Representatives from the Bellingen Environment Centre have reported an alleged pollution incident at Woods Creek in Gladstone State Forest to the Environmental Protection Authority.

The forest is currently being logged, and the BEC claims heavy rain on Tuesday caused sediment to pollute the waterway at the corner of Sunny Corner and Woods Creek roads.

“This follows the failure of erosion prevention measures Forestry Corporation were required to install there prior to logging,” a BEC spokesperson said.

“The requirement to install rubber flaps on either road (Sunny Corner and Woods Creek) to deflect run-off and to construct silt mesh retainers at the run-off point is included in the harvest plan for the forest.”

The alleged pollution into Woods Creek was first observed and recorded at 1.40pm on Tuesday after heavy rainfall.

In June 2017 BEC representatives reported alleged failures in the implementation of erosion control measures at this site in Gladstone State Forest, but as yet no results of the investigation have been provided by the EPA.

“A timely response by the EPA to the first report may have averted the current pollution incident,” a BEC spokesperson said.

“In 2015 Forestry Corporation was fined $15000 for causing in excess of 100 cubic meters of sediment to be washed into in the Never Never catchment in February of that year. 

“In that incident, the EPA found Forestry Corporation had failed to deliver appropriate due diligence in its forestry operations to implement effective erosion and sediment control measures.

“Both Gladstone and Never Never State Forests are located in the highly erosion prone Nambucca Soil Beds.

“The section of section of Gladstone State Forest being logged was assessed by Forestry Corporation in its harvest planning as having dispersible soils with a high inherent hazard level and the presence of mass movement or evidence of soil instability.”

The BEC said it had recently received advice from a soil scientist that logging should be removed from all State Forests in the Nambucca Soil Beds in the headwaters of the Bellinger, Kalang and Nambucca rivers.

“The Kalang River is the northern limit of the distribution of the giant crayfish (Euastacus spinifer), a species considered highly susceptible to turbidity with a high reported incidence  of mortality in the river in recent years.”

Forestry NSW were contacted on Wednesday afternoon for comment and supplied the following statement on Friday:

“During heavy rain events, like those we have seen locally over the last week, dirt roads can become a potential source of sediment.  This can happen where fine dirt particles readily become suspended in water and are carried away by storm waters. This is a natural process and it occurs on dirt road across all land tenures, but it can be exacerbated where a dirt road is not well maintained.  

“Forestry Corporation carefully plans and undertakes roadworks to ensure that the roads we use are at an appropriate standard. During harvesting and haulage operations we monitor the road condition and undertake maintenance to ensure that erosion is minimised and any damage that occurs as a result of rain is quickly repaired.  

“We will be checking on the conditions of all the haulage roads we are using in the coming days to assess their condition and undertaking any maintenance that is required. 

“As you can see from the attached video, taken during an inspection yesterday, the road has not sustained significant damage and the water running in the creek is clear.  I have been advised by our road work team that scheduled maintenance on the roads in Gladstone State Forest will be taking place soon – dependent on the weather of course!

“I would also like to add a note regarding safety. Forestry Corporation strongly recommend that the public do not venture into forests during storm events as there are many potential hazards from falling trees, flash floods and roads which can be dangerous and readily damaged when wet.”