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Timber Harvesting Operator’s

Procedures

Timber Harvesting Operator’s Procedures

Version 1.0 Effective date: 1 May 2008

Procedure TIMBER HARVESTING OPERATOR’S PROCEDURES

Date issued 1 April 2008

Version 1.0

Commences 1 May 2008

Last Revision Date 5 March 2008

Replaces Utilisation Procedures for all Commercial Timber Harvesting managed by VicForests 2005 (version 2)

Authority Executive Director, Natural Resources

Prepared by Forest Regulation Unit

Registry File No

Scope All harvesting operators licensed and/or managed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)

Review schedule Annual, by 1 July.

Note All printed copies of this document are uncontrolled. The latest version is available on the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) website: www.dse.vic.gov.au



CONTENTS

1. PURPOSE, APPLICATION AND COMPLIANCE 1

1.1. Purpose of These Procedures 1 1.2. Application of These Procedures 1 1.3. Variation of These Procedures 1 1.4. Failure to Comply With These Procedures 1 1.5. Cost of Compliance 1 1.6. Review and Alteration of These Procedures 2

2. HARVESTING OBLIGATIONS 2

2.1. Safety 2 2.2. Timber Harvesting Operator Obligations 2 2.3. Appointment of Harvesting Team Leader 3 2.4. Harvesting Team Leader's Obligations 3 2.5. Forest Officer's Obligations 4

3. COUPE BOUNDARIES, EXCLUDED AREAS AND RETAINED TREES 5

3.1 Standard Coupe Marking 5 3.2 Boundary Trails 6 3.3 Excluded Areas 6 3.4 Filter Strips 7 3.5 Retained Trees 7

4. HARVESTING OPERATIONS 7

4.1 Tree Felling 7 4.2 Stump Heights 8 4.3 Forest Produce Utilisation 8 4.4 Damage 8 4.5 Protection of Roads, Structures and Other Assets 9

5. LANDINGS 9

5.1. Construction and Maintenance of Landings 9 5.2. Bark Disposal 10 5.3. Landing Rehabilitation 11

6. EXTRACTION (SNIG AND FORWARDING) TRACKS 11

6.1 Location and Construction of Extraction Tracks 11 6.2 Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Extraction Tracks 12 6.3 Stream Crossings 13

7. PREPARATION, MEASUREMENT AND GRADING OF FOREST PRODUCE 13

7.1 Preparation 13 7.2 Merchantable Timber 13



7.3 Marking Logs 14 7.4 Forest Produce Sold by Volume 15 7.5 Forest Produce Sold by Weight 15 7.6 Forest Produce Sold by Piece 16 7.7 Recording Forest Produce 16

8. CARTING FOREST PRODUCE 17

8.1 Obligations of a Timber Harvesting Operator Carting Forest Produce 17 8.2 Authorised Hours 18 8.3 Checking Loads 18

9. WEATHER RESTRICTIONS 18

9.1 Weather Restrictions 18

10. FIRE PROTECTION 19

10.1 Access for Fire Suppression 19 10.2 Fire Fighting 19 10.3 Fire Fighting Equipment 20 10.4 Fire Precautions 20

11. PORTABLE SAWMILLS 21

12. MANAGEMENT OF FUELS AND LUBRICANTS 21

12.1 Construction 21 12.2 Precautions 21 12.3 Disposing of Contaminated Soil 22

13. HYGIENE AND WASTE DISPOSAL 23

13.1 Machine Hygiene 23 13.2 Litter Disposal 23 13.3 Camp Sites 23 13.4 Water Points 24

14. COMPLETION OF HARVESTING 24

14.1 Restoration of Roads, Structures and Assets 24 14.2 Coupe Completion 24

15. ROADING 25

15.1 Responsibility for Roads 25 15.2 Location, Design and Period of Road Construction 25 15.3 Road and Track Drainage 25 15.4 Road Maintenance 26 15.5 Road Closures 26 15.6 Road Rehabilitation 27



16. WATERWAY CROSSINGS 27

16.1 Construction of Fords, Log Crossings and Bridges 27 16.2 Culverts 27 16.3 Removal and Rehabilitation of Fords, Log Crossings, Bridges and

Culverts 28

17. QUARRIES, BORROW PITS AND FILL DISPOSAL AREAS 28

SCHEDULE 1: EXTRACTION/BOUNDARY TRACK DRAINAGE SPACINGS 29

SCHEDULE 2: ROAD DRAINAGE STRUCTURE SPACINGS 30

SCHEDULE 3: DESIGN STANDARDS FOR ROADS 31

SCHEDULE 4: SPECIES CODES 32

SCHEDULE 5: APPLICATION FOR AFTER HOURS CARTING 33

SCHEDULE 6: HARDWOOD SAWLOG GRADING CARD - ASH AND MIXED SPECIES 34

SCHEDULE 7: THOL CONDITIONS 35

SCHEDULE 8: THOL DEMERIT POINTS AND SUSPENSIONS 42

SCHEDULE 9: THOL CLASSES AND PRESCRIBED ACTIVITIES 43

SCHEDULE 10: CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH DEMERIT POINTS ARE INCURRED 45

SCHEDULE 11: MEASURING SLOPE 47



DEFINITIONS

In these Procedures, unless the context requires otherwise the following definitions of terms apply:

TERM DEFINITION

Approved log grader

A Timber Harvesting Operator authorised by a Forest Officer to grade logs on that coupe (authorisation must be recorded in the Forest Coupe Plan). This is an interim arrangement pending the development of a log grader accreditation process by DSE.

Authorised Officer

A DSE officer appointed as an Authorised Officer under section 83 of the Conservation Forests and Lands Act 1987 for legislation relevant to harvesting operations and associated on State forest in Victoria.

Blading-off The use of a machine to sweep loose mud, slush, vegetation or soil from the surface of the road or coupe infrastructure (for example landings, extraction tracks).

Boundary trail

A trail established inside the boundary of a coupe for the purpose of defining the coupe boundary or for prescribed burning.

cm Centimetre.

Code The Code of Practice for Timber Production 2007.

Coupe A temporary planning unit of State forest used to identify the area designated for harvesting operations.

Coupe diary

A written and dated journal maintained in triplicate by the Harvesting Team Leader and the Forest Officer. The coupe diary forms part of the Forest Coupe Plan and is used to record relevant events in the management of the coupe and harvesting operations, including: • Amendments to the Forest Coupe Plan • Directions given by a Forest Officer • Health and safety issues • Breaches or infringements of the Code or these Procedures • Issues identified by the Harvesting Team Leader for consideration by the

Forest Officer and/or licensee.

Culling The felling, pushing or poisoning of non-merchantable trees.

Damage

In standing trees (or part thereof) means: • any obvious wound to the main bole where splitting or removal of bark is

significant; • any wound where fibrous inner bark has been severely torn, tufted or

bruised; • any cut, gash or puncture; or



• any damage to more than 30% of the original crown.

In felled trees (or part thereof), means: • any physical damage to forest produce which may reduce its market

value.

Demerit points

Penalties issued to the holder of a THOL for a breach of Sustainable Forests (Timber Harvesting) Regulations 2006 which may result in a suspension of Licence.

Domestic firewood

Firewood collected for private use (not for re-sale) under the authority of a Domestic Firewood Permit (or licence) issued under section 52(1) of the Forests Act 1958.

DSE The Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.

DBHOB The diameter of a tree measured over the bark at 1.3m above ground level and, if the tree is on a slope, measured on the up-hill side of the tree (Diameter Breast Height Over Bark).

Excluded area

An area identified on a Forest Coupe Plan as being excluded from harvesting operations (e.g. permanent stream, habitat areas, rainforest).

Extraction track

A track along which forest produce is removed from within the coupe to a landing. Also known as snig or forwarding tracks.

Felling The falling of trees by pushing, manual cutting or mechanical cutting.

Filter strip A strip of vegetated ground adjacent to a temporary waterway that may have trees felled within it and out of it but may not have machine entry without the authority of a Forest Officer.

Forest Coupe Plan

A plan prepared in advance of the commencement of harvesting operations and associated activities in a coupe. A Forest Coupe Plan specifies the conditions which apply to harvesting operations and associated activities within a coupe (environmental and other constraints), and includes: • A coupe map • A coupe description • A schedule of variations, amendments and instructions • Coupe declarations • A coupe diary.

Forest Officer

The DSE officer responsible for planning and/or monitoring of a coupe and/or harvesting operations and associated activities.

Forest Produce Licence

A licence issued by the Secretary under section 52(1) of the Forests Act 1958 that authorises the thinning, cutting, digging, taking or removal of forest produce from State forest.



Forest produce For the purposes of these Procedures (as distinct from the Forests Act 1958) means: • All parts of trees or plants, including any parts below the ground; • The products of trees or plants, whether or not those products have

become separated from those trees or plants prior to being harvested, including oil distilled from any species of eucalypt; and

• Stone, gravel, limestone, salt, sand, loam, clay or brick earth. For the purposed of these Procedures, forest produce does not include: • Gold, silver, metals or minerals; • Timber resources vested in VicForests in accordance with the

Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004; • Domestic firewood; or • Honey / beeswax.

Grading instructions

Instructions, published by DSE from time to time, for grading of one or more of the following types of forest produce: • Sawlog, • Standard log and/or • Residual log,

The current grading instructions are: • Red Gum Log Grading Guidelines, Mid Murray Forest Management

Area • Red Gum Log Grading Guidelines, Horsham Forest Management

Area • Log Grading Procedures, Bendigo Forest Management Area (Draft) • Hardwood Log Grading Procedures 26 Sept 1997 (for FMAs other

than those specified above).

