Log salvage and storage operations following the Ash Wednesday bushfires in the South East of South Australia

Summary

Following the fires of February 16th 1983 in the South East of South Australia, a sawlog salvage operation was implemented that had not previously been equalled in importance and magnitude in this region. The paper aims to tell how the operation was conceived, how it was implemented, what level of success was achieved and how that performance could have been improved.

The first section establishes the level of forest destruction, how the salvage targets were established and the initial strategies that were developed to salvage and process or store the sawlog.

The main section of the paper traces the steps which led to the setting up and successful implementation of the salvage operations, including the infra-structure required for crew training, supervision and administration and road access. Running parallel with this programme was the establishment of the log storage sites—initially the concept and planning of the storage at Lake Bonney, and then the progression to sprinkler storage areas. The paper indicates how ideas on storage requirements were consolidated and how a more pragmatic approach was developed leading to an optimal storage facility.

The third part of the paper attempts to look objectively at the decisions taken when setting up the salvage and storage components of the operation, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Finally, the desirability for each of the major plantation areas to formulate a contingency plan to cope with a large natural disaster is advocated and the components of that plan are suggested on the basis of the experience gained during the operation conducted in the South East of South Australia.