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In 2004 the government introduced a new framework for timber allocation, in which the Minister for Environment provides VicForests with an Allocation Order that is published in the Government Gazette.

The Allocation Order allocates areas of State forest to VicForests for the purposes of harvesting and selling timber resources. The Allocation Order is for a period of 15 years (divided into three 5-year periods) and may be varied and/or extended.

The Allocation Order describes:

• The forests stands to which VicForests has access
• The location and extent of those forest stands
• The total available area of those forest stands
• The maximum area available for timber harvesting in each five year period of the Allocation Order
• Any additional activities that VicForests is permitted to undertake
• The conditions with which VicForests must comply in carrying out its functions under the Allocation Order.

On the making of the Allocation Order, VicForests must carry out its functions in accordance with that Order.

Allocation Order to VicForests

The first 15 year Allocation Order was published in the Government Gazette on 1 August 2004.

Allocation to VicForests Order 2004 [PDF File - 668.7 KB]

This Order has been amended (see below) and a consolidated working document incorporating these amendments is available below.

Consolidated Working Document for Allocation Order as at 23 September 2010 [MS Word Document - 1.0 MB]

Allocation to VicForests (Amendment) 2007

As a result of the Great Divide fires in 2006/07, an amendment was made to the Allocation Order to enable VicForests to undertake salvage harvesting of trees killed by the fires. This amendment was published in the Government Gazette on 21 March 2007. A copy is available below:

Allocation to VicForests Order - 2007 Amendment [PDF File - 93.2 KB]

Allocation to VicForests (Amendment) Order 2010

The Minister for Environment and Climate Change has approved an amendment to the Allocation to VicForests Order 2004 (as already amended) on 30 April 2010. This amendment follows a review of the Allocation Order undertaken in accordance with section 18(1) of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004.

Allocation to VicForests Order Review 2009 [PDF File - 236.7 KB]

The Allocation to VicForests (Amendment) Order 2010 was published in the Victoria Government Gazette S166 dated 5 May 2010 and is available below.

Allocation to VicForests (Amendment) Order - GG2010S166 [PDF File - 490.5 KB]

Allocation to VicForests (Further Amendment) Order 2010

The Minister for Environment and Climate Change has approved a further amendment to the Allocation to VicForests Order 2004 (as already amended) on 8 September 2010. This amendment follows a review of the Allocation Order undertaken in accordance with section 18(2) of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004. The Minister approved the review following the decision by VicForests that it will not assume management of the small native forest timber industry in western Victoria from the Department of Environment and Primary Industries in the foreseeable future.

The Allocation to VicForests (Further Amendment) Order 2010 was published in the Victoria Government Gazette S387 dated 23 September 2010 and is available below. Note: The PDF is the official document.

Allocation to VicForests (Further Amendment) Order 2010 - GG2010S387 [PDF File - 536.6 KB]
Allocation to VicForests (Further Amendment) Order 2010 - GG2010S387 (accessible version) [MS Word Document - 755.5 KB]

A fact sheet on the Allocation of State forest areas to VicForests for harvesting and selling timber resources is available below. This fact sheet explains the amendments made to the Allocation to VicForests (Amendment) Order 2010 and Allocation to VicForests (Further Amendment) Order 2010.

VicForests allocation of state forests factsheet Sept10 [PDF File - 1.3 MB]

The 2009 Victoria’s Timber Industry Strategy can be found on the Department of Primary Industries website.

Audit of VicForests' Compliance

During 2007/08 DEPI undertook a pilot audit of VicForest’s compliance with the Allocation Order and Timber Release Plan. The audit reviewed nine Great Divide fire salvage coupes from the Tambo, Benalla/Mansfield and Central Gippsland Forest Management Areas.

The Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 requires VicForests’ operations to comply with the Allocation Order and the Timber Release Plan. The 2007/08 audit below concludes that VicForests’ fire salvage operations comply well with environmental standards set by the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004.

Audit report of VicForests' compliance with conditions of the Allocation Order and Approved Timber Release Plan 2007-2008 [PDF File - 786.3 KB]
Audit report of VicForests' compliance with conditions of the Allocation Order and approved Timber Release Plan 2008-09 [PDF File - 333.4 KB]

Prior EPA audits of VicForests compliance are available on the EPA website.