Harvesting operations

Any of the following activities carried out by any person or body: • Felling or cutting of trees or parts of trees; • Cutting or digging of forest produce; • Taking or removing forest produce; • Transporting forest produce to a licensee or transporting forest

produce to a place for collection by a licensee; • Any works, including road works and floating of machinery, ancillary

to any of the activities above.

But does not include: • Those activities when undertaken by or on behalf of VicForests, the

Crown or the Secretary. • The collection of domestic firewood.

Harvesting team

The Harvesting Team Leader and harvesting team members.



Harvesting Team Leader

The Timber Harvesting Operator appointed by a licensee as responsible for supervising and controlling harvesting operations in a particular coupe (in some harvesting operations the licensee may be the Harvesting Team Leader).

Harvesting team member

A Timber Harvesting Operator acting for or on behalf of the Harvesting Team Leader in the conduct of harvesting operations in a particular coupe.

In-coupe road A type of temporary road constructed with a coupe for the purposes of transporting forest produce from the coupe.

Landing The place where forest produce is sorted, processed and /or loaded for transport. Areas where there has been little or no significant soil disturbance and where no further processing takes place are not landings.

Licensee A person or body corporate that is the holder of a Forest Produce Licence.

m Metre.

m3 Cubic metre.

mm Millimetre.

Management Procedures

Management Procedures for Timber Harvesting Operations and Associated Activities in Victoria’s State forests, 2007.

Manually felled tree

A tree that is felled using a chainsaw or handsaw.

Mechanically felled tree

A tree that is felled using a feller buncher, a mechanical processor or a falling head attached to an excavator.

Permanent road A road required for the continuing management of State forest by DSE.

Pest plant Any State prohibited weed, regionally prohibited weed, regionally controlled weed or restricted weed, as defined in the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.

Procedures Timber Harvesting Operator’s Procedures, version 1.0.

Residual log A type of forest produce. A log below the standard of a sawlog and standard log, as defined in a grading instruction or Forest Produce Licence.

Retained tree Any tree that is marked or otherwise identified for retention by a Forest Officer.

Ripping Disturbing soil by mechanical means to a prescribed depth to achieve soil shatter in compacted areas.



Road A permanent road, a temporary road approved on a Wood Utilisation Plan or an in-coupe road approved on a Forest Coupe Plan.

Sawlog A type of forest produce. The highest grade of log, as defined in a grading instruction or Forest Produce Licence.

Secretary The Secretary to the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Standard log A type of forest produce in the Mid Murray Forest Management Area. A log below the standard of a sawlog and above the standard of a residual log, as defined in the Red Gum Log Grading Guidelines, Mid Murray Forest Management Area.

THOL A licence issued to persons conducting harvesting operations under section 54 of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 (Timber Harvesting Operator’s Licence).

Timber Fallen trees, felled trees and all wood whether sawn timber, hewn timber or otherwise fashioned.

Timber Harvesting Operator

A person that is the holder of either a: • THOL; or • Forest Operator’s Licence issued by the Secretary under the Timber

Harvesting Regulations 2000.

Waterway A permanent stream, temporary stream, drainage line, pool or wetland as defined in the Code.

Wood Utilisation Plan

A DSE prepared plan that details the location, nature and approximate timing of timber harvesting activities.



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1. PURPOSE, APPLICATION AND COMPLIANCE

1.1. Purpose of These Procedures

These Procedures specify environmental and operational requirements, additional to the requirements of the Code, which must be followed for all harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests.

1.2. Application of These Procedures

All Timber Harvesting Operators engaged in harvesting operations must comply with these Procedures.

The principles and practices specified in these Procedures also apply to harvesting operations undertaken by or on behalf of the Secretary (performed by DSE works crews or similar).

1.3. Variation of These Procedures

(a) A Forest Officer may vary these Procedures for a particular harvesting operation and/or coupe provided the variation is:

(i) consistent with both the Code and the Management Procedures; and

(ii) clearly recorded in the Forest Coupe Plan.

(b) After the commencement of harvesting operations in a particular coupe, a Forest Coupe Plan may only be varied by the Forest Officer recording the variation in the coupe diary.

1.4. Failure to Comply With These Procedures

(a) If a Timber Harvesting Operator fails to comply with any provision of these Procedures and/or the Code, he / she may have:

(i) Demerit points allocated to his / her THOL in accordance with the Sustainable Forests (Timber Harvesting) Regulations 2006 (refer to Schedule 8 of these Procedures); or

(ii) his/her THOL and/or Forest Produce Licence suspended or revoked by the Secretary.

(b) A Forest Officer will monitor compliance with these Procedures and the Code.

1.5. Cost of Compliance

(a) The cost of complying with these Procedures must be borne by the Timber Harvesting Operator, except where these Procedures state otherwise.

(b) A Timber Harvesting Operator must reimburse the Secretary for any costs incurred by the Secretary in performing works for or on behalf of the Timber Harvesting Operator.



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1.6. Review and Alteration of These Procedures

(a) These Procedures may be reviewed and altered at any time by DSE.

(b) These Procedures will be reviewed and if necessary altered whenever:

(i) relevant legislation is repealed or amended; or

(ii) the Management Procedures are reviewed; or

(iii) the Code is reviewed.

2. HARVESTING OBLIGATIONS

2.1. Safety

(c) All persons engaged in the planning, conduct and monitoring of harvesting operations must, as far as is reasonably practicable, do so in a safe manner, and be familiar with the recommended practices and obligations of themselves and others, as described in:

(i) The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004;

(ii) Industry Standard, Safety in Forestry Operations (Harvesting and Haulage), WorkSafe Victoria (July 2007);

(iii) Fatigue Management Guide for the Forestry Industry, WorkSafe Victoria (2004); and

(iv) A Guide to Restraining Logs and Timber, VicRoads (November 2003).

2.2. Timber Harvesting Operator Obligations

(a) All persons engaged in the conduct of harvesting operations must hold a current THOL of the relevant class, and for the prescribed activities of work that they perform (refer to Schedule 9 of these Procedures).

(b) A Timber Harvesting Operator must comply with:

(i) these Procedures;

(ii) the Code;

(iii) the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 (and regulations there under)

(iv) the Forests Act 1958 (and regulations there under)

(v) the conditions of a THOL or Forest Operator’s Licence;

(vi) the conditions of a Forest Produce Licence;

(vii) any other legislation, policies, plans or procedures applicable to harvesting operations; and



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(viii) any lawful direction of a Forest Officer.

(c) A Timber Harvesting Operator must read, understand and comply with the requirements of the Forest Coupe Plan for the coupe on which they are conducting harvesting operations.

(d) Advising the Harvesting Team Leader, harvesting team members and/or Forest Officer of any known safety hazards within the coupe.

2.3. Appointment of Harvesting Team Leader

(a) Before the commencement of harvesting operations, the licensee must appoint a Timber Harvesting Operator as the Harvesting Team Leader for the coupe.

(b) The Harvesting Team Leader is responsible for any act or omission of a harvesting team member.

(c) A harvesting team member must be appointed as a deputy Harvesting Team Leader, to act when the Harvesting Team Leader is absent from the coupe. The Harvesting Team Leader must record the name of the deputy Harvesting Team Leader in the Coupe Diary.

2.4. Harvesting Team Leader's Obligations

(a) The Harvesting Team Leader must sign the harvesting commencement declaration on the Forest Coupe Plan prior to the commencement of harvesting operations in a Coupe.

(b) The Harvesting Team Leader must be present at the coupe at all times during the conduct of harvesting operations unless a deputy, appointed in accordance with 2.3(c) of these Procedures is present.

(c) The Harvesting Team Leader must ensure that all harvesting team members engaged in the conduct of harvesting operations in the coupe:

(i) hold a current THOL for the class and prescribed activities that he / she is undertaking (refer to Schedule 9 of these Procedures);

(ii) complies with the requirements prescribed in 2.2(b) and 2.2(c) of these Procedures; and

(iii) complies with relevant occupational health and safety requirements.

(d) The Harvesting Team Leader must not give any direction to any harvesting team member or other person that will lead to:

(i) a contravention of the requirements prescribed in 2.2(b) and 2.2(c) of these Procedures; and

(ii) a contravention of relevant occupational health and safety requirements.



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(e) The Harvesting Team Leader is responsible for:

(i) advising harvesting team members of any lawful direction by a Forest Officer;

(ii) ensuring that harvesting operations at the coupe are properly completed in accordance with 14.2 of these Procedures;

(iii) recording events and decisions that have occurred during the life of the coupe in the coupe diary;

(iv) recording the name of any deputy Harvesting Team Leader appointed under 2.3(c) of these Procedures in the coupe diary;

(v) advising a Forest Officer of any contravention of the requirements prescribed in 2.2(b) and 2.2(c) of these Procedures by any harvesting team member;

(vi) participating with the Forest Officer in a pre-harvest inspection of the coupe to identify safety hazards and discuss reasonably practicable measures for hazard control; and

(vii) advising the harvesting team members and Forest Officer of any known safety hazards within the coupe.

(f) The Harvesting Team Leader must permit a Forest Officer to inspect the coupe when the Forest Officer so requires.

2.5. Forest Officer's Obligations

(a) A Forest Officer shall:

(i) monitor compliance with (and enforce) the requirements prescribed in 2.2(b) and 2.2(c) of these Procedures;

(ii) participate, with the Harvesting Team Leader, in a pre-harvest inspection of the Coupe to identify safety hazards;

(iii) (to the extent that he or she exercises control over an activity) determine, in consultation with Harvesting Team Leader, reasonably practicable measures for hazard control;

(iv) consult where necessary with the Harvesting Team Leader during preparation of the Forest Coupe Plan to determine whether any aspects of the Forest Coupe Plan might be difficult and/or unsafe to implement; and

(v) consult with the Harvesting Team Leader whenever the Forest Coupe Plan is reviewed and/or varied.



