1. The Sustainability of Land Uses in the Strzelecki Ranges in Victoria, Australia Daniel M. Mainville MIEAust., P. Eng. Department of Sustainability and Environment Associate Professor John C. Brumley School of Civil and Chemical Engineering / RMIT University.

2. Outline Introduction Methodology Results Discussions Summary Acknowledgments

3. Introduction Location of Study Area

4. Introduction Policy and Legislation –Catchment and Land Protection Act 1984 –Environment Protection Act 1970 State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria), 2003 State Environment Protection Policy (Groundwaters of Victoria), 2002 –Code of Practice Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production, 1996 –Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 –Planning and Environment Act 1987

5. Introduction Policy and Legislation –Commonwealth of Australia Department of the Environment and Heritage (2003), Default Target Values for Upland Rivers: 2 - 25 NTU for turbidity, and 30 - 350 µS/cm for EC (at 25°Celsius) Land Uses –Reserved / Protected Forests –Forestry –Agriculture

6. Land Use - Control Catchment Features –steep slopes –Mountain Ash plantation, established in 1972 and 1973 –riparian vegetation - Wet Forest, EVC 30 –natural surface track, 1850 meters –fire access track, 2650 meters –extensive recreational use –healthy stream

7. Land Use - Plantation Forestry Features –steep slopes –Mountain Ash plantation –riparian vegetation, Central Highlands Cool Temperate Rainforest EVC 31-01 –3550 meters of unsealed roads and tracks –healthy stream with bioturbation

8. Land Use - Agriculture Features –steep slopes –gravel surfaced road, 3900 meters –natural surface tracks –8 homes with outbuildings –continuous grazing –unrestricted livestock access to the steam –visible damage to the streambanks –limited riparian vegetation –in-stream farm dams

9. Methodology Paired Catchment approach Water Quality Indicators –Turbidity –Stream Flow –Electrical Conductivity –Temperature Experimental Site Set Up –Fixed Horizontal Bank –Electrical Conductivity –Turbidity Probe

10. Fixed Horizontal Bank

11. Methodology Visual Survey –the extent of leaf litter and presence of bare earth along the stream channel and embankments –areas exhibiting clear indications of lateral corrasion –tree fall –bioturbation such as the evidence of foraging and crayfish burrows –newly incised drainage channels –landslips

12. Results

13. Timber Harvesting General Harvesting AreaBuffer

14. Agriculture Stream Crossing / Track Livestock Crossing

15. Bioturbation Control CatchmentForestry Control Catchment

16. Bioturbation Bank DisturbanceCrawfish Burrows

17. Recreation Wet AreaSlope

18. Discussion Forestry –Harvesting Operations –Riparian Vegetation Agriculture –Grazing –Riparian Vegetation Recreational Use General –Roads and Tracks –Policy –Community Engagement

19. Summary Research Methodology Agriculture Forestry Recreational Use

20. Acknowledgments Special Thanks To: