Big planting program completed
From the Summer 2007 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
A big softwood planting program has taken place across NSW this year with 7.8 million Pinus radiata seedlings being planted in state-owned plantations.
The size of the program is all the more remarkable given the large quantity of seedlings, almost 50 per cent, assigned for replanting due to fire and drought.
Forests NSW investment forester, Hugh Dunchue, said this year’s planting season, which ran from 4 June to 8 September, had proved challenging.
“While soil moisture conditions were generally satisfactory, the rainfall and temperatures varied enormously during the season, making the planting season very difficult to manage,” he said.
A feature of this season’s planting was the use of containerised stock on a large scale with early indications this stock is performing well in the field.
Traditionally the bulk of seedlings and cuttings used are bare rooted and supplied by Forests NSW Blowering Nursery near Tumut.
However this year, due to a greater demand for stock following the 10000 hectare Billo Road Fire at Tumut in December last year and drought losses arising from the record dry in 2006, an additional 1.2 million seedlings have been raised at Forests NSW nurseries at Narrandera and Grafton.
7.8 million seedlings have been planted across NSW. Will Pitane of Peter Carnes Contracting Pty Ltd, planting in Buccleuch State Forest. Photo by Hugh Dunchue.
“These nurseries have grown the seedlings as containerised stock, which enabled late sowing of the seed,” Hugh said.
The biggest planting program this year was in Forests NSW Hume Region around Tumut, Batlow and Tumbarumba where 3.96 million seedlings have been planted across 5400 hectares.
In Forests NSW Macquarie Region centred around Bathurst, Oberon and Orange, 2.67 million seedlings were planted across 3249 hectares and in Forests NSW Monaro Region centred around Bombala, Queanbeyan and Moss Vale 1.17 million seedlings were planted across 1100 hectares.
Acting director planted forests operations, Bob Orman, said that an even bigger crop of 10 million seedlings was presently being planned for 2008.
Sarah Chester Public Affairs & Media, Albury