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(b) A Forest Officer must advise the Harvesting Team Leader as soon as practicable when:

(i) any person working at the coupe is allocated Demerit Points or is suspended due to accumulated Demerit Points; or

(ii) any person working on the coupe is suspected of contravention of the requirements prescribed in 2.2(b) and 2.2(c) of these Procedures.

(c) A Forest Officer must discuss the following with the Harvesting Team Leader:

(i) how the Forest Coupe Plan must be implemented;

(ii) any special prescriptions applying to the coupe; and

(iii) any known safety hazards within the coupe.

3. COUPE BOUNDARIES, EXCLUDED AREAS AND RETAINED TREES

3.1 Standard Coupe Marking

(a) Coupe boundaries and excluded areas that are not readily identifiable by geographic features and the Forest Coupe Plan map will be physically marked by a Forest Officer in accordance with Table 1 below.

Table 1: Standard coupe marking

Feature Marking

Coupe boundary Blue tape and / or paint

Excluded area. Blue tape and / or paint

Filter strip Yellow tape and / or paint

Planned road Pink tape

Planned landing Pink tape

Retained tree Red or Orange paint on Trees

‘H’ for habitat, ‘S’ for seed

Trees for removal Green paint

(b) A Forest Officer may vary standard coupe marking but must clearly record the variation on the Forest Coupe Plan.

(c) All coupe features to be brought to the attention of the Harvesting Team must be recorded in the Forest Coupe Plan. These features may include but will not be limited to the location of:

(i) coupe boundaries;

(ii) excluded areas;

(iii) filter strips;



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(iv) planned roads;

(v) planned log landings;

(vi) areas where special prescriptions apply; and

(vii) thinning out-rows.

(d) The Harvesting Team must comply with any coupe marking as indicated in the Forest Coupe Plan map and on the ground.

3.2 Boundary Trails

(a) Where required by the Forest Coupe Plan, the Harvesting Team Leader must construct a boundary trail along the boundary of any section of the coupe before harvesting operations are conducted in that section of the coupe.

(b) A boundary trail must be:

(i) at least 2m wide;

(ii) cleared of standing vegetation for the period during which harvesting operations are conducted on the coupe;

(iii) located within the coupe boundary but not within any excluded area or filter strip;

(iv) constructed so that the least possible amount of debris accumulates outside of the coupe boundary; and

(v) constructed so as no tree, soil or debris is pushed into any excluded area or filter strip.

(c) The Harvesting Team Leader must ensure that any section of a boundary trail where soil will be disturbed during its construction is either:

(i) out-sloped; or

(ii) provided with cross-drains or inverts at intervals no greater than those specified in Schedule 1 of these Procedures.

3.3 Excluded Areas

(a) The Harvesting Team must not:

(i) fell any tree within an excluded area;

(ii) cause damage to any tree within an excluded area;

(iii) allow any felled tree to fall or slide into an excluded area;

(iv) allow debris to accumulate within an excluded area; or

(v) drive or operate any machine within an excluded area.



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(b) The Harvesting Team must not remove any tree or part of any tree which falls or slides into an excluded area, unless authorised by a Forest Officer.

3.4 Filter Strips

(a) Machinery must not enter a filter strip, except at a crossing point identified on the Forest Coupe Plan.

(b) When falling adjacent to, or within a filter strip, trees must be directed to fall away from the drainage line and out of the filter strip.

3.5 Retained Trees

(a) All trees that are marked or otherwise designated for retention by a Forest Officer must be not be felled or damaged from harvesting operations.

(b) In thinning and/or selection harvesting operations, the Harvesting Team Leader must ensure that the harvesting operation complies with the specifications contained in the Forest Coupe Plan in relation to:

(i) retained live basal area requirements;

(ii) retained trees species mix; and

(iii) retained forest structural elements.

4. HARVESTING OPERATIONS

4.1 Tree Felling

(a) All trees marked, or otherwise designated for extraction in the Forest Coupe Plan, must be felled unless it is unsafe to do so.

(b) Tree felling operations must not damage any timber before or after the timber is felled and removed from the coupe.

(c) All trees that do not contain merchantable timber and that are designated for culling by a Forest Officer must be culled in a safe manner resulting in the least possible soil disturbance.

(d) A Timber Harvesting Operator must ensure that:

(i) any scarfed tree is felled immediately;

(ii) any hung-up tree is brought to the ground as soon as possible;

(iii) when falling within 2 tree lengths of any road that the road is first closed by an Authorised Officer;

(iv) where there is a risk that any tree, when felled, may fall or slide across a road, that the road is first closed by an Authorised Officer; and



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(v) comply with any directions given by an Authorised Officer when a road is closed.

4.2 Stump Heights

(a) The stump height of any felled tree measured from ground level on the uphill side must not exceed the following:

(i) 40cm, for manually felled trees with a DBHOB not greater than 80cm (excluding Box-Ironbark or Red Gum forest);

(ii) One half of the DBHOB, for manually felled trees with a DBHOB greater than 80 cm (excluding Box-Ironbark or Red Gum forest);

(iii) 40cm, for all mechanically felled trees (excluding Box-Ironbark or Red Gum forest);

(iv) 15cm, for any trees felled during thinning (excluding Box-Ironbark or Red Gum forest); and

(v) One third of the DBHOB for any tree felled in a Box-Ironbark or Red Gum forest.

4.3 Forest Produce Utilisation

(a) The Harvesting Team Leader must ensure that only forest produce of the type and amount described on the Forest Produce Licence(s) is harvested or removed from the coupe.

(b) A Timber Harvesting Operator must make all reasonable efforts to maximise the recovery of forest produce of the type and amount described on the Forest Produce Licence(s) from within the coupe.

(c) The Harvesting Team Leader must ensure that no merchantable forest produce of the type and amount described on the Forest Produce Licence(s) remains in the coupe at the completion of harvesting operations.

(d) The Harvesting Team Leader must ensure that no harvested forest produce is stockpiled on the coupe for more that one week in dry conditions unless authorised by the Forest Officer.

4.4 Damage

(a) A Timber Harvesting Operator must all make reasonable efforts to protect any tree marked or otherwise designated by a Forest Officer for retention from damage caused by tree felling or machine operations.

(b) Unless otherwise specified on the Forest Coupe Plan, harvesting debris must not be accumulated within three metres of the base of any tree which is marked or otherwise designated for retention.

(c) Any pivot tree used during thinning operations must be an intermediate or suppressed tree and must be removed when no longer needed.



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(d) In thinning operations not more than 15 percent of damage is acceptable in remaining trees that contain, or have potential to contain, merchantable timber.

4.5 Protection of Roads, Structures and Other Assets

(a) Harvesting operations must not cause damage to any permanent road, structure or other asset.

(b) Any damage to items defined in 4.5(a) of these Procedures must be promptly reported to a Forest Officer.

(c) Machinery with tracks or chains must not be operated on or over any permanent road, structure, or other asset unless authorised by a Forest Officer.

(d) Damage caused to any permanent road must be repaired to the satisfaction of the Forest Officer.

(e) Any fallen tree and/or debris must be immediately removed from any road, structure or asset and placed at least 1m:

(i) beyond the slashable verge of the road;

(ii) away from the structure or asset; or

(iii) at a location approved by a Forest Officer.

5. LANDINGS

5.1. Construction and Maintenance of Landings

(a) Landings must not be constructed:

(i) within 20m of any buffer marked on a waterway; or

(ii) within 10m of any filter marked on a waterway.

(b) Landings must not be located on, or immediately adjacent to permanent roads.

(c) Landings must be of an area less than:

(i) 0.5 hectares in Ash and Red Gum forests; and

(ii) 0.3 hectares in Mixed Species, Box-Ironbark or Red Gum forest.

(d) Recommended landing construction is illustrated in Figure 1 of these Procedures.

(e) Landing construction must:

(i) involve the least possible earth-works;



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(ii) avoid leaving any soil or other material accumulated within 3m of any tree marked or otherwise designated for retention;

(iii) include stockpiling of any existing topsoil for later use in rehabilitation;

(iv) include drainage that is discharged onto undisturbed or uncompacted soil at least 20m in width before entering any waterway.

(f) Landings must be maintained to ensure effective drainage at all times.

(g) Stockpiled topsoil must be protected from disturbance during the conduct harvesting operations at the landing.

(h) Blading-off of landings is not permitted unless authorised by a Forest Officer.

Figure 1: Recommended landing construction.

5.2. Bark Disposal

(a) Where logs are debarked on the coupe all bark must be evenly distributed throughout the coupe in piles that are not within 10m of the coupe boundary and that do not exceed:



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(i) 4m3 in conventional harvesting coupes; or

(ii) 1m3 in thinning coupes.

5.3. Landing Rehabilitation

(a) Appropriate landing rehabilitation is illustrated in Figure 2 of these Procedures.

(b) When harvesting operations have been completed all forest produce must be cleared from the landing and all accumulated debris distributed throughout the coupe.

(c) Unless specified on the Forest Coupe Plan all landings must be promptly rehabilitated by:

(i) levelling and drainage;

(ii) ripping when conditions are dry conditions (to achieve ‘soil shatter’) to at least 0.4m in lines no more than 2m apart; and

(iii) respreading of stockpiled topsoil across the landing after ripping.

Figure 2: Appropriate landing rehabilitation

6. EXTRACTION (SNIG AND FORWARDING) TRACKS

6.1 Location and Construction of Extraction Tracks

(a) Ideal landing location and extraction track layout for uphill and downhill snigging is illustrated in Figure 3 of these Procedures.



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(b) Extraction tracks must be:

(i) located to cause the least possible damage to soil, water quality and retained trees;

(ii) kept to the minimum number required to safely and effectively harvest the coupe;

(iii) not enter or cross any waterway or excluded area, except at a location authorised on the Forest Coupe Plan and marked in the field; and

(iv) wherever practicable, be located to avoid tracks meeting close to landings.

