HARVESTING OPERATIONS
Peel B plantation
| Location: | Corner of Sixty-Eight and Eighty Road,9 km SE of Rockingham, Western Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: | -32° 21' 34.02", +115° 48' 22.14" |
| Total size: | ~100Ha |
| Protected area: | Nil |
| Potential harvest area: | ~72Ha |
| Buffers/non-viable harvest area | Nil - clear fall remaining stand. |
| Scheduled for harvest: | ~72Ha (2010) |
| Primary species: | maritime pine |
As part of ensuring that Western Australia’s forestry industry is well placed to continue its positive contributions to the State’s social, environmental and economic sustainability, Forest Products Commission (FPC) undertakes the coordination and delivery of harvesting within state timber plantations on behalf of the Government.
Timber resources from the state’s renewable plantations are used in a number of value adding industries, from structural timbers, biomass, furniture, pulp, paper and engineered products.
On this page
- Why harvest in this area?
- Who decides where FPC can harvest?
- What are the impacts of plantation harvesting, and how does FPC protect the environment in and around the harvesting operations?
- How long will the harvest operation take?
- How much additional traffic does a harvesting operation generate?
- How can I look after my safety and others while harvesting operations take place?
- Is the plantation affected by EHB, and what measures are in place to stop its spread?
- What happens after harvesting?
- How do you maintain safety during burning operations?
- What should I do during the post-harvest burn?
- How can I find out more?
- Fact sheets
Why harvest in this area?
Timber harvested from this and other plantations forms part of our mission to provide a sustainable yield of sawlogs to Western Australian softwood timber milling and processing customers.
The timber is primarily destined for processing into high value products such as furniture, panelling, joinery and cabinetry components, decking, structural and engineered products.
Sustainable harvesting practices are important to the 5,500 West Australians employed across the timber industry. Their efforts generate $1.1 billion in economic benefits which flow into regional and rural communities across our state.
This is in line with Western Australia’s Sustainability Strategy, designed to achieve an integration of environmental, economic and social outcomes.
The Peel B plantation is being clear felled to facilitate future growth and development of the Baldivis residential estate, proposed by City of Rockingham.
Who decides where FPC can harvest?
Areas available for plantation harvesting are determined by FPC in consultation with external stakeholders including the land manager/owner, the requirements of the WA Timber Industry, environmental and legislative considerations.
FPC supplies wood according to product demand and supply obligations taking into consideration the location of the pine resource, species and age.
For the first 25 to 30 years, pine plantations undergo selective tree removal, otherwise known as thinning, a number of times during its lifespan. To optimise the highest value, the trees are clear felled at age of 35 to 40 years.
The Peel B plantation has undergone two thinning operations, with some selective harvesting of either poorer performing or fire affected areas, or to facilitate residential development as requested in this case by the land owner / developer.
What are the impacts of plantation harvesting, and how does FPC protect the environment in and around the harvesting operations?
FPC is committed to ensuring the rigorous standards of environmental planning and protection are applied prior to, during and after harvesting.
FPC is fully certified and externally audited to the international standard for environmental management systems ISO 14001:2004, and the Australian Forestry Standard (AS 4708:2007).
For Peel B, the impacts will include the transport and post management of the area such as burning where smoke may become an inconvenience to surrounding landowners, occupiers and commuters.
FPC has consulted with the City of Rockingham, in particular its Engineering and Health Services divisions, and operations are being designed to minimise their impact. This includes conditional approval from the City of Rockingham to use 27.5m pocket road trains, and the submission of burning prescriptions.
Throughout the course of harvesting, and particularly during the planned fuel reduction burn of harvest residue, FPC will be paying close attention to its potential impacts. Potential impacts will be monitored through on-the-ground observation, and input from the City of Rockingham.
Depending on the forest and its location, officers from FPC and the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) carry out rare flora assessments, erosion and soil damage prevention measures and strict disease hygiene management to protect forest health and long term sustainability of the forest.
In all pre harvesting operations, flora surveys are conducted and populations of rare and endangered plants found within a harvest area are protected.
Additional information is also gathered by DEC on fauna present within the harvesting area, and significant management planning takes place to ensure their protection during the harvesting operation.
Additionally, FPC works to prevent the spread of dieback by implementing strict hygiene procedures which include ensuring logging machinery and other vehicles, even the footwear of people working in the area are fully decontaminated at designated wash down stations.
How long will the harvest operation take?
The harvesting operation for the Peel B plantation is expected to take between four to six weeks, and has been planned for the months of May and June.
How much additional traffic will a harvesting operation generate in my area?
The amount of vehicular traffic generated from harvesting operations changes from plantation to plantation. This is generally dictated by the amount of timber to be harvested, the size and its final destination for transport.
