3. ESTABLISHMENT GUIDELINES

The following guidelines will particularly assist Eucalypt Plantation Officers in the planning for, and on-site establishment of plantations. These guidelines have been set out in such a way that they can be worked through and checked off in sequential manner using the boxed points.

3.1 Planning

3.1.1 Check Legal Restrictions
 Refer to restrictions outlined in Section 2.1.

3.1.2 Site Assessment
 Plantation planners may need to carry out their site inspection in company with a Department of Land and Water Conservation plantation representative, before operations start. This inspection should take place after consultation with the landholder.

 Evaluate the following criteria and record on 'Plantation Establishment Plan' and the associated field copy 'Site Map(s)'.

• Climate, Soil Moisture and Ground Cover
• Geology
• Soils
• Maximum Slopes; Landslip, Seepage, and Saline Areas
• Drainage
• Ground Disturbance
• Existing Erosion

 Complete 'Plantation Establishment Plan' and 'Site Map(s)' after consideration of soil erosion and sediment control in relation to the following:-

1. Drainage Feature Management;
2. Clearing and Burning;
3. Sediment Control (eg silt traps);
4. Roading and Firebreaks;
5. Site Preparation (ripping, cultivation, weed control);
6. Ground Cover Management.

3.1.3 Evaluation Guide

(a) Climate, Soil Moisture and Ground Cover
The North Coast of NSW features high summer rainfall generally falling in December, January, February and March and dry conditions through the spring, particularly during August, September and October.

Research indicates soil loss rates markedly increase when ground cover drops below 70%. Therefore, with heavy clearing and ground disturbance, cover crops should be quickly established to protect ground from soil erosion

Where possible, operations should be timed to coincide with suitable soil moisture availability to ensure ground cover establishment. As a guide suitable soil moisture conditions and rapid ground cover establishment will normally occur from December to July.

NOTE:
Investigation using rainfall erosivity and soil loss technology by C. J. Rosewell, Senior Research Officer, Department of Land and Water Conservation, indicates "Joint Venture Eucalypt Plantation operations have low to moderate soil erosion hazard if a cover crop is established at the optimum time of year for rapid ground cover establishment" (Report 28 August, 1995).

 Predict the percentage ground cover which will remain after clearing operations are complete:-

• Where it is predicted more than 70% ground cover will remain, clearing and ground preparation can proceed at anytime without major risk of soil erosion.
• Where assessment predicts less than 70% ground cover will remain, clearing should not proceed unless soil moisture conditions are suitable for ground cover establishment or other site specific practices are implemented to achieve minimal soil erosion. Such measures should include:
  - Location of windrows to assist in the retention and dispersion of surface runoff. See section 3.2.2 (c) 'Clearing and Debris Burning Technique'.
  - Rapid establishment of ground cover using cover crops. See section 3.2.3 (a) 'Cover Crops and Ground Cover' and section 3.2.6 'Ground Cover Management'.
  - Rip, cultivation as specified in Table 3.

 Identify:-

• Dominant rock types (eg) Granite boulders, shale, sandstone etc.

Different erodibility class soils will require different erosion and sediment control measures as outlined in sections 3.2.4 (d) 'Road Drainage'; 3.2.5 (a) 'Site Preparation'; and 3.2.6. 'Ground Cover Management'.

 To facilitate appropriate erosion and sediment control measures for site specific plantation establishment, soils on-site should be classified into the following broad groups:-

High Erodibility

• Sands/Granites/Dispersible Soils - see definition "Dispersible Soil" in Glossary of Terms
• Red Podsolics/Yellow Podsolics/Krasnozems/Red Earths

• Chocolate Basalts

• Acid Sulphate Soils - Land less than 5 metres above sea level is potentially acid sulphate soil and should not be disturbed without specialist advice. These sites are unlikely to be suitable for plantations.
  Acid Sulphate Soil Risk Maps are available from Department of Land and Water Conservation.

 Determine maximum slopes on site. A topographic map will give some indication of slopes but a clinometer should be used for accurate assessment.

 Note presence of landslip, seepage, and saline soils.

(e) Drainage
Drainage features will require special care being subject to concentrated water flows.

 All watercourses, obvious drainage lines, and obvious drainage depressions should be identified and marked on the site map. For further information refer to Section 3.2.1 'Drainage Feature Management'

(f) Existing Erosion
Areas that are severely eroded may require additional preparation and protection (ie. rehabilitation) including land reshaping, drainage and/or re-vegetation.

 Document:~

all existing erosion on site:- eg.