Figure 3: Ideal landing location and extraction track layout for uphill and downhill snigging.

6.2 Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Extraction Tracks

(a) Extraction tracks must have drainage maintained at all times by:

(i) out-sloping (done at construction stage); or

(ii) maintaining logging slash on tracks to slow runoff.

(b) Extraction tracks must not be bladed-off unless authorised by a Forest Officer.

(c) Unless out-sloped, or specified on the Forest Coupe Plan, extraction tracks must be progressively cross-drained, in accordance with 6.2(d) of these Procedures, during harvesting operations as use is completed.

(d) The Harvesting Team Leader must, on completion of harvesting operations, ensure that all extraction tracks that are not out-sloped and not as described in 6.2(e) of these Procedures, are cross-drained as follows:

(i) at intervals no greater than those specified in Schedule 1 of these Procedures;

(ii) at an angle that slows and directs the flow of any water onto vegetation or uncompacted soil;



13

(iii) generally at a height above the surface of the extraction track of 0.3m on a slope of up to 10 degrees and 0.5m on a slope greater than 10 degrees; and

(iv) to include an invert of approximately 0.2m deep below the surface of the extraction track.

(e) Ripping of major extraction tracks, where soils have been heavily compacted, must be approved by the Forest Officer and noted on the Forest Coupe Plan.

(f) Uncompacted extraction tracks in thinning or selection coupes which retain leaf litter and vegetation cover, or are covered with slash during, or at the completion of the operation, are not subject to rehabilitation requirements.

6.3 Stream Crossings

(a) Stream crossings must only be constructed:

(i) at locations that are specified on the Forest Coupe Plan and marked in the field by the Forest Officer; and

(ii) to standards specified in section 16 of these Procedures.

(b) All crossings must be removed promptly after harvesting is complete, unless otherwise specified on the Forest Coupe Plan.

7. PREPARATION, MEASUREMENT AND GRADING OF FOREST PRODUCE

7.1 Preparation

(a) All forest produce must be prepared:

(i) to maximise recovery and value; and

(ii) (for sawlog, standard log and/or residual log harvesting operations), in accordance with the requirements of the relevant log grading instructions.

(b) All sawlogs, standard logs and residual logs must be graded and marked by an approved log grader in accordance with 7.3 of these Procedures before the log is removed from the coupe.

(c) Damage caused to timber during harvesting and forest produce preparation must be kept to a minimum.

7.2 Merchantable Timber

(a) To determine whether a felled tree contains merchantable timber, the Timber Harvesting Operator should make proving cuts at the head and, if necessary along the length of the bole or limb of a tree to expose at least three-quarters of the cross-section of the bole or limb.



14

(b) Where there is a difference of opinion between a Forest Officer and a Timber Harvesting Operator about whether any part of a tree is, or is not, merchantable timber, a Senior Forest Officer must determine the matter.

7.3 Marking Logs

(a) An approved log grader must mark sawlogs and standard logs in accordance with the relevant marking system described in 7.3(b) and 7.3(c) of these Procedures, or other method as specified in the Forest Coupe Plan.

(b) Sawlogs and standard logs that are sold by volume must be marked as follows:

(i) System 1 for common species; species, log number and identification of the Approved Log Grader;

(ii) System 2 for common species; length, centre diameter under bark, species, grade, log number and identification of the approved log grader. If 'objective' grading is used, the grade and dimension must be marked in a way which can easily be removed after the log has been transported;

(iii) Durable species; length, centre diameter under bark, species, grade, log number and identification of the approved log grader; and

(iv) Specialty timbers; length, centre diameter under bark, species, log number and identification of the approved log grader.

(c) Sawlogs and standard logs sold by weight must be marked with the log number, species and identification of the approved log grader.

(d) The approved log grader must use an indelible marker to label the end of each sawlog and standard log with:

(i) the log number and the information required under 7.3(b) and 7.3(c) of these Procedures;

(ii) a species code (Schedule 4 of these Procedures) if specified in the Forest Coupe Plan and

(iii) a different number for each log in a length containing more than one grade, on each end of the log.

(e) The approved log grader must mark each residual log greater than 250mm in diameter and every split piece, with his/her identification before the log or split piece is removed from the landing.

(f) Timber that has been branded with a broad arrow must not be sawn or removed until either:

(i) an Authorised Officer marks the timber with a crown; or

(ii) an Authorised Officer gives authority to remove or saw the timber.



15

(g) A Timber Harvesting Operator must allow a Forest Officer to check and if necessary correct the marking of any log in a coupe at any time.

7.4 Forest Produce Sold by Volume

(a) Unless specified on the Forest Produce Licence, all forest produce sold by volume is sold by gross volume (inclusive of any defect).

(b) Sawlogs, standard logs and residual logs sold by volume shall be measured in accordance with relevant grading instructions or Forest Produce Licence.

(c) Firewood volume shall be calculated using the external length, width and height measurements of a loaded wood stack.

(d) Volume for all other forest produce shall be calculated using standard and accepted methods of volume calculation. For example, the volume of a round post shall be calculated using Huber’s formula for volume calculation:

V = (л x L x D2) / 4, where -

V = volume (m3)

L = length (m)

D = centre diameter over bark (m).

(e) A Forest Officer may, at any time, check the accuracy of any measuring equipment used by a Timber Harvesting Operator.

(f) A Timber Harvesting Operator must not use any equipment which a Forest Officer finds to be inaccurate.

7.5 Forest Produce Sold by Weight

(a) Forest produce sold by weight must be measured:

(i) by an instrument provided by the licensee at a location approved in writing by a Forest Officer; or

(ii) weighed at a public weighbridge, at a location approved in writing by a Forest Officer.

(b) Any weighing instrument used to measure forest produce must:

(i) comply with the requirements of the Trade Measurement Act 1995;

(ii) be currently calibrated and certified as accurate; and

(iii) not be capable of incorrectly or fraudulently recording weights.

(c) Measurement of gross and tare weights must be as follows:

(i) be done in a consistent manner (for example, the driver and any passengers are either in the vehicle or not for both measurements);



16

(ii) not have fuel or other weight added, or any other change made to a vehicle after the gross weight and before the tare weight is measured; and

(iii) have the tare weight for any vehicle measured as soon as possible after the gross weight is measured.

(d) A Forest Officer must be provided access to any weighbridge report/transaction report and be permitted to verify that any weighing instrument used is measuring accurately.

(e) Forest produce must be carted and weighed as soon as possible after it is harvested.

(f) Forest produce that has partly dried must be carted separately from green forest produce and recorded as partly dried out.

(g) A Forest Officer may authorise weight calculation by reference to an average tare weight for vehicles carting forest produce from a coupe if:

(i) the Forest Officer is provided with the tare weight of each vehicle and trailer combination used to cart forest produce from the coupe;

(ii) if there is written agreement between the Secretary and the licensee on an average tare weight; and

(iii) the Forest Officer is satisfied that it is impracticable to measure the tare weight of a vehicle soon after its gross weight is measured.

(h) The Forest Officer must be promptly advised if any weighing instrument used for weighing forest produce is functioning incorrectly.

(i) If a Forest Officer is of the opinion that any weighing instrument used to measure forest produce is functioning incorrectly, or that the data regarding weight is inaccurate, he/she may elect to use some other mechanism for calculating the value of the forest produce while the incorrect function or data inaccuracy persists. The licensee must meet any incremental costs incurred.

7.6 Forest Produce Sold by Piece

(a) Forest produce sold by piece must be accurately counted by a Timber Harvesting Operator.

(b) A Forest Officer may, at any time, check the accuracy of the count.

7.7 Recording Forest Produce

(a) Delivery docket books are provided by the Secretary and remain the property of Secretary. Docket books must:

(i) be correctly and legibly completed for every load of forest produce before it leaves a coupe (unless already brought to account);

(ii) be used in their numerical sequence; and



17

(iii) be kept secure and any missing delivery docket accounted for.

(b) A Forest Officer must be permitted to check and if necessary correct any delivery docket at any time.

(c) If a mistake is made in completing a delivery docket, the error must be crossed out and the correct information entered on the next line.

(d) If a delivery docket becomes unusable it should be marked ‘Cancelled’ and left in the docket book.

(e) A Forest Officer must be promptly notified if the original copy of any delivery docket is lost or destroyed.

(f) Delivery docket books must be returned to the Forest Officer within 7 days of:

(i) the last delivery docket in the book being used; or

(ii) the coupe being completed if the docket book has not been fully used.

8. CARTING FOREST PRODUCE

8.1 Obligations of a Timber Harvesting Operator Carting Forest Produce

(a) A Timber Harvesting Operator must comply with any lawful direction of a Forest Officer concerning:

(i) the destination of any load;

(ii) the route any load is to be taken; and

(iii) the sampling and checking of any load.

(b) Forest produce must not be carted on any road that is temporarily or permanently closed.

(c) A Timber Harvesting Operator must ensure that any material which falls, or is removed from his/her load is cleared from the road, track or table drain.

(d) A load of forest produce that is brought to account by one method (for example, by weight) must not contain forest produce that is brought to account by another method (for example, by volume).

(e) A Timber Harvesting Operator must ensure that:

(i) once forest produce is loaded it is not removed until it reaches the destination authorised by a Forest Officer; and

(ii) delivery dockets are not altered once forest produce is loaded onto the vehicle, unless authorised by a Forest Officer.

(f) A Timber Harvesting Operator must sign the delivery docket to confirm that details are correct prior to removing forest produce from a coupe.



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(g) A Timber Harvesting Operator must carry the original copy and the licensee's copy, of the completed delivery docket with the load of forest produce to its destination.

