2. OVERVIEW FOR PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT

2.1 Legal Restrictions
The following legislation controls trees and other vegetation destruction in NSW and clearing and land disturbance for plantation establishment may necessitate consultation with the relevant consent authority.

ACT	RELEVANT AUTHORITY
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 - Local Environmental Plan (Tree Preservation Orders) - Regional Environmental Plan - State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP)  No 14 Coastal Wetlands  No 26 Littoral Rainforest  No 44 Koala  No 46 Native Vegetation Clearing	Local Councils  Land & Water Conservation
Soil Conservation Act, 1938  - (Protected Land)	Land & Water Conservation
Crown Lands Act  - (Lease, Licenses, Enclosure Permits)	Land & Water Conservation
River and Foreshores Improvement Act, 1948  - (Disturbance in Rivers, Lakes, Estuaries)	Land & Water Conservation
Clean Water Act, 1970  Pollution Control Act, 1970  Environmental Offences and Penalty Act, 1989  - (Pollution of Water and Drainage Lines)	Environment Protection Authority
Pesticides Act, 1978  - (Killing trees with Herbicides)	Environment Protection Authority
Forestry Act, 1916  - (Vacant Crown Land, Leases, Permissive        Occupancies,   License, Reserved Road)	State Forests
Fisheries Management Act, 1994  - (Fish Habitat in Wetlands)	Local Councils
Bush Fires Act, 1949  - (Burning Tree Debris)	Local Councils
National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974  - (Flora , Fauna and Aboriginal Sites)  Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995  - (Flora and Fauna, Presumed Extinct, Endangered    and Vulnerable)	National Parks and Wildlife Service
Timber Plantations (Harvest Guarantee)Act, 1995	Urban Affairs and Planning

2.2 Planning
Eucalypt plantation establishment should be planned before operations commence. The following general principles should be applied

• Plantation establishment operations may contribute to soil erosion and sedimentation. This should be considered at the planning stage.
• The soil erosion effects of all plantation establishment operations including roading, clearing, debris burning, weed control, ripping, cultivation, hazard reduction and wildfire control should be taken into account before operations start.

• A site inspection should be undertaken to assess - climate, geology, soils, landform, drainage, vegetation, existing and potential erosion.
• A 'Site Map' should be used to collate site information.
• A 'Plantation Establishment Plan' should be prepared. This plan should be based on information gathered, as well as principles of runoff, erosion and sediment control, and ground cover management.

• Clearing should be timed to utilise existing ground cover and/or coincide with periods conductive to cover up establishment and growth.
• Land should be cleared and tree debris windrowed, stacked and burnt using practices which will minimise soil erosion and sedimentation.

• Ripping/cultivation operations should also be timed to utilise existing ground cover and/or coincide with periods conductive to cover crop establishment and growth.
• Temporary sediment control may be required until revegetation of bare, disturbed areas has become effective. Where required, sediment traps should be constructed in conjunction with clearing operations to prevent sediment leaving the site.
• Ripping/cultivation of tree planting lines should conform to design and on site ground survey. Cultivation includes ploughing and mounding activities.
• The use of machinery should be suspended when the soil is saturated and/or runoff is occurring.

• Vegetation drainage feature protection areas (DFPA's) should be retained and maintained along designated drainage features to protect the feature, filter sediment and for the safe (non-erosive) disposal of stormwater runoff.
• Ground cover should be maintained and where necessary re-established in designated drainage features and DFPA's for the safe (non-erosive) disposal of stormwater runof

• Location of roads should be effectively planned in relation to slope, terrain, drainage, soils, natural hazard areas and protection zones.
• Road construction undertaken at plantation establishment stage should include access to the plantation and access within the plantation.
• Road and fire trail construction at plantation establishment stage should be adequate for fire prevention and fire control activities from the outset of plantation establishment.
• Road construction should be programmed to utilise existing ground cover and/or coincide with periods conductive to cover crop establishment and growth.
• Roads should be constructed so that grades and batter cuts are minimised.
• Roads and fire trails should be drained immediately following construction and maintained while in use to ensure runoff does not concentrate and reach erosive velocities.
• The area of road and the number of watercourse and drainage line crossings should be minimised.
• All recoverable topsoil should be stripped and stockpiled during road construction for use in revegetation work.
• Following road construction all disturbed areas should be immediately revegetated to minimise soil exposure and lessen the potential for erosion.

(f) Ground Cover Management
Ground cover should be established and/or maintained to protect bare soil against raindrop action, increase water infiltration, decrease stormwater runoff, and protect soil against rill erosion and other erosive processes.

• Ground cover retention should be optimised and soil disturbance minimised during roading, clearing and site preparation activities.
• Retention and replacement of topsoil should be optimised.
• Bare, disturbed soil areas should be immediately sown (within two weeks) with cover crops, or cover crops and pasture. This includes disturbed drainage features, new roads, bare areas between tree rows and bare areas resulting from burning tree debris.

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