Last year UOVLG expressed concern about the situation in several parts of our valley where gullies, watercourses and tributary streams were cleared of vegetation leading to a lack of connectivity between native forests and the Ovens River. We reported silting in the former Bright reservoirs in Bakers Gully. We found silting in Stackey Gully and in parts of Wandiligong.
UOVLG met with HVP who released details of several ‘stewardship’ projects that will assist in allowing wildlife connectivity corridors in several area and reduce silting.
Mick Evans, General Manager, Northern Region, HVP Plantations, described these projects:
“HVP are currently managing 10 Stewardship Projects of varying nature within the Upper Ovens area. Some of these projects have been ongoing for many years and some are in the planning phase, projects vary from Wildpine Removal, Native Re-Vegetation, Mining Area Enhancement and Protecting High Conservation areas.”
Clearly HVP have a lot of work to do restoring wildlife/native vegetation corridors along creek lines but UOVLG appreciate HVP providing the opportunity to be involved in future landscape planning proposals
These projects are a win for our natural environment and we look forward to working closely with HVP to ensure these and future projects succeed.
Martyn Paterson, UOVLG Vice-President