(h) A Timber Harvesting Operator must, after delivering a load of forest produce, leave both copies of the relevant delivery docket at a place designated by a Forest Officer.

8.2 Authorised Hours

(a) Carting of forest produce in a State forest during the times referred to below is not permitted unless approved by an Authorised Officer using the form in Schedule 5 of these Procedures:

(i) after sunset and before the following sunrise on Monday to Saturday; and

(ii) at any time between midnight on a Saturday and midnight on Sunday.

8.3 Checking Loads

(a) A Forest Officer may check any forest produce loaded on any vehicle and correct the grade and measurement on that forests produce and on the docket at:

(i) any coupe where forest produce is loaded;

(ii) while the vehicle is travelling to its destination; and

(iii) after the vehicle arrives at its destination.

(b) Before a loaded vehicle reaches its destination, a Forest Officer may redirect it to another destination in order to check the load.

(c) A Timber Harvesting Operator must comply with any procedures determined by a Forest Officer:

(i) to determine whether it must be checked; and

(ii) set aside any load which must be checked.

(d) A Timber Harvesting Operator must not interfere in any way with apparatus used to check loads.

9. WEATHER RESTRICTIONS

9.1 Weather Restrictions

(a) Harvesting operations must be suspended when:

(i) soil in the coupe is saturated;

(ii) the coupe is flooded;



19

(iii) there is a risk that the operation will cause water pollution;

(iv) water is flowing on or over any extraction track;

(v) effective drainage of extraction tracks cannot be maintained; or

(vi) there is a risk that deep ruts may form in extraction tracks.

(b) Carting of forest produce from State forest must cease when:

(i) snow is lying on any road or track used for carting;

(ii) water is flowing on the surface of unsealed roads or tracks used for carting;

(iii) carting will deposit mud on a gravelled or sealed road;

(iv) carting is causing muddy water to directly enter any waterway;

(v) roads used for carting have unravelled and pose a risk to water quality in any waterway;

(vi) an Authorised Officer closes a road or track used for carting;

(vii) a Forest Officer determines there is a risk of damage to the structure of any road; or

(viii) loaded vehicles are unable to move without assistance, except from the immediate vicinity of the landing.

(c) A vehicle must not be assisted by another vehicles or machinery to move from a landing or along any road or track in wet weather, without the prior approval of a Forest Officer.

10. FIRE PROTECTION

10.1 Access for Fire Suppression

(a) A Timber Harvesting Operator must, if he/she has the appropriate equipment at the coupe:

(i) construct access to any water in or adjacent to the coupe, for fire protection purposes as required by an Authorised Officer (at the Secretary's cost); and

(ii) maintain all pre-existing roads and tracks in the coupe in a serviceable condition for fire suppression during the conduct of the harvesting operation.

10.2 Fire Fighting

(a) Any Timber Harvesting Operator who starts or detects a fire within a State forest must:



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(i) report it immediately to a Forest Officer and/or the emergency services number; and

(ii) take appropriate action to prevent the fire from spreading.

(b) If directed by the Secretary or an Authorised Officer, a Timber Harvesting Operator must make themselves and any plant that they own available for fire suppression if they have the recognised fire accreditation and the required competencies for the task.

10.3 Fire Fighting Equipment

(a) The Harvesting Team Leader must ensure that the following equipment is available at the coupe during timber harvesting operations:

(i) one rake hoe for each harvesting team member, located on the vehicle or landing closest to where the harvesting team is operating;

(ii) one knapsack spray pump with a capacity of no less than 9 litres that is fully charged with water, is in proper working order and complies with AS 1687-1991 for every 2 harvesting team members;

(iii) at least 1 dry chemical fire extinguisher that is in proper working order and that complies with AS/NZS 1841.1:1997 and AS/NZS 1841.5:1997 for each vehicle less than 3 tonnes gross vehicle mass (GVM);

(iv) a rake hoe or shovel and one knapsack spray pump with a capacity of no less than 9 litres that is fully charged with water, is in proper working order and complies with AS 1687-1991 on each vehicle used to cart forest produce; and

(v) not less than 200 litres of stored water with means of filling knapsacks and at least one dry chemical fire extinguisher that is in proper working order and that complies with AS/NZS 1841.1:1997 and AS/NZS 1841.5:1997 for each machine.

10.4 Fire Precautions

(a) Any campsite associated with a timber harvesting operation must comply with the Forests (Fire Protection) (Interim) Regulations 2004.

(b) Stationary engines (such as portable sawmills) must have the immediate space around and above the engine cleared of flammable material for a distance of at least 1.5m.

(c) All stationary and non-stationary engines must be fitted with a spark arrester that is in proper working order and complies with AS 1019-2000.

(d) Machine operators must, when shutting down machinery:

(i) stay with the equipment for at least 5 minutes after the equipment is shut down or turned off; and



21

(ii) after that time, inspect the equipment for any defect which may create a risk of fire before leaving the equipment.

11. PORTABLE SAWMILLS

(a) Where practicable, a portable sawmill should be located on private property.

(b) If a portable sawmill is located on State forest, it must be located within the coupe in which harvesting operations are being conducted unless authorised by a Forest Officer.

(c) The management of a portable sawmill and its associated clearing, storage or working areas is the responsibility of the Harvesting Team Leader.

(d) A portable sawmill must not be located where any part of the portable sawmill or its associated clearing, storage or working areas is:

(i) within any buffer or filter strip;

(ii) within 50m of the boundary of any excluded area or waterway;

(iii) within 50m of any State forest boundary;

(iv) within 50m of any established recreation site;

(v) within 50m of any sealed road;

(vi) within 20 metres of any permanent road; or.

(vii) at any other location advised by the Forest Officer.

12. MANAGEMENT OF FUELS AND LUBRICANTS

12.1 Construction

(a) Any fuel and lubricant store, or site for servicing machinery must:

(i) not be located within 40m of the boundary of any excluded area or waterway; and

(ii) comply with the Dangerous Goods Act 1985 and the Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2000.

12.2 Precautions

(a) Fuel storage areas must be approved by the Forest Officer and noted on the Forest Coupe Plan.

(b) Any area where fuel or oil is stored must have a bund constructed that has:



22

(i) an area that is large enough to contain the volume of the fuel/lubricant stored within it without breaching the wall of the bund if a leak occurs; and

(ii) a bank of earth that is high enough to contain any spill within the storage area.

(c) Bunding that differs from that prescribed in 12.2(b) of these Procedures may be approved by a Forest Officer.

(d) Bunding must be emptied after rainfall events to maintain full capacity of the structure.

(e) All valves, pumps, and hoses on fuel trailers, drums, etc, must be regularly inspected for leaks and where leaks occur must be immediately repaired.

(f) Machinery must not be serviced in State forest unless drip trays of appropriate size to catch any spills or leakage are utilised.

(g) Fuels/lubricants and chemicals must not be spilt, emptied or permitted to leak onto any part of State forest.

(h) Any fuel/lubricant or chemical spill must be immediately controlled by:

(i) containing the spill within a bund with available equipment; and

(ii) if flammable, covered with fire retardant.

(i) Any spill must be immediately reported to a Forest Officer.

12.3 Disposing of Contaminated Soil

(a) Soil contaminated by fuels/lubricants or chemicals must be disposed of in a manner that is appropriate to the size, location and potential affect of the spill. The manner of disposal must as determined by the Forest Officer. This may include:

(i) recovery of the material on site;

(ii) on site treatment;

(iii) onsite disposal; or

(iv) off site disposal.

(b) Spills must not be covered over or buried unless approved by the Forest Officer and noted in the coupe diary.



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13. HYGIENE AND WASTE DISPOSAL

13.1 Machine Hygiene

(a) Machinery, vehicles and other equipment used in harvesting operations must not transport any pest plant or disease into a State forest or from one place to another within a State forest.

(b) Where machinery wash downs are required:

(i) select a wash down site and install earth bunding;

(ii) park the vehicle free of all hazards;

(iii) inspect vehicle inside and out for soil and plant material, especially the underside, radiators, tyres, foot wells and bumper bars;

(iv) knock off large clods of dirt and sweep out the cabin;

(v) use a vacuum or compressed air to remove all dried plant material including seeds and chaff;

(vi) commencing with the underside of the vehicle, then the wheel arches, sides, radiator, tray etc and finally the upper body, clean down with a high pressure hose and stiff brush using fresh water but no detergents;

(vii) clean any associated implements such as buckets; and

(viii) check there is no soil or plant material remaining on the vehicle.

(c) Where wash downs are conducted in a wash bay:

(i) steam treat or rinse vehicle with clean water; and

(ii) wash effluent away from vehicle and do not drive through the effluent.

13.2 Litter Disposal

(a) Litter, including drums, machinery parts, lunch wrappers, bottles, effluent from portable toilets, etc. must:

(i) be suitably contained on the coupe or camp site;

(ii) be removed on completion of harvesting or at any time when directed by a Forest Officer; and

(iii) not be burnt, buried or otherwise disposed of anywhere in State forest.

13.3 Camp Sites

(a) Camp sites or shower units must not be:

(i) established without the approval of a Forest Officer;



24

(ii) located within 20m of the boundary of any excluded area; or

(iii) within 20m of any waterway.

(b) Camp sites must include a lavatory of a type approved by a Forest Officer.

(c) Camp sites must be rehabilitated to the Forest Officer's satisfaction immediately use of the site has ceased.

13.4 Water Points

(a) Except in an emergency, a Timber Harvesting Operator must not use a water point in a State forest without the permission of a Forest Officer.

(b) Any Timber Harvesting Operator who damages any water point structure, sign, or access must:

(i) report the damage to a Forest Officer; and

(ii) repair the damage the satisfaction of the Forest Officer.

