Management of the Commercial Pine Plantation Estate 

Background

ACT Forests was established in 1915 to manage a multiple use forest, supporting the local timber industry, recreational opportunities and water production in the Lower Cotter Catchment. Prior to 2003, ACT Forests managed 26,000 ha of land, including about 16,000 ha of pine plantation. The remaining 10,000 ha consisted of areas of native vegetation including nature reserves, special purpose reserves, other conservation areas, watercourses, road reserves, travelling stock reserves and general utility areas.

In January 2003 approximately 10,500 ha of the pine plantation estate was destroyed during the Canberra bushfires, leaving only the Kowen Plantation in the east of the Territory undamaged. Following the fires the burnt plantations were cleared and some areas replanted with pine trees, particularly where the soil stabilisation was a priority. The previous plantation boundaries were re-defined in some areas, which resulted in conversion from plantation to native vegetation zones, particularly in steep areas and where increased environmental buffer zones were required.

• A brief history of forestry in the ACT 

Current Management of Commerical Forest Plantations in the ACT

Management of the former ACT Forests lands is now carried out by Parks Conservation and Lands (PCL) branch, within the Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS), which formed in July 2006. PCL’s responsibilities include the management of all non-urban ACT government land. The ACT government also removed some of the burnt plantation estate from future forestry use. This included the Stromlo Forest which is being developed for a combination of urban development and recreational purposes and the estate within the Lower Cotter Catchment (LCC). These exclusions total approximately 6,000 ha.

Management of the former ACT Forests lands, including re-establishment of some areas of pine plantations, has been funded through an insurance payout of $64 million received by the ACT government following the fires. Some insurance money has been allocated to other areas managed by PCL such as the LCC, fire management and road management.

• The Plantation Estate in the ACT
• Plantation Management Operations
• Regulatory Guidelines
• Operation Authority  

Recreation

Recreational activities continue to occur in the PCL Commercial Plantation Estate. Organised activities or events are coordinated by the PCL Parks Bookings Officer. Recreation areas in the Plantation Estate include Molonglo Gorge and Old Homestead Picnic Areas in Kowen, Blue Range Hut in Uriarra, Murrays Corner Picnic Area in Pierces Creek Forest, and Woods Reserve Camping Area in Corin/Gibraltor area. Organised events, including car rally’s (including the Suburu Rally of Canberra), mountain bike (including CORC events and MONT 24), horse riding, walking clubs, sled dog clubs are allowed in the commercial plantation estate with permission from PCL. Significant informal use of the forest areas also occur, including mountain bike riding in Kowen and Majura and horse riding in Stromlo.

Bushfire Memorial: A Bushfire Memorial designed by local artists, has been built in Weston Creek between Holdens Creek and the Eucumbene Drive/Cotter Road, intersection. The memorial stands as a reminder of the devastation on 18 January 2003 as well as the regeneration since this catastrophe.