Department of Land and Water Conservation:
Bruce Cole-Clark
Bob Attwood
Gary Cox
Greg Lollback

State Forests NSW:
Ellis Nicholson
Robert Towler
Paul Brennan
Kelvin Christiansen
Norm Hawkes

The strategy takes account of recommendations outlined in the 'Erosion and Sediment Control Strategy for Forest Operations' developed by the Department of Land and Water Conservation and State Forests NSW, November 1995.

It will continue to be reviewed periodically and modified where necessary to adopt new technologies and accommodate changing circumstances.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

2. OVERVIEW FOR PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT

2.1 Legal Restrictions
2.2 Planning.
2.3 Operations

1. Clearing
2. Site Preparation
3. Drainage Feature Management
4. Roading
5. Fire Management
6. Ground Cover Management
7. Herbicide Management

3.1 Planning
3.1.1 Check Legal Restrictions
3.1.2 Site Assessment
3.1.3 Evaluation Guide

1. Climate, Soil Moisture & Ground Cover
2. Geology
3. Soils
4. Maximum Slopes; Landslip, Seepage, and Saline Areas
5. Drainage
6. Existing Erosion
7. Specialist Advice

1. Rivers, Lakes and Prescribed Streams
2. Watercourses, Wetlands, Swamps, Drainage Lines
3. Drainage Depressions

1. Time of Clearing
2. Areas Excluded From Clearing
3. Clearing and Debris Burning Technique

1. Cover Crops and Ground Cover
2. Sediment Traps

1. Location
2. Road Gradients
3. Road Batters
4. Road Drainage
5. Drainage Feature Crossings
6. Revegetation
7. Fire Protection

1. Site Preparation Guidelines
2. Weed control - Herbicide Management

As a result of the New South Wales Government's endorsement of the National Forest Policy Statement (1992) and more recent Forestry Industry Restructure and Conservation policies, State Forest NSW is committed to a eucalypt plantation establishment program on mainly cleared agriculture land to augment the future supply of timber from native forests. Some plantations will be established on dedicated state forest but the majority of plantations will be established on land purchased by State Forests NSW for plantation purposes and also on private land.

In 1994/95 about 1500 hectares of plantation was established on North Coast private properties. A further 5,000 hectares are to be planted in NSW during 1996/97 and 10,000 hectares are proposed for 1997/98. It is predicted that the ongoing program will result in the establishment of some 75,000 hectares in NSW by the year 2010. The bulk of these plantations will be on the NSW North Coast.

This strategy has been prepared to assist all personnel involved in eucalypt plantation establishment under State Forest NSW's Eucalypt Plantation Program operations on the NSW North Coast. It recognises that the potential for soil erosion and land degradation associated with tree clearing, site preparation and other plantation establishment activities is high on the NSW North Coast. This arises from the Region's normal climatic pattern of dry spring weather which restricts revegetation growth, and damaging high intensity summer rainfall. This strategy addresses those soil erosion and land degradation issues through guidelines for best practice in plantation establishment.

This strategy has been accepted by State Forest NSW as a supporting document to the Forest Practices Code, Part 3, Plantation Establishment and Maintenance (1997). It is used as a basis for preparation of all State Forest NSW's 'Plantation Esablishment Plans' (PEP's). Note PEP's are currently a condition of development consents issued by the Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) under the State Environmental Planning Policy No.46 (SEPP No46).

The strategy has been specifically prepared for State Forests NSW's North Coast Eucalypt Plantation Program operations but it should also be applied to other North Coast timber plantation operations. Its application to similar operations elsewhere in NSW, with suitable modifications where relevant, is recommended.

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