Mundlimup Coupe - logging
1159. Hon Alison Xamon to the Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the proposed logging in Mundlimup Coupe 03, and ask -
(1) What measures will the Minister take to ensure that the contractors do not transmit dieback within the Coupe and in particular the plots being continually measured?
(2) What system does the FPC have in place to ensure contractors comply to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) requirement for reducing/eliminating transmission of dieback?
(3) How is the system referred to in (2) enforced?
(4) What penalties are in place for breaches of DEC requirements?
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied:
(1) Under direction of FPC staff, and in accordance with the procedures set out in the DEC’s Management Guidelines for "Phytophthora cinnamomi and Disease Caused by it Volume 1" and the Forest Products Commission’s "Contractors’ Timber Harvesting Manual" (Section 4.3 "Health and Vitality Maintenance"), the activity involving machine movement within and across dieback disease boundaries is strictly controlled to minimise the potential for the transmission of Phytophthora cinnamomi (Pc).
A detailed Hygiene Management Plan (HMP) for the whole of the Mundlimup 03 coupe, including the plots, will be prepared by FPC in conjunction with staff from DEC prior to the commencement of any machine activity involved in road construction or harvesting operations.
(2) Compliance is achieved through a combination of;
a. training,
b. field briefing of contractors, particularly in relation to the requirements of the Pc HMP,
c. signposting of Hygiene Management points,
d. supervision by FPC and Contractor staff,
e. monitoring of performance by FPC in accordance with the FPC’s AFS Certification,
f. compliance auditing by DEC staff,
g. recording of entries into protectable areas,
h. clean down of machines where required, and
i. restricting operations to certain soil moisture conditions.
(3) Under the terms and conditions of FPC Production Contracts, harvesting contractors are required to comply with all instructions, directions and management requirements issued by the FPC. Deliberate failure to comply with these requirements would be considered as a default under the contract and could lead to disciplinary action being taken.
(4) Penalties for systemic or continual non compliance with Pc hygiene management requirements in forest areas outside those designated as Disease Risk Areas (DRA) is limited, but can include suspension or cancellation of a harvesting company’s contract with the FPC.
In forest areas that are designated as DRA, in addition to the actions above, penalties for breaches of hygiene management requirements can be applied in accordance with Part 16 of the Forest Management Regulations.