The June and October storms impacted more than 80,000 hectares of forest and 1,500 km of the main road network managed by DEECA in the Wombat State Forest.

Storm damaged trees on a road at Wombat State Forest

So far:

  • 1,200km of roads and tracks within the Wombat and Cobaw State Forests has been cleared.
  • All strategic fire access roads were opened in time for the 2021 Fire Danger Period.
  • Arborists have completed public safety works at 10 recreation sites across the region.
  • Our crews are working hard to assess and treat hazardous trees along walking tracks.
  • Work is also taking place to restore habitat for endangered species also impacted by the storms.
  • 200 hollows have been carved into trees to increase habitat for greater glider, brush-tail phascogale and the red-browed tree creeper.
  • More traditional nesting boxes are also being installed in the Moorabool, Hepburn and Macedon areas.
  • FFMVic is resuming the massive job of managing fire risk on public land after the storms in June and October 2021.
  • While rain and flooding has limited access in some forests and parks – others have been less affected by the recent weather. In all cases debris works will not start until it is safe to do so.
  • Public safety is our number one priority while these critical recovery works are being conducted.

Find out more about the works to clean up the storm debris in these locations by clicking on the the interactive map below.

The pins on the map show you:

  • roadside works in purple
  • broadacre works in orange.

If you zoom in, you will see the hatched area and the boundary of each treatment site.

Clicking on a pin or a hatched area, will provide you with information about a site, including:

  • a unique site number
  • the name of the location of where works are taking place, usually relating to a road or track
  • which organisation they are being done for, usually DEECAand sometimes on behalf of a land manager
  • a description of the status of the works, with an estimated start or finish date for the works (if available).

Further information email storm.debris@delwp.vic.gov.au

Please note that the hatched area on the map is the total site area. The area that timber is being removed from is generally only part of the site area.

The maps will be updated as value checks are finalised and checked in the field.

Public Safety Zones will be put in place prior to the works commencing on any site. This means that access will be restricted, ensuring everyone’s safety while heavy machinery is in the area. It is an offence to enter a Public Safety Zone.

VicForests' works under the Timber Utilisation Plan are not works on behalf of DEECA. VicForests may be undertaking timber harvesting operations close by to DEeCA storm debris works.

More information about the VicForests project plan can be found on the VicForests website.

The proposed national park

In June 2021 the Victorian Government announced plans to create three new National Parks in the central west, including the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park.

The Surveyor General is now surveying and mapping all of the parks, including the proposed Wombat Lerderderg National Park to establish park boundaries.

A future Victorian Parliament is required to amend the National Parks Act 1975 to formalise creation of the new national parks in legislation.

Until that time the area remains state forest and all current permitted, lawful uses of the designated state forest area may continue.

Other works in the forest

This work is separate to the forestry operations taking place under VicForests’ Timber Utilisation Plan.

Works under the Timber Utilisation Plan are regulated by the Conservation Regulator. These operations must be undertaken in accordance with the legislative framework for timber harvesting, including the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 (as amended 2022).

Find out more about how forestry works are regulated , and further information from VicForests.

Page last updated: 13/02/23