Gearing up for the biggest planting season ever
From the Winter 2008 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
It is all go, go, go in the nurseries as Forests NSW gears up for its biggest planting year ever.
The organisation is preparing to plant 10 500 hectares across its plantations centred around Tumut, Bathurst, Bombala and Walcha.
To supply this ambitious program, Forests NSW Nurseries are producing ten million seedlings for internal use, plus an additional two million for private companies.
“It has been a massive year for our nurseries at Tumut, Grafton, Inverell and Narrandera as much time, energy and capital has been invested to meet the growing demand,” Forests NSW nursery manager, Steve Sullivan, said.
A significant component of this demand relates to areas being re-established as a consequence of the Billo Road fire near Tumut in December 2006.
The Billo Road fire damaged 8500 hectares of plantation pine – representing about seven per cent of plantation resource in the region.
By the end of winter it is expected that close to half of the area burnt in the Billo Road Fire will be replanted, with the remainder completed during the following three years.
Forests NSW is also expanding the use of containerised seedlings following their successful evaluation during past years. Stage one of Tumut nursery’s new containerised facility is now up and running, with 1.4 million seedlings in stock.
“This is the first time that containerised stock has been grown at the nursery,” Steve said.
In addition, 2.2 million containerised pines are being grown at Grafton and Inverell, while Narrandera nursery is producing just under a million containerised pines.
“It’s a mammoth exercise just moving the seedlings out on time,” Steve said. “This year we will probably employ 40 per cent more casuals to move the extra stock.
“The beauty of containerised stock is that it can be held until the optimum time to plant. Last year, due to dry conditions, some 400000 containerised pines were held over and if all goes to plan they will be planted this year.
“Another big issue is water and a selling point for containers is their efficient water use. Contained stock uses on average 50 to 60 per cent less water than seedlings grown bare-rooted in the ground.
“The nursery program is moving to more containerised stock, and will continue with bare rooted stock as well – optimally a mix of both is best to meet the varied planting conditions.
We have a huge program underway, which shows that investment in our nurseries to meet increased demand is truly paying off.”
Sarah Chester - Public Affairs & Media, Albury
