NSW WILDERNESS RED INDEX
Published by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd
(September 1999)
2/332 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 ph 02 9261 2400; fax 02 92995713
email keith@colongwilderness.org.au web site colongwilderness.org.au
| NAME: | Chandlers Creek |
| NOMINATED BY: | Clarence Environment Centre September 1996. Also covered in nomination by Colong Foundation, Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs and The Wilderness Society 23/10/96 (amended to include the National Parks Association on 15/5/97). |
| LOCATION: | 60 km north of Ebor, south of the old Glen Innes-Grafton road. |
| SIZE: | 14,132 ha nominated (September 1996) 18,283 ha provisionally identified |
| TENURE: | Nominated Identified New NPWS estate (Oct. 1993 to Sept. 1999) Former State Forest 9,264 ha under assessment Other tenure State Forest 8,956 ha under assessment Freehold land 63 ha under assessment |
Wilderness Declared:
None
Wilderness Not Declared:
Chaelundi National Park;
| Size: | 9,264 ha |
| Percentage of entire prov. identified area: | 51% |
State Forest;
| Size: | 8,956 ha |
| Percentage of entire prov. identified area: | 49% |
Freehold land;
| Size: | 63 ha |
| Percentage of entire prov. identified area: | <1% |
DESCRIPTION:
The Chandlers Creek catchment overlies the Coffs Harbour block geology. This consists of sedimentary deposits and metamorphosed sediments, including greywacke, slate, siliceous argillite and mudstones laid down between the Devonian and lower Permian periods. These are characteristically fine grained deposits of volcanic origin. Two further components of the Coffs Harbour Block occur in the area: the Brooklana and Coramba Beds. The Chaelundi Complex, a large irregularly-shaped composite pluton of adamellite, intrudes into the Moombil Beds along the junction between the Moombil and Brooklana Beds in the west of the Chandlers Creek catchment. Topography is generally influenced by the relatively steep valley of the Chandlers Creek which flows first east then northwards through the area to eventually join the Boyd River.
Vegetation communities present in old growth condition include small patches of warm temperate, subtropical and dry rainforest, Forest Red Gum woodlands, Spotted Gum, Northern Scribbly Gum woodland and dry Blackbutt forests. The Spotted Gum forests represent the southern limit for Pineapple Palm (Macrozamia moorie). The area is of most significance for its undisturbed stands of dry old growth sclerophyll forests.
Threatened species which occupy the old growth habitat include Masked Owl (Tytyo novaehollandiae), Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) and Rufous Bettong (Aepyprymus rufescens). A large and genetically distinct population of the nationally endangered Hastings River Mouse (Pseudomys oralis) has been recorded in the area, with greatest apparent density in the unprotected southern Chandlers Creek catchment.
LAND USE HISTORY:
| Aboriginal | The wilderness area is contained within land traditionally used by the Bundjalung Aboriginal People. |
| Logging | The area surrounding the nomination has a long history of forestry operations. Considerable numbers of timber getters seeking Cedar were active around Dalmorton, just across the Boyd Valley to the north from the late 1800s. |
Following the passing of the Forestry Act 1916 large areas were dedicated as State Forest in 1917, 1918 and again in 1934. In adjoining areas, regular logging commenced in 1916 with the opening of a number of sawmills, concentrating mostly on Hoop Pine.
The moister, accessible parts of the Chaelundi forests were logged for Red Cedar in the late nineteenth century and for Coachwood to make plywood for aircraft during the Second World War.
Extensive hardwood logging followed, with most roading occurring during and after the Second World War. Between 1973 and 1982 large areas of Leasehold land, Vacant Crown Land and Timber Reserves were dedicated as State Forest, particularly in the Marengo/Chaelundi area. At this time the Dorrigo Management Area was expanded to include the northern part of Chaelundi State Forest from the Grafton Management Area. As a result the Chaelundi region contains the major part of Dorrigo Management Area's unlogged hardwood forests.
The Wran Government decision of 1982 to discontinue Rainforest logging sealed the fate of an industry that had mercilessly over-exploited its resources, with significant loss of rainforest habitats.
The 1985 Forestry Commission Management Plan for the Dorrigo Management Area revealed intentions to remove 84,600 cubic metres of old growth sawlogs from the 52,722 ha constituting the Chaelundi Group of Forests (Chaelundi SF 36,779 ha, Marengo SF 10,894 ha and Hyland SF 5,049 ha). A significant amount of intended roading was indicated but not detailed. This included substantial areas of Chaelundi State Forest, over 20,000 ha of which has never been logged.
| 1990 | The three major timber companies benefiting
from the logging are G L Briggs and Sons Pty Ltd, Duncans Holdings Ltd and Boral. Logs
extracted will be used primarily for cross-arms for telegraph poles and miscellaneous
timber products, including woodchips. Over 30% of Boral's production is currently destined
for the Japanese export woodchip market (Briggs export Tallowwood for the construction of
Japanese marinas). Approximately 140 people are currently employed in the industry. Logging of 660 ha of old growth forest within Chaelundi State Forest was undertaken by the Forestry Commission at the end of 1989 (Coupe Nos 179, 178 and 177). No environmental impact statement (EIS) was produced, making the work illegal, according to the provisions laid down in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. January: Forestry Commission decreases royalties on Tallowwood to make up for decline in sawlog demand. Combined with currently existing transport rebates, this amounts to substantial public subsidy. This "sawlog crash", due to increasing sales of plantation softwood timber, has led elements of the local industry to admit that they must re-structure in order to get out of old growth logging or close down. |
March: An inspection of Chaelundi finds that illegal roading has occurred and in an effort to prevent further activity, a court injunction is sought and obtained (March 14) by the North East Forest Alliance pending the production of an EIS.
Dorrigo District Forester Mr John Murray claims no EIS is required because properly managed logging did not significantly affect the environment.
November: Forestry Commission produces a Dorrigo Management Area EIS which is immediately criticised by scientists and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as being inadequate.
| 1991 | February: Under the Environmental Planning
and Assessment Act the Forestry Commission determines its own EIS. The North East
Forest Alliance criticises the Commission. The Commission's Determination Report of
February to approve logging is a mere formality. July: Forestry Commission announces its intention to resume roading operations in Chaelundi. August: 6: After Cabinet discussions Greiner Government endorses continued logging activity. |
| 1992 | October: Forestry Commission releases a new environmental impact statement for the Dorrigo Management area, covering Chaelundi State Forest. Report recommends the logging of old growth forests in the Stop-a-bit and Frenchmans ridges in the Chandlers Creek catchment. |
HISTORY OF CONSERVATION MEASURES:
| 1984 | Shannon Creek Flora Reserve of 245 ha is gazetted. |
| 1989 | Chandlers Creek Flora Reserve of 980 ha is gazetted. |
| 1992 | The Prime Minister and the Premiers of all Australian states, except Tasmania, sign the National Forest Policy Statement. This statement declares "until the assessment (of forests for conservation values) are completed, forest management agencies will avoid activities that may significantly affect those areas of old growth forest or wilderness that are likely to have high conservation value" |
| 1996 | Nomination under section 7 of the Wilderness
Act (1987) for Chandlers Creek submitted by the Clarence Environment Centre. October: Chandlers Creek wilderness of 14,132 ha is also nominated by the Colong Foundation, Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs and The Wilderness Society as part of a nomination of 23 new areas or additions, provisionally identified through the forestry Interim Assessment Process (IAP). December: The Forestry Revocation Act is passed by State Parliament. This Act proclaims several new reserves including the Chaelundi National Park of 10,060 ha. This protects the northern section of the proposed Chandlers Creek Wilderness. The government also establishes the Dunphy Wilderness Fund of 1 million dollars per year for 5 years for the acquisition of private lands in identified wilderness. |
| 1997 | Subsequent to the 1996 interim forest park outcome, the Government establishes the Occupational Permit fund of 3.7 million dollars which targets 17 leasehold or freehold properties for acquisition as a compensatory measure to landholders whose occupational grazing permits were in areas gazetted as new National Parks. This schedule includes two properties in the Chandlers Creek area. |
| 1998 | July: As part of the Comprehensive Regional
Assessment of north east forests, an area of 18,283 ha is given ‘wilderness
capable’ status for reserve design purposes. November: The Government announces its North-east NSW proposed regional forest agreements. Only 51 ha of the proposed wilderness area in State Forests is added to Chaelundi National Park and no NPWS wilderness assessment report is released despite the passage of the two year statutory limit since nomination. December: The Forestry and National Park Estate Act 1998 is passed by State Parliament. The new law prevents wilderness identification of areas of State Forest covered by an integrated forest operations approval. Once signed the forest approvals will block the pending identification of the Chandlers Creek Wilderness beyond the Chaelundi National Park boundaries. Part of the State Forest area affected by underlying grazing leases is proposed as a Forest Management Zone, an informal reserve under the control of the Minister for Forests. The boundaries of these reserves are open to amendment at the discretion of the responsible Minister. |
| 1999 | 19 March: The Carr Government commits to
assess the nominated Chandlers Creek Wilderness by the end of 1999 with determination of
area for declaration by the end of 2000. 20 March: The Carr Government commits to fund the Dunphy Wilderness Fund beyond its anticipated expiry in 2001 and maintains a logging moratorium over wilderness leasehold lands, including leasehold State Forest areas. |
| 23 March: The office of Premier Bob Carr gives undetakings to the Total Environment Centre that leasehold state forest under further consideration for reservation as wilderness will not be logged. |
THREATS:
| Logging | The dry old growth forest remaining outside the formal reserve system is anticipated to be targeted for logging in the short to medium term. The environmental impacts of logging include: soil compaction and erosion; pollution of streams with silt and sediment; escaped regeneration burns, fires due to arson and the escape of controlled burns produce excessive CO2 emissions; the introduction of noxious weeds, feral animals; crown dieback along logging roads and firetrails; destruction of flora and fauna and general ecosystem degradation. |
Recommendations: A full moratorium over logging in the area provisionally identified as wilderness must be retained and adequate funds provided for the acquisition and subsequent reservation of the southern section of Chaelundi and Marengo State Forests which are subject to grazing leases. Previously logged areas should be rehabilitated and roads ripped and revegetated.
| Grazing | Grazing leases within the State Forest are of concern because of the direct physical damage stock cause and use of fire by leaseholders to promote grass cover. Wandering cattle, as well as goats from adjoining properties, could also lead to feral populations establishing themselves within the wilderness area. |
Recommendations: The grazing leases should be acquired as a matter of priority with the Dunphy Wilderness Fund. Cattle straying into the National Park should be treated as feral animals and dealt with accordingly.
| Burning | Over burning causes severe damage to rugged wilderness areas. The ground cover that binds the soil is burnt leading to massive sheet erosion, as the next rains strip away the thin soils of these areas. Streams then fill with gravel and silt. Fires can also a wipe out wildlife populations and destroy the old growth vegetation. Often it is these very oldest plants that provide most of the nesting and roosting places. The assertion that Australia’s forest lands was once all some sort of grass land and that it should be burnt more often to mirror Aboriginal burning practices is incorrect. Dr John Benson is adamant that "most forests and woodlands of Australia would not have been subject to frequent (less than ten-year) burns". |
Recommendations: Effective fire-fighting in wilderness requires constant aerial or satellite surveillance in bush-fire danger periods to enable rapid detection and response. Such an approach eliminates the need for fire towers in wilderness areas. To effectively tackle fires in remote areas while they are still small, more fire fighters need to be trained as ‘smoke jumpers’ and helicopter crews.
Fuel-reduction burns should be undertaken where they are most effective, that is close to the assets being protected (eg. towns and settled districts). Most wildfires burn into parks, not the other way around, and broad-area control burns of wilderness are ineffective in controlling such external fires.
The protection of wilderness values in fire management plans needs to be a priority. During fire emergencies bulldozers should not be allowed to scar the scenery by cutting fire control lines on steep slopes. All too often these measures fail to contain a wildfire. Decisions on damaging suppression practices should be addressed during management planning, not in a fire crisis. Except for fire trails in perimeter areas, trails constructed during fire fighting operations should be closed and rehabilitated immediately following the operation.
CONTACT ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd
2/332 Pitt Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Contact: Keith Muir (Director) Ph: 02 9261 2400
FAX: 02 9261 2144
e-mail keith@colongwilderness.org.auClarence Environment Centre
P O Box 1073
GRAFTON NSW 2460 Ph 02 6643 1863North East Forest Alliance/
Big Scrub Environment Centre
123 Keen Street
LISMORE NSW 2480
Contact: John Corkill Ph: 02 6622 4737
FAX: 02 6622 2676
e-mail brushbox@mail.nrg.com.au
RELEVANT ARTICLES:
Colong Bulletin 156, May 1996 p8, "Wilderness Protection - Navigating the way forward".
Colong Bulletin 157, July 1996 p3, "Wilderness Protection Scheme".
Colong Bulletin 159, November 1996 p7, "Major advances in Wilderness and Forest Protection".
Colong Bulletin 166, January 1998 p7-8, "Wilderness - The hard yards".
Colong Bulletin 172 January 1999 p7, "Forest Fandango".