Microsoft word - vf board approval document v1.3.doc

Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004
APPROVAL OF VICFORESTS TIMBER RELEASE PLAN
Timber Release Plan - Background
VicForests has prepared a Timber Release Plan as contemplated in Part 5 of the
Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 (the Act). Part 5 requires VicForests to prepare
a plan in respect of an area to which an Allocation Order applies for the purposes of:
(a) harvesting and selling, or harvesting or selling, timber resources; and (b) undertaking associated management activities in relation to those timber resources. VicForests’ authorisation to conduct Timber Harvesting Operations (as defined in the
Act) and Associated Management Activities (as described in Attachment 1) arises
pursuant to an Allocation Order as contemplated under Section 14 of the Act. It is
anticipated that an Allocation Order (Allocation Order 2013) will be published which is
substantially in the form set out in Attachment 1 (Proposed Allocation Order 2013
V14)
Objectives
The objective of this Timber Release Plan is to set out the details of location, nature and approximate timing of all Timber Harvesting Operations and Associated Management Activities. Authorising Provision
The Timber Release Plan is made pursuant to Section 37 of the Act and may be reviewed in accordance with Section 43 of the Act. Details of the Timber Release Plan
The Timber Release Plan is to take effect from the date of publication of a notice pursuant to Section 41 of the Act. (a) A schedule of 2513 coupes identified in Attachment 2 for Timber Harvesting Operations and/or Associated Management Activities, as well as selling timber produced from Timber Harvesting Operations; (b) 352 coupes identified in Attachment 3 for Timber Harvesting Operations other a. felling or cutting trees or parts of trees; or and/or Associated Management Activities. (c) Maps indicating the indicative location and boundary of coupes and coupe driveways where proposed Timber Harvesting Operations and Associated Management Activities can occur (Attachment 4). Note: Where a coupe boundary shown on a Timber Release Plan Map is mapped to a geographic feature and the actual location of that geographic feature does not match the mapped location, VicForests may move the coupe boundary a maximum of 50m from the mapped boundary to align with the actual location of the intended boundary feature. Consultation
VicForests has consulted with traditional owner groups, the local community and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries in respect of the coupes on a previous Timber Release Plan. This Timber Release Plan is identical to those Timber Release Plans previously approved by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Specified conditions
VicForests Board recognises that all planning and operations of VicForests must: (a) comply with all relevant laws including, but not limited to: I. the Act, the Forests Act 1958, II. the Conservation, Forests and Land Act 1987, III. the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, IV. the Road Management Act 2004, and V. the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010; and (b) comply with all conditions, requirements and limitations in the Allocation Order 2013, which are expected to be substantially the same as the Proposed Allocation Order 2013 V14; and Approval of VicForests Board
On the basis of the above and on the assumption that the Allocation Order 2013 (to which the Timber Release Plan relates) will not differ in any substantive way from the Proposed Allocation Order 2013 V14, VicForests Board approves the attached Timber Release Plan.

Source: http://www.vicforests.com.au/files/ccdzojsohf/VF-Board-Approval-Document-2013.pdf