July 2011 Field day

Twenty two people inspected a 80,000 tree plantation, consisting almost entirely of spotted gum, at an Upper Hunter coal mine site operated by Coal and Allied. The forest was established on 80 hectares of land adjacent to the active mine site as part of the greenhouse gas reduction program. Planning and establishment of the plantation was undertaken by Forests NSW and funded by Coal and Allied. Site preparation included ripping and mounding. An initial planting of 47 hectares in Spring 2007 resulted in a 94% survival rate. The second planting in late Autumn 2008 had a lower survival rate; possible causes were frost, attack by hares and kangaroos and dry conditions. A replanting of 10,000 trees was done in 2009. The overall target survival rate has been achieved. An establishment techniques trial area was set up with different plots of deep ripped only, deep ripped and mounded, minimum till, and mounded only, with either nil or appropriate post planting herbicide regime. The trial area is to be monitored over time. Coal and Allied provided morning tea and lunch which were much appreciated by participants.