14. COMPLETION OF HARVESTING

14.1 Restoration of Roads, Structures and Assets

(a) Any damage (not attributable to fair wear and tear) caused by a Timber Harvesting Operator to any road, structure or asset must be repaired to the satisfaction of the Forest Officer.

14.2 Coupe Completion

(a) The Harvesting Team Leader must not abandon a harvesting operation in a coupe unless either a final clearance or a provisional clearance has been issued by a Forest Officer for that coupe.

(b) A final clearance will not be issued unless coupe rehabilitation has been satisfactorily completed in accordance with these Procedures and the Forest Coupe Plan.

(c) The harvesting team will be recalled to a coupe if they leave prior to a final clearance or a provisional clearance being issued if:

(i) excess quantities of forest produce of the type and amount described on the Forest Produce Licence(s) remain on the coupe; or

(ii) the coupe has not been satisfactorily rehabilitated in accordance with these Procedures and the Forest Coupe Plan.

(d) A Harvesting Team Leader who is given a provisional clearance must return to satisfactorily complete the harvesting operations and rehabilitation of the provisionally cleared coupe within the timeframe specified by the Forest Officer.



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15. ROADING

15.1 Responsibility for Roads

(a) DSE is the Road Authority under the Road Management Act 2004 for the State forest road network and will manage the network in accordance with the Act. Responsibilities under this Act include construction, improvement and maintenance of the permanent road network. This does not include in-coupe roads.

(b) Construction and maintenance of in-coupe roads are the responsibility of the Harvesting Team Leader.

15.2 Location, Design and Period of Road Construction

(a) Where possible existing roads must be used to obtain access to a coupe and to cart forest produce.

(b) Construction of a new road is permitted only:

(i) as specified in the Forest Coupe Plan; and

(ii) after the alignment of the road has been both physically marked or otherwise designated and approved by a Forest Officer.

(c) During road construction, a Timber Harvesting Operator must:

(i) undertake the least possible earthworks required for construction;

(ii) place any material removed from the site where there is minimum risk that it may enter any waterway;

(iii) ensure the partly constructed road is cross-drained or out-sloped before the work on any day is completed;

(iv) erect a barricade as approved by the Forest Officer at the entrance to the partly constructed road that will prevent vehicle access;

(v) stockpile soil if the Forest Coupe Plan requires rehabilitation of the road; and

(vi) ensure any batter slopes constructed are at an angle to cause the least possible amount of slumping.

15.3 Road and Track Drainage

(a) Roads and tracks must have effective drainage in place at all times.

(b) The recommended placement and construction of cross drains is illustrated in Figure 4 of these Procedures.

(c) Where there is a risk that drainage may discharge directly into any stream or buffer, silt traps must be constructed by placing a barrier (for example wood or straw bales, but not hay) across the end of the relevant drainage structure.



26

(d) All culverts installed must be in accordance with 16.2 of these Procedures.

(e) All cross-drains constructed must be:

(i) at an angle sufficient to discharge water from the surface of the road or track (between 5 and 15 degrees); and

(ii) at distances specified in Schedule 1 of these Procedures.

Figure 4: Placement and construction of cross-drains.

15.4 Road Maintenance

(a) Roads constructed by a Timber Harvesting Operator must be properly maintained to ensure the least possible:

(i) erosion of the road surface; and

(ii) discharge of turbid water to streams or wetlands.

(b) Roads must not be bladed-off without permission of the Forest Officer.

(c) All roads and drains must be kept free of debris.

(d) Snigging on or across any permanent road is not permitted unless approved by a Forest Officer.

15.5 Road Closures

(a) The Secretary may temporarily close any road in a State forest:

(i) during wet or extremely dry weather; or



27

(ii) unsafe conditions.

15.6 Road Rehabilitation

(a) A Timber Harvesting Operator must ensure that every road which the Secretary requires the Timber Harvesting Operator to maintain and which is to be permanently closed when coupe harvesting is complete:

(i) is promptly closed to all vehicles when harvesting is complete, by a timber or earth barrier;

(ii) is cross-drained at least to the standards specified in Schedule 1; and

(iii) if the road is not cross-drained in accordance with 15.6(a)(ii), is treated in such a manner as a Forest Officer considers appropriate and recorded on the Forest Coupe Plan.

16. WATERWAY CROSSINGS

16.1 Construction of Fords, Log Crossings and Bridges

(a) A Timber Harvesting Operator must only construct waterway crossings:

(i) of a type specified in the Forest Coupe Plan;

(ii) at a location specified in the Forest Coupe Plan and physically marked in the field by a Forest Officer; and

(iii) to the standards specified in the Forest Coupe Plan.

16.2 Culverts

(a) Any culverts installed must be:

(i) at least 375mm in diameter for permanent roads unless other wise stated on the Forest Coupe Plan;

(ii) at least 300mm in diameter for temporary roads unless other wise stated on the Forest Coupe Plan;

(iii) at distances specified in Table 2 of these Procedures;

(iv) at a depth of at least the diameter of the culvert below the ground surface;

(v) held in place and protected from erosion by either sandbags, timber, concrete or rock, placed at the head of and at the point of discharge from the culvert; and

(vi) drain onto a strip of undisturbed vegetation at least 20m wide; or

(vii) a rock spill; or



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(viii) another structure that dissipates velocity of drainage flows as approved by the Forest Officer.

16.3 Removal and Rehabilitation of Fords, Log Crossings, Bridges and Culverts

(a) Except where the Forest Coupe Plan provides otherwise, a Timber Harvesting Operator must ensure that every temporary bridge, log fill crossing and culvert is removed promptly when either:

(i) the harvesting operation is complete; or

(ii) where rehabilitation works are required, when those works are complete.

(b) The approaches to any temporary bridge or log fill crossing must be cross drained at least to the standards specified in Schedule 1 of these Procedures.

(c) The site of each temporary bridge, log fill crossing and culvert must be rehabilitated to the satisfaction of the Forest Officer.

17. QUARRIES, BORROW PITS AND FILL DISPOSAL AREAS

(a) A Timber Harvesting Operator must not construct or use a rock quarry, borrow pit or fill disposal unless authorised in the Forest Coupe Plan.

(b) Where a rock quarry, borrow pit or fill disposal area is authorised, prescriptions for the construction, operation and rehabilitation of the site will be specified on the Forest Coupe Plan.



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SCHEDULE 1: EXTRACTION/BOUNDARY TRACK DRAINAGE SPACINGS Maximum distance in metres between cross drains (also known as breach and bars) for rehabilitation of snig and boundary tracks.

General Slope1

Less than 6º

Less than 1:10

Less than 10%

6 - 11º

1:10 - 1:15

10 – 20%

11 - 18º

1:5 – 1:3

20 - 33%

18 - 27º

1:3 – 1:2

33 – 50%

More than 27º

More than 1:2

More than 50%

Soil

Erosion

Hazard

Distance (m) Distance (m) Distance (m) Distance (m) Distance (m)

Low 120 90 60 30 15

Medium 90 60 40 20 10

High 60 30 20 10 Grade not permitted

1General Slope is an estimate of the general land and track slope.



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SCHEDULE 2: ROAD DRAINAGE STRUCTURE SPACINGS Maximum distance in metres between drainage structures (including culverts, roll-overs and cross drains).

Road Grade

Soil Erosion Hazard

1:50

1º

2%

1:25

2º

4%

1:15

3.5º

6%

1:12

4.5º

8%

1:10

6º

10%

1:8

7º

12%

1:7

8º

15%

1:5

11º

20%

Low 250 170 130 115 100 90 60 30

Mod 200 150 120 105 90 80 50 NP

High 160 130 110 95 80 65 NP NP

NP = Road grade not permitted



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SCHEDULE 3: DESIGN STANDARDS FOR ROADS (1)

Road Classification 5C

(minor road) 5D

(access track/road) 5C

(access track)

Terrain Type Flat Rolling M’tain Flat Rolling M’tain Flat Rolling M’tain

Main geometric characteristic

Speed value (km/hr) 60 40 20 40 30 < 20 N/A N/A N/A

Cross section elements

Number of traffic lanes 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Minimum cross fall/camber (%)

5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4

Maximum superelevation (%) 6 8 10 6 8 10 N/A N/A N/A

Minimum traffic lane width (m)

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Minimum shoulder width (m) 1.5 1 0.5 1 0.5 0.5 0 0 0

Minimum carriageway width

(lane + shoulder) (m)

6 5 4 5 4 4 3 3 3

Minimum formation width (including verges) (m)

8 7 6 7 6 6 3 3 3

Table drain width (m) 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6

Horizontal geometry

Minimum radius curve (m) 170 160 15 70 35 15 N/A N/A N/A

Minimum stopping sight distance (m) (2)

90 50 30 50 30 20 N/A N/A N/A

Minimum meeting sight distance (m) (3)

180 100 60 100 60 40 N/A N/A N/A

Vertical Geometry

maximum vertical grade (%) 6 8 12 6 8 15 N/A N/A N/A

Maximum excess vertical grade (%)

20 20 20 20 20 20 N/A N/A N/A

Maximum distance of excess grade (m)

100 100 100 100 100 100 N/A N/A N/A

Notes:

(1) Adapted from the Review of Road Classifications, Geometric Designs and Maintenance Standards (ARRB, 2001)

(2) Distance required for a vehicle to stop in time to avoid hitting a fixed object on the road.

(3) The distance required for two vehicles approaching each other to stop before colliding.



32

SCHEDULE 4: SPECIES CODES

Code Common Name Botanical Name

AA Alpine Ash Eucalyptus delegatensis

BG Blue Gum Eucalyptus globulus

BI Box/Ironbark n.a.

BW Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon

CB Candlebark Eucalyptus rubida.

MA Mountain Ash Eucalyptus regnans

MM Messmate Eucalyptus obliqua

OS Other Species n.a.

PM Peppermint n.a

RG Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis

VM Manna Gum Eucalyptus viminalis

WI Other Wattle n.a



33

SCHEDULE 5: APPLICATION FOR AFTER HOURS CARTING

Application for after hours carting (Section 76(6) Forests Act 1958)

Date of application:

Coupe Details:

Coupe/s address:

Coupe name/s:

Cartage Details:

Destination(s):

Roads to be used:

Period for which authorisation is sought:

Dates:

Times: Reason why authorisation is sought:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Harvesting Team Leader:

Name:

Signature:

Approved / Not Approved (refer to section 1.6.8 of the Management Procedures)

Authorised Officer Name:

Signature:

Date: Comments:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………



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SCHEDULE 6: HARDWOOD SAWLOG GRADING CARD - ASH AND MIXED SPECIES



35

SCHEDULE 7: THOL CONDITIONS 1. Issue of Licence

(a) In accordance with Division 2 of Part 6 of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004, the Secretary issues to the Licensee a Licence to conduct timber harvesting operations.

(b) The contact details of both the Secretary and the Licensee are specified in the Schedule.

(c) The class of Licence and the prescribed activities or classes of activities which may be conducted by the Licensee are specified in the Schedule.

(d) The dates of issue and expiry of the Licence are specified in the schedule.

2. Definitions In this Licence the following definitions shall apply: ‘Act’ means the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 ‘Authorised Officer’ has the same meaning as it has in section 3 of the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987; ‘Class of activity’ has the same meaning as the term has in the Act and in the Regulations. ‘Code’ means the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2007 and any variation or replacement of that code made from time to time under Part 5 of the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987 and referred to in section 54 of the Act as a Code of Practice; ‘Coupe’ has the same meaning as it has in the Act and in the Code; ‘Demerit points’ means points incurred in accordance with regulation 7 of the Regulations; ‘Department’ means the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment;

‘direction’ or ‘directions’ means (i) any other prescriptions, procedure, direction or guideline prepared for or in

relation to timber harvesting and notified to the Licensee by a Forest Officer; (ii) the Code; and (iii) any Forest Coupe Plan prepared for or in relation to the coupe and notified to

the Licensee by a Forest Officer. ‘Forest coupe plan’ has the same meaning as it has in the Code and includes the record kept by a Forest Officer and known as the “coupe diary”; ‘Forest Officer’ means an employee of the Department or an employee of VicForests; ‘Instruction’ means (but is not limited to) guidance, direction, demonstration and monitoring; ‘Licence’ means Timber Harvesting Operator’s Licence issued under Division 2 of Part 6 of the Act; ‘Licensee’ means the person to whom a Licence is issued; ‘Operator’s licence’ has the same meaning as that term has in the Regulations; ‘Prescribed activity’ has the same meaning as the term has in the Act and Regulations; ‘Regulations’ means the Sustainable Forests (Timber Harvesting) Regulations 2006 as amended from time to time or if repealed by any replacement regulations;



36

‘Schedule’ means the schedule to this licence; ‘Secretary’ means the body corporate established under section 6 of the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987 and called “The Secretary to the Department of Sustainability and Environment” and for any power, function or duty under the Act or Regulations, its duly appointed delegate; ‘Supervisor’ has the same meaning as the word has in item 1(q) of Schedule 1 of the Regulations; ‘Temporary Operator’s Licence’ has the same meaning as the term has in the Regulations; ‘Timber Harvesting Operation’ has the same meaning as it has in the Act; ‘Timber Harvesting Team Leader’ means the person at the coupe that is responsible for the conduct of timber harvesting operations and for any act or omission of any person undertaking timber harvesting operations at the coupe; ‘Trainee’ means the holder of a Trainee Operator’s Licence within the meaning of the Regulations; ‘Trainee Operator’s Licence’ has the same meaning as the term has in the Regulations; ‘Trainer’ means the holder of a Operator’s Licence who has signed as the nominated trainer on the Trainee’s application for a Trainee Operator’s Licence and who is responsible for training the Trainee in the conduct of prescribed activities or classes of activity; ‘VicForests’ has the same meaning as it has in the Conservation Forests and Lands Act 1997.

3. Licence Pre-requisites (a) The Secretary shall determine the qualifications, competencies or experience to

carry out the prescribed activity and may vary these from time to time (b) This Licence applicant must produce evidence that pre-requisites have been met

as specified on the application or renewal form at the time applying for a Licence or Licence renewal.

(c) The Secretary shall notify the Licensee in writing a minimum of one (1) month in advance of any change to the Licence pre-requisites taking effect

4. Legislation

The Licensee shall comply with provisions of the Act, Regulations and the Forests Act 1958 as amended, and with any lawful instruction or direction given by an Authorised Officer or Forest Officer for the purpose of this Licence.

5. Licence Scope (a) This Licence is issued for the prescribed class and activities or classes of activity

specified in the Schedule. (b) This Licence authorises the prescribed activities or classes of activity unless it is

suspended or cancelled within the meaning of the Act or Regulations or until it expires.

(c) The expiration, suspension or cancellation of this Licence shall not affect the enforcement of any right, obligation or liability which arises under it and which is due to be fulfilled before such expiration, suspension or cancellation.



37

(d) The Licensee is not authorised to conduct timber harvesting operations in State forest during suspension or after the date of expiry or cancellation.

(e) This Licence does not guarantee access to forest produce.

6. Licence Transfer (a) This Licence is non-transferable.

7. Operational Requirements

(a) The Licensee shall ensure that prescribed activities or classes of activities are performed in a safe and proficient manner.

(b) Without affecting the generality of condition 7(a) the Licensee shall carry out prescribed activities or classes of activities in accordance with directions.

(c) The Licensee shall not fell a tree that has not been marked or is otherwise designated for extraction without the prior approval of the Secretary.

(d) The Licensee shall not fell a tree which has been marked for retention or otherwise stands within an area reserved from timber harvesting operations without the prior approval of the Secretary

(e) The Licensee shall not permit a felled tree to fall or slide into an area marked for reservation without the prior approval of the Secretary.

(f) The Licensee shall not operate a machine within an area marked for reservation without the prior approval of the Secretary.

(g) The Licensee shall not carry on work contrary to the directions of the Secretary relating to working in wet conditions.

(h) The Licensee shall not damage a road or vehicle route by snigging forest produce along or across it or by moving heavy machinery along or across it without the prior approval of the Secretary.

(i) The Licensee, in acting as Timber Harvesting Team Leader, shall ensure the proper completion of the timber harvesting operation for which he or she is the Timber Harvesting Team Leader by: (i) leaving the coupe in a suitable condition for preparing for regeneration; (ii) rehabilitating the log landings or log dump sites; (iii) closing, rehabilitating and preventing erosion of roads, vehicle routes and

snig tracks; and (iv) removing rubbish from the forest.

(j) The Licensee shall comply with all directions of the Secretary concerning the construction of vehicle routes, log landings and log dumps.

(k) The Licensee shall not use a machine to sweep drifts of loose mud, slush and soil from the surface of a road, vehicle route or snig track without prior approval of the Secretary.

(l) The Licensee shall maintain vehicle routes as determined by the Secretary. (m) The Licensee shall not cart timber contrary to the directions of the Secretary or

the Timber Harvesting Team Leader. (n) The Licensee shall ensure that no material other than loose bark falls or is

removed from a loaded truck driven by him or her until it is unloaded at its destination.



38

(o) The Licensee shall ensure that loose bark which falls or is removed from a loaded truck driven by him or her is not left on a road or vehicle route or in a table drain or, without prior approval of the Secretary, accumulated in one location.

(p) The Licensee shall notify the Secretary of any change in his or her address within 14 days of the change occurring.

(q) The Licensee shall not deposit litter in the forest. (r) The Licensee shall not deposit engine oil or other petroleum product in State

forest. (s) The Licensee who is a Trainer shall properly oversee a Trainee during timber

harvesting operations and ensure that the Trainee does not separately incur demerit points while being overseen.

(t) The Licensee who acts as a Timber Harvesting Team Leader shall ensure that any person engaged in timber harvesting operations for which he or she is the Timber Harvesting Team Leader is the holder of a current timber harvesting operator’s licence.

(u) The Licensee who acts as a Timber Harvesting Team Leader shall not knowingly permit any person engaged in timber harvesting operations for which he or she is the Timber Harvesting Team Leader to breach a condition of that person’s own Licence.

(v) The Licensee shall comply with the directions of the Secretary concerning the prevention of damage to retained trees.

(w) The Licensee shall not commence initial timber harvesting operations in a new coupe where the forest coupe plan has not been approved.

8. Temporary Operator’s Licence

(a) The purpose of a Temporary Operator’s Licence is to enable the Licensee to gain practical experience and training in environmental care and occupational health and safety in timber harvesting operations.

(b) A Temporary Operator’s Licence is issued for a period of three (3) months only. (c) The Secretary may renew a Temporary Operator’s Licence. The prescribed

application fee shall apply to renewal.

9. Trainee Operator’s Licence (a) The purpose of a Trainee Operator’s Licence is to enable the Licensee to gain

practical experience and training as a machine operator carrying out the prescribed activities or classes of activity in timber harvesting operations.

(b) A Trainee Operator’s Licence is issued for a period of three (3) months only. (c) The Secretary may renew a Trainee Operator’s Licence. The prescribed

application fee shall apply to renewal. (d) A Trainee must only carry out the prescribed activities or classes of activity

specified in the Schedule under the instruction of a Trainer.

10. Trainer (a) A Trainer must hold an Operator’s licence for the prescribed activities or classes

of activity being undertaken by the Trainee. (b) A Trainer must properly oversee a Trainee to ensure that:



39

(i) The Trainee receives instruction appropriate to the prescribed activities or classes of activity being undertaken to assist the Trainee to develop a level of competency in those activities or classes of activity, and

(ii) The conduct of training educates the trainee in relation to risks associated with timber harvesting operations with the objective of minimising the risk to the health and safety of the Trainee and all persons who conduct timber harvesting operations.

11. Supervisors and Timber Harvesting Team Leaders

(a) The Supervisor and/or the Timber Harvesting Team Leader must ensure that each person employed or otherwise engaged in the conduct of timber harvesting operations:

(i) holds a Licence of the appropriate class and prescribed activity or class of activity for which the person is employed or otherwise engaged; and

(ii) is properly equipped with all requisite safety equipment; and (iii) complies with all directions.

12. Demerit Points The circumstances in which demerit points may be incurred by a Licensee are those specified in Column 2 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations and include failing to comply with the conditions of this licence.

13. Suspension

(a) The Secretary may suspend this Licence if the Licensee has incurred the prescribed number of demerit points.

(b) The Secretary shall provide written notification to the Licensee that the Licence has been suspended and specifying the period of the suspension and the total number of demerit points incurred by the Licensee.

(c) Any period of suspension is fixed by regulation 12 of the Regulations. (d) The suspension period shall commence from the date of service of the written

notice in accordance with regulation 15 of the Regulations. (e) The Licensee must not carry out any prescribed activity or class of activity in a

State forest, unless another class of licence is validly held.

14. Cancellation (a) The Secretary may cancel this Licence if the Licensee:

(i) fails to comply with any conditions of the Licence; or (ii) carries out timber harvesting operations in a State forest during any period

that the Licence is suspended. (b) The Secretary shall provide written notification to the Licensee that the Licence

has been cancelled and specifying the basis for the cancellation of the Licence. 15. Change to Licence Conditions:

(a) The Secretary may change any condition of this Licence in accordance with section 57 of the Act.



40

(b) The Secretary shall provide written notification the Licensee of a change to any Licence condition. Written notification shall be provided one (1) month in advance of the change taking effect.

16. Written Communication

The Secretary and Licensee agree that any written communication required by this licence may be sent to the addresses for written communication of the Secretary and Licensee as specified in the Schedule. The addresses may be changed at any time by written notice to the other party which supplies the new address.



41

TIMBER HARVESTING OPERATOR’S LICENCE SCHEDULE

Secretary’s address for written communication

Secretary’s contact person

Secretary’s contact person telephone number

Licensee name

Licensee date of birth

Licensee’s address for written communication

Licence issue date

Licence expiry date

Prescribed class of Licence

Prescribed activities or classes of activity

Licence number



42

SCHEDULE 8: THOL DEMERIT POINTS AND SUSPENSIONS

Accumulated Demerit Points Period of Suspension

8 5 working days

9 6 working days

10 7 working days

11 8 working days

12 9 working days

13 10 working days

14 11 working days

15 13 working days

16 15 working days

17 17 working days

18 19 working days

19 21 working days

20 26 working days

21 31 working days

22 36 working days

23 41 working days

24 46 working days

25 or more 56 working days



43

SCHEDULE 9: THOL CLASSES AND PRESCRIBED ACTIVITIES

ITEM NO.

LICENCE CLASS

1 Operator's Licence

PRESCRIBED ACTIVITY

DESCRIPTION OF LICENCE / ACTIVITY

(a) Chainsaw Operator Trim and crosscut harvested trees by operation of a chainsaw.

(b) Manual Faller (Basic) Harvest small trees less than 50cm in diameter and less than 20m in height.

(c) Manual Faller (Intermediate)

Harvest trees less than 80 cm in diameter and less than 40m high.

(d) Manual Faller (Advanced)

Harvest any sized tree and any species of tree.

(e) Machine Operator (Wheel Tractor)

Conduct wheeled tractor timber harvesting operations.

(f) Machine Operator (Crawler Tractor)

Conduct crawler tractor timber harvesting operations (bulldozer).

(g) Machine Operator (Skidder)

Conduct skidder timber harvesting operations.

(h) Machine Operator (Loader)

Conduct loader timber harvesting operations (wheeled or tracked).

(i) Machine Operator (Forwarder)

Conduct forwarder timber harvesting operations.

(j) Machine Operator (Mechanical Processor)

Conduct mechanical processor timber harvesting operations (wheeled or tracked).

(k) Machine Operator (Excavator)

Conduct excavator timber harvesting operations (with grabs).

(l) Machine Operator (Feller Buncher)

Conduct feller buncher timber harvesting operations (wheeled or tracked).

(m) Truck Driver Shift forestry logs using trucks.

(n) Tree Climber (Basic) Undertake small tree climbing with supervision for the purpose of felling or cutting trees or taking or removing timber.

(o) Tree Climber (Advanced)

Undertake complex tree climbing with limited supervision for the purpose of felling or cutting trees or taking or removing timber.

(p) Tree Climber (Chainsaw Operator Off-Ground)

Use chainsaw in conjunction with tree climbing for the purpose of felling or cutting trees or taking or removing timber.

(r) Basic Conduct timber harvesting operations other than those activities or classes of activity specified in paragraphs (a) to (q) of item 1.



44

ITEM NO.

LICENCE CLASS

PRESCRIBED ACTIVITY

DESCRIPTION OF LICENCE / ACTIVITY

2. Temporary Operator's Licence

Conduct timber harvesting operations in one or more of the activities or classes of activity specified in paragraphs (a) to (q) of item 1, while undergoing further training relating to environmental care and occupational health and safety.

3. Trainee Operator's Licence

Conduct timber harvesting operations as a trainee under supervision while undergoing training in one or more of the activities or classes of activity specified in paragraphs (e) to (l) of item 1.



45

SCHEDULE 10: CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH DEMERIT POINTS ARE INCURRED

Item No. Circumstances in which demerit points are incurred Demerit

Points

1. Where, without the prior approval of the Secretary, the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence fells a tree that has not been marked or otherwise designated for extraction.

4

2.

Where, without the prior approval of the Secretary, the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence fells a tree which has been marked for retention or which stands within an area marked for reservation or which stands within an area reserved from timber harvesting operations.

4

3. Where, without the prior approval of the Secretary, the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence permits a felled tree to fall or slide into an area marked for reservation.

2

4. Where, without the prior approval of the Secretary, the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence operates a machine within an area marked for reservation.

4

5. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence carries on work contrary to the directions of the Secretary relating to working in wet conditions.

5

6.

Where, without the prior approval of the Secretary, the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence damages a road or vehicle route by snigging forest produce along or across it or by moving heavy machinery along or across it.

2

7.

Where, the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence, in acting as a timber harvesting team leader, fails to ensure the proper completion of the timber harvesting operations for which he or she is the timber harvesting team leader by failing to:

(a) leave the timber harvesting operations site in a suitable condition for preparing for regeneration; or

(b) rehabilitate the log landing or log dumping sites; or

(c) close, rehabilitate and prevent erosion of roads, vehicle routes and snig tracks; or

(d) remove rubbish from the forest.

4

4

4

2

8. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence fails to comply with the directions of the Secretary concerning the construction of vehicle routes, log landings or log dumps.

4

9.

Where, without the prior approval of the Secretary, the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence uses a machine to sweep drifts of loose mud, slush and soil from the surface of a road, vehicle route or snig track.

4

10. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence fails to maintain vehicle routes as determined by the Secretary. 2



46

Item No. Circumstances in which demerit points are incurred Demerit

Points

11. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence carts timber contrary to the directions of the Secretary or a timber harvesting team leader.

4

12. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence fails to ensure that no material other than loose bark falls or is removed from a loaded truck driven by him or her until it is unloaded at its destination.

2

13.

Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence fails to ensure that loose bark which falls or is removed from a loaded truck driven by him or her is not left on a road or vehicle route or in a table drain or, without the prior approval of the Secretary, accumulated in one location.

2

14. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence fails to notify the Secretary of any change in his or her address within 14 days of the change occurring.

1

15. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence deposits litter in the forest. 2

16. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence deposits engine oil or other petroleum product in the forest. 4

17.

Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence who is training a trainee fails to properly oversee that trainee during timber harvesting operations and that trainee has separately incurred demerit points during that failure to properly oversee.

4

18.

Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence who acts as a timber harvesting team leader fails to ensure that any person engaged in timber harvesting operations for which he or she is the timber harvesting team leader is the holder of a current timber harvesting operator's licence

2

19.

Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence who acts as a timber harvesting team leader knowingly permits a person engaged in timber harvesting operations for which he or she is the timber harvesting team leader to breach a condition of that person's own timber harvesting operator's licence.

2

20. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence fails to comply with the directions of the Secretary concerning the prevention of damage to retained trees.

2

21. Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence commences initial timber harvesting operations in a new coupe where the coupe plan has not been approved.

2

22.

Where the holder of a timber harvesting operator's licence breaches a condition specified in that timber harvesting operator's licence and that condition is not the same as a circumstance set out in items 1 to 21 of this Schedule.

2



47

SCHEDULE 11: MEASURING SLOPE

It is necessary for a Timber Harvesting Operator to be able to estimate slope so as to:

• Know when it is too steep to harvest

• Know when it is too steep to snig

• Construct roads and tracks at correct grades

• Install drainage structures at correct spacing

Measuring a Slope in Degrees Using a Clinometer (Clino):

The sighter (A) takes a view through the sighting hole to a point up or down the slope that is to be measured, lining up the cross line in the sighting hole with a point that is about the same height as their eye level (B). This object may be another person or a bush/ tree of similar height. The scale to the left of sight provides the measurement in degrees.

B

Slope = 10 0

A

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