Otway Regional Forest Reference Group Briefing Paper

                     Landscape issues and Sabine Falls

                                       Meeting Number 4

            Purpose
            1.  To brief the Otway Regional Forest Reference Group on the consideration of
              landscape issues and Sabine Falls.

            Background
            2.  The Wood Utilisation Plan identifies forest areas that are scheduled for
               harvesting in upcoming years. The Plan does not include the detail of how the
               protection of forest values will be incorporated into the delineation of the coupe
               boundaries in the field.
            3.   Depending on the values identified through the Wood Utilisation Planning
                 Process the opportunity exists for boundaries to be mark in conjunction with other
                 NRE business units and with Parks Victoria. If requested through the public
                 submissions a person, directly affected by the proposed harvesting, could
                 request to be consulted at the time of coupe boundary identification.

            Comment
            4.  In conjunction with Flora and Fauna Officers who will have involvement in the
               identification of a corridor through the planned coupe Forest Management
               Officers will provide input into the protection of scenic values from the Sabine
               Falls Walking Track. Parks Victoria, as managers of the Sabine Falls Reserve,
               will be invited to have input.
            5.   Forest Management intends to undertake a computer based view shed analysis
                 of proposed harvesting as it relates to the Sabine Falls Walking Track. This will
                 allow the identification of harvesting boundaries that minimise the visual impact of
                 harvesting from the Sabine Falls walking Track.
            6.   The visual management aim is that any harvesting be visually inevident from the
                 Sabine Falls walking Track.

            Recommendation
            7.  That the Reference Group notes that landscape issues will be considered in the
               delineation of the boundaries for the proposed harvesting area at Sabine Falls.