In 2019, the Conservation Regulator was established and has the responsibility to ensure that commercial timber harvesting activities are compliant with Victoria's environmental regulatory framework. All forest audits since then can be found here.
Special Audit
A Special Audit of VicForests' Harvesting Activities Against the Allocation Order (PDF, 891.3 KB) was undertaken covering the period between 2013 and 2018.
The Special Audit provided an important opportunity to identify improvements to information and procedures to oversee compliance with the regulatory framework for timber harvesting.
Recommendations arising from this audit focus on improving the robustness of processes and systems to complement the changes made to the 2019 Allocation Order and will maximise the potential for effective regulation.
VicForests Response to Special Audit (PDF, 735.8 KB)
DELWP Response to Special Audit (PDF, 80.5 KB)
DJPR Response to Special Audit (PDF, 162.6 KB)
Forest Audit Program
Each year, we commission an independent environmental audit to measure compliance of commercial timber harvesting operations against the requirements set out in the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 (PDF, 685.6 KB). The published audit reports, alongside formal responses to the auditor’s recommendations from both VicForests and DELWP enhance the transparency of Victoria’s forest management arrangements.
If you have a complaint or concerns about potential non-compliance matters, please visit Forest reports.
2017/18 Audit Program
Report on the 2017-18 Forest Audit Program (PDF, 3.9 MB)
DELWP Response to 2017-18 Forest Audit Program (PDF, 142.3 KB)
VicForests Response to 2017-18 Forest Audit Program (PDF, 57.0 KB)
2016/17 Audit Program
This audit involved field examination of 30 coupes harvested or proposed for harvest in 2015/16 financial year and four regenerated coupes.