FPC works to ensure that wherever possible, the number of additional vehicles in an area is minimised so as not to cause unnecessary noise and disruption to amenity of the surrounding area.
Machinery working hours will be restricted to between 7 am and 7 pm, Monday to Friday and possibly Saturdays.
FPC anticipates the movement of approximately 20 x 27.5m length pocket road trains per day, necessary for transporting the pine resource from the plantation to customers located in Neerabup to the north and Dardanup to the south.
To transport the resource from the plantation, the following roads will be used:
- Sixty Eight Rd – Between the plantation and Baldivis Rd.
- Eighty Rd – Between the plantation and Stakehill Rd
- Baldivis Rd – From Sixty Eight Rd and Stakehill Rd to Karnup Rd
- Stakehill Rd – From Eighty RD north to Baldivis Rd
- Karnup Rd – From Baldivis to the Freeway.
A map showing the haulage routes to be used during the harvest operation is available for review.
How can I look after my safety and others while harvesting operations take place?
Every effort is made by FPC and its contractors to warn the public of additional dangers posed by harvesting operations. This includes positioning appropriate signage, warnings and complying all rules and regulations pertaining to safety, vehicle movements and the like.
Local residents and others moving through the surrounding area should pay extra attention to their surroundings.
Key things to be aware of include:
- No unauthorised entry to harvest area
No unauthorised persons are permitted to enter the harvest area. Doing so is a criminal offence and you risk being arrested and charged.
- Heavy machinery & dangerous equipment in operation
Harvesting and prescribed burn operations employ a variety of large and dangerous equipment, which if appropriate safety precautions aren’t taken, could pose significant and serious risk to life and limb.
For your own safety, you must not enter the harvest area, and stay well clear of any large machinery, specialised equipment and persons involved in their operation.
Is the plantation affected by EHB, and what measures are in place to stop its spread?
The Peel B plantation contains no confirmed sightings of European House Borer (EHB), but is located within an EHB restricted movement zone (RMZ) through it’s proximity to known sightings within the Peel A plantation located at the intersection of Baldivis Rd and Stakehill Rd.
A number of conditions & restrictions are placed on the movement of timbers from the RMZ, however this remains a seasonal requirement reflecting the active flight period of the adult beetle (September to the following April). This operation is scheduled outside of the control period.
As part of FPC’s environmental mandate, we undertake all necessary and required measures to ensure that EHB isn’t spread further within WA’s softwood timber plantations.
What happens after harvesting?
The harvesting operation is taking place to facilitate further residential development within the Baldivis area.
A post harvest burn is intended in order to reduce the fire fuel load. This will occur six to eight weeks after the completion of the harvest in preparation for the following summer. The timing of the burn will be dependent upon weather conditions in order to minimise the inconvenience to commuters and the local neighbourhood.
The timing of the burn will also be dependent upon weather conditions, including wind velocity and direction. The FPC will issue a media alert to local FM and AM radio stations on the morning of a burn. Information will also be available on the this website.
Please note however the aim is not to completely consume all residue. Instead the prescribed burning will target the flash fuels such as needles and small to medium sized branches which would typically allow for a wildfire to rapidly develop given the right conditions.
Once burning has been completed, the site will be handed over to the land owner/developer.
How do you maintain safety during burning operations?
During both harvesting and burning operations the plantation area will remain a work site where access is restricted to authorised persons only.
FPC also works with local residents, the council and emergency services to ensure timely communications, constant safety and readiness of any additional resources should the need arise.
What should I do during the post-harvest burn?
During the post-harvest burn, you should:
- Shut windows and doors.
- Avoid using air conditioners.
- If you, or other occupants of your property have breathing difficulties such as asthma are advised to stay in doors or make alternative arrangements.
- Avoid drying washing outside.
If driving in the area during the post-harvest burn, make sure to:
- Slow down, turn on your vehicle’s lights and keep a safe distance from other drivers.
- Wind vehicle windows up, shut all air vents and turn off air conditioner.
- If there is heavy smoke you should attempt an alternative route. However, if the smoke is unavoidable and you cannot see, exercise caution and pull over. Park with your hazard lights on until the smoke clears.
How can I find out more?
To find out more about harvesting operations in Peel B, or FPC’s role and work in protecting forest ecosystems before, during and after harvesting, please contact:
Attn: Michael Lobb
Manager – Swan Supply Cell
Forest Products Commission
695 Gnangara Rd
LEXIA WA 6079
Telephone: +61 (08) 9302 7488
Facsimile: +61 (08) 9302 7499
Email: info@fpc.wa.gov.au
Fact sheets
The following fact sheets about this operation are available for download:
