TRP may be reviewed and changed in accordance with section 43 of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004.

This year VicForests plans to add 242 new areas of native forest (coupes) and roadlines, and modify 56 coupes and roadlines already on TRPs. A further 79 coupes will be removed from the TRPs which have been successfully harvested and regenerated, or considered unsuitable for harvest upon further investigation. The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) will resume management of these areas.

Any areas added or modified during this process do not allow an increase to VicForests' total annual harvest level.

Maps

Central Highlands

New	Modifications
Alexandra Broadford Dandenong Erica Marysville Noojee Toolangi Yarram East Yarram West	Alexandra Dandenong Marysville Noojee Toolangi

East Gippsland

New	Modifications
Bairnsdale Bendoc Cann River Nowa Nowa Orbost Swifts Creek	Bairnsdale Bendoc Cann River Nowa Nowa Orbost Swifts Creek

Schedule of coupes

Central Highlands Schedule of Coupes

East Gippsland Schedule of Coupes

Extent of Amendment

The number of coupes to be added or amended within each Forest Management Area are detailed within Table 1 below.

Table 1

Forest Management Area	New coupes and road-lines	Amendments to previously approved coupes	Total
East Gippsland	66	41	107
Tambo	28	6	34
Benalla Mansfield	-	-	0
Central	86	5	91
Central Gippsland	33	3	36
Dandenong	29	1	30
North East	-	-	0
Total	242	56	298

Reason for Amendments

As a result of the Black Saturday fires, a large amount of the currently approved harvesting areas within the Central, Central Gippsland and Dandenong Forest Management Areas were burnt severely and will not be suitable for timber harvesting in the near future. As a result of a coordinated inventory program undertaken by VicForests Tactical Planning staff, VicForests is now in a position to amend its current TRPs for these Forest Management Areas to ensure that VicForests is able to meet its current sales commitments, and contractual harvest and haulage obligations.

VicForests’ ongoing field inventory program has also led to new and amended coupes within the East Gippsland and Tambo Forest Management Areas.

DSE Review and Approval

These proposed amendments have been submitted for an initial review by DSE which should take one month to complete. At the completion of this process and the public consultation period, the proposed plans are finalised and submitted to DSE for final approval.

Public Consultation

VicForests welcomes input into our planning process by members of the public and invites any interested parties to review our initial plan during the month long review period.

The public consultation period is now closed.

VicForests will respond to all correspondence received during this period.