• Rill erosion;
• Sheet erosion;
• Gully erosion;
• Streambank erosion;
• Landslip;
• Mass movement.

(g) Specialist Advice

 A Department of Land and Water Conservation plantation representative can be consulted for site specific advice.

3.2 Operational

3.2.1 Drainage Feature Management

1. Rivers, lakes and prescribed streams should be identified on the 1:25000 CMA topographical maps. Restrictions apply under the Soil Conservation Act, 1938, and the River and Foreshores Improvement Act, 1948. DLWC should be consulted.
2. Watercourses, wetlands, swamps, obvious drainage lines and associated DFPA's should be identified on the site map. For watercourses catchments will generally exceed 40 hectares. For drainage lines catchments will generally range from 10-40 hectares.
3. Obvious drainage depressions should also be identified in the field prior to clearing operations commencing. Catchments will generally be less than 10 hectares.

3.2.2 Clearing and Burning

(a) Time of Clearing
Co-ordinating of clearing operations with periods of rapid ground cover establishment will assist forward planning. By applying this principle, plantation sites can be cleared, and ground protected from soil erosion, well in advance of the optimum time to plant trees.

• Where it is predicted more than 70% ground cover will be retained, clearing can proceed at any time without major risk of soil erosion.
• If proposed clearing and associated ground disturbance is predicted to result in less than 70% ground cover, clearing should not proceed unless soil moisture conditions are suitable for ground cover establishment or other site specific practices are implemented to achieve minimal soil erosion.
• If soil moisture is suitable for clearing to go ahead on areas where less than 70% ground cover will be retained, then the following conditions are recommended in order to minimise soil erosion.
  - Clearing should preferably take place in one operation and proceed quickly. Windrows should be located so as to assist in the retention and dispersion of surface runoff. See Section 3.2.2 (c) 'Clearing and Debris Burning Technique'
  - The cleared area should be contour ripped as specified in Table 3. Burning (if required) before ripping is preferable.
  - The area should be sown with cover crops, or cover crops and pasture, within two weeks of tree clearing. See Section 3.2.3 (a) 'Cover Crops and Ground Cover', and Section 3.2.6 'Ground Cover Management'.
  - A policy of progressive seeding as clearing proceeds should be implemented. This will ensure cover crop and pasture seed can germinate, and ground cover establish, before soil moisture is lost; and will reduce the period of time, that ground is bare, disturbed and vulnerable to soil erosion. This policy will also ensure large areas of land are not left exposed at any one time.
  - If germination has been unsatisfactory within two weeks after sowing, then the area should be re-seeded - provided soil moisture conditions are adequate.
• The Department of Land and Water Conservation plantation representative can be consulted for site specific advice.

• Drainage feature protection areas (DFPA's);
• Other vegetation to be retained;
• Seepage areas;
• Fully timbered deep seated landslip areas;
• Slopes generally greater than 30 degrees;
• Shallow soils (generally < 60cms), over rock.

• Trees should not be felled into drainage features and/or DFPA's unless authorised.
• Tree debris should not be bulldozed into drainage features and/or DFPA's.
• Vegetation and tree debris should not be burnt in drainage features and/or DFPA's.

• Debris should be windrowed in the open where it can be easily pushed and burnt.
• Windrows should be located to facilitate plantation layout. In most situations this will be on the contour and this should be marked prior to clearing.
• Windrows should be stacked at least 20 metres from trees being retained and outside DFPA's. Otherwise when the windrows are burnt, the standing trees may be killed or severely damaged.
• To allow prompt revegetation, burning of windrows and stacks of debris should be attempted at the first suitable opportunity.
• Clearing operations should attempt to maximise ground cover retention and minimise soil disturbance.
• Machinery operations should be suspended when the soil is saturated and runoff is occurring.
• Permits for burning should be obtained as required under the Bush Fires Act, 1949.

(a) Cover Crops and Ground Cover
If less than 70% ground cover remains after clearing then bare, disturbed ground should be immediately sown with cover crop seed to protect against soil erosion and sedimentation.

• Where drainage depressions are disturbed they should be immediately sown with cover crop and pasture seed. Bare areas resulting from the burning of tree debris should also be immediately sown with cover crop seed.
• Cover crops and other ground covers as per recommendations given in Section 3.2.6 - 'Ground Cover Management' should be sown.

• Sediment traps should be built during clearing operations, and before ripping/cultivation activities.
• Sediment traps should be correctly sited and of sound engineering design, and should only be constructed after consultation with Department of Land and Water Conservation.

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