At the site of new pine plantation are Rural City of Wangaratta Deputy Mayor Harry Bussell (left), Billy Hinton, Alex Reeves, Paul Walpole, Mayor Dean Rees, Paul Wood (HVP project leader) and Ryan Walpole.
Automatic precision forestry equipment, which plants and records data for every tree planted – machinery believed to be a first for Australia – has been used to create a pine plantation at Carboor. Source: Wangaratta Chronicle
Local vegetation and specialty silviculture contractor SSEF Pty Ltd introduced the fully mechanised pine planting operation to Victoria.
The Risutec SKB planting head combined with the Risutec ASTA EX GPS guidance has resulted in a leap forward in silviculture technology, machinery SSEF principal Paul Walpole believes to be a first for Australia.
Mr Walpole said consistent planting and accurate placement of trees, including data recording of every tree planted, has never before been achieved and resulting benefits are now a reality.
“Silviculture has not evolved much in the past 100 years with tree planting still performed by a person wielding a shovel,” Mr Walpole explained.
“With labour shortages and increased focus on safety, there had to be a better way.
“Following discussions with Hancock Victorian Plantations, we took the leap of faith and imported the technology this year.
“With our system, not only do we plant the trees, we also water them in, add fertilisers or additives and every tree is planted the same.
“It is truly amazing that in the space of few seconds, it rips the ground, digs a hole, plants the tree, compacts the ground around the tree, all while watering the seedling.”
This process is then repeated identically every time removing the variability of hand planting operations.
The results will be a better and more productive forest.
“We have been very fortunate to have the support of HVP in bringing this project to reality,” he said.
“HVP is the leader in plantation forestry and is the company all others benchmark against.
“We very much view this as a partnership agreement and it would not be possible without their support and encouragement.”
SSEF is a Whorouly South based business and has been running since July 2008.
Starting with two bulldozers and working out of a hay shed on the family farm, SSEF has enjoyed continual growth and improvements including fully accredited safety, environment and quality systems.
They have expanded services to include powerline clearance work, firefighting, fire prevention, herbicide application and of course silviculture work.
Mr Walpole said the Rural City of Wangaratta has played an important role in helping SSEF achieve this and by helping them to operate and grow from a rural setting, they now employ more than 20 full time staff and many casuals.
