Harvest and haulage business support

1. Keep doing DEECA forest and fire management works through seasonal packages on current VicForests contracts until 30 June 2024 when the harvest contract is transferred to DEECA.
2. Apply for compensation through the Harvest and Haulage Support Package for:
   • loss of income for haulage contracts and any harvest contracts not transferred
   • plant and equipment that is no longer needed
   • reimbursement for any statutory employee redundancy payments.
3. From 1 July 2024 transfer to DEECA to provide forest and fire management harvest services with guaranteed hours and machine hourly rate.

   Businesses with more than 1 harvest contract can:

   • Transfer all harvest contracts to the Forest and Fire Management Services Agreements (providing proof they can service all agreements at the same time. For example, if a contractor currently has 2 VicForests contracts, they will need at least 2 sets of mandatory machines and 6 staff in total).
   • Transfer 1 contract and receive compensation for the other.
   • Transfer 1 contract and keep doing DEECA forest and fire management works or receive stand-down payments on current VicForests contracts until the other contract ends.

1. Apply for Harvest and Haulage Support Package.
2. Keep doing DEECA forest and fire management works through seasonal works packages
   or receive stand down payments on current VicForests contracts until an agreed exit date.

1. Keep doing DEECA forest and fire management works or receive stand down payments on current VicForests contracts until the contract ends on 30 June 2024.
2. Apply for plant and equipment compensation and reimbursement of employee statutory redundancy entitlements.

In the 2023–24 financial year, harvest and haulage contractors who continue to undertake forest and fire management work will do so through a series of ‘seasonal works packages’ (spring, summer and autumn) or receive stand down payments via their current VicForests contracts, until the contracts end on 30 June 2024.

This is necessary work to manage bushfire risk on public land in Victoria to make sure our firefighters can operate safely in our forests.

The work will be under the direction of Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and include building strategic fuel breaks, preparing areas for planned burning, removing roadside storm debris and treating hazardous trees.

Works to manage fire risk from 1 July 2024 are similar to that in the 2023–24 spring, summer and autumn packages and will include:

• construction of 6000 km of strategic fuel breaks between now and 2030
• maintenance and upgrading of the Strategic Road Network
• treatment of hazardous trees, especially in heavily-forested areas of Gippsland, Hume and Port Phillip Regions
• other fuel management activities, including supporting planned burns
• tree felling or cutting
• extraction and preparation for transport (logs and other forest residues)
• regeneration activities, including mechanical disturbance and site preparation
• construction, maintenance and improvement of roads and tracks
• contribute to wildfire response and recovery
• other services as requested.

These works reduce the risk of bushfire to people, property, critical infrastructure flora and fauna. The program will significantly accelerate the state’s bushfire risk reduction works, some of which will be delivered up to two years ahead of schedule.

This will significantly reduce bushfire risk in Victoria and make sure communities and the environment are better protected.

FFMVic prioritises the protection of environmental, biodiversity and cultural values during all recovery and bushfire risk reduction works. A Planning and Approvals Framework ensures works comply with relevant legislation and regulations

Contractors participating in a Forest and Fire Management Services Agreement will be expected to join DEECA’s State-wide External Plant Panel before performing fireground work.

• Depending on where fires occur and what resources are required, contractors registered on DEECA’s State-wide External Plant Panel may be asked to deploy to a fire event.
• Contractors can apply to join the Panel through the External Plant Web Portal.
• It is important you submit your State-wide External Plant Panel application as soon as possible to allow it to be assessed and a Panel contract issued.
• Personnel will need to complete mandatory online training before they can be deployed to a fire event. Plant will also be inspected to ensure it meets mandatory guarding and equipment standards for fire response.

No, you do not have to take up any support.

Yes, if you take up DEECA works you can access a plant and equipment payment through the package.

Yes, if you take up DEECA works you can access a plant and equipment payment through the package.

Contractors currently receiving payments will continue to do so for the remainder of their contract. This includes stand down payments from VicForests for any period of inactivity within their contracted period.

For the time being, VicForests will manage existing contracts and work closely with DEECA to deliver land management services.

As long as harvest and haulage operators meet their contractual obligations with government, other work can be carried out.

Through additional government investment, contractors will:

• maintain the strategic fire road network, strategic fuel breaks network and visitor and recreation facilities
• undertake seed collection, silvicultural works (including regeneration of historic coupes and fire-affected areas) and hazardous tree treatment
• work on roads, bridges and crossings
• bushfire risk reduction works, including storm debris removal and planned burning preparation.

Forest and fire management works require a mix of skills, many of which are consistent with timber harvesting and haulage including:

• operating in steep terrain
• heavy debris handling
• landing construction where required
• hazardous tree removal
• haulage.

DEECA land management focuses on minimal footprints and uses smaller crews, smaller machines and old snig tracks. It typically needs machine equipment such as harvesters, excavators with log grabs, trucks and floats. Skid steers are also being used in the storm debris operation.