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2004 Forest Audit

The 2004 audit was the second environmental audit of timber production on public land undertaken in Victoria. To conduct the audit of the 2003–04 timber harvesting season, EPA engaged an environmental auditor appointed under the Environment Protection Act 1970. The auditor had a support team that consisted of individuals with expertise in forestry, ecology and soil science.

The audit examined 35 harvested and one trial active coupe. In addition to normal timber harvesting operations, fire-salvage harvesting operations (in areas burnt during the 2003 alpine fires) and recently upgraded or constructed timber harvesting roads were subject to audit. In total 36 coupes and 6 kilometres of road were audited. This represented 8 per cent of all coupes harvested during the 2003–04 timber harvesting season. Coupes from selected forest management areas (FMAs) were assessed to represent the range of timber harvesting operations undertaken across the State.

In general, the audit only considered planning insofar as it impinged on the environmental values associated with an audited timber harvesting operation. However, the scope of the audit did include a review of the planning process that was put in place for the management of rainforest in the Central Highlands.

Timber harvesting operations in the Central, Dandenong, North East, Otway and Tambo FMAs were assessed as part of the 2004 Forest Audit. The selection of the FMAs for audit followed a similar approach to that adopted in the 2003 audit.

The 2004 Environmental Audit of Timber Production on Public Land report is available along with the forestry audit methodology used.

The auditor issued an errata (Adobe PDF file, 24KB) to the 2004 Forest Audit report on the 18 March 2005. The errata has been incorporated into the audit report (page 3).

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Coupe assessment

The key change to the audit in 2004 was the inclusion of a trial active coupe were harvesting was partially completed or active and the assessment of up to 8 kilometres of new or upgraded road. The assessed audit criteria were based on the requirements contained within the Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production.

Other documents referred to by the code, and which were also assessed, included:

  • local regional management prescriptions and Statewide procedures
  • forest coupe plan
  • relevant sections of the wood utilisation plan and forest management plan.

Collection of evidence relevant to the audit criteria occurred in the office and in the field. Field assessments were undertaken between May and June 2004. In documenting the audit, a scoring system was used to note compliance or non-compliance. The auditor also undertook an environmental impact assessment (Adobe PDF file, 142KB) where instances of non-compliance were found that could lead to a direct environmental impact.

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Methodology

The audit methodology used in 2004 is based on that developed by the auditor in 2003. The key change to the audit approach in 2004 was the introduction of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) tool. The EIA was developed following consultation with stakeholders after the release of the 2003 audit report. All stakeholders identified the importance of rating the environmental impact of non-compliances.

The Methodology for the 2004 Environmental Audit of Timber Production on Public Land (Adobe PDF file, 1525KB or 1.5MB), the Description of the Assessments Taken During Audit (Adobe PDF file, 127KB) and the Approach Used to Determine the Environmental Impact of Non-Compliance (Adobe PDF file, 142KB), which were developed by the independent auditor, are available.

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Goulburn River

In response to a kill of fish in the Goulburn River in 2004, an environmental audit of the management of the river took place in 2004 and 2005; view the audit report. More »

Maribyrnong, Yarra and Stony Creek

EPA has appointed an environmental auditor to conduct an overarching environmental audit of the lower Maribyrnong River, lower Yarra River and Stony Creek Backwash. More »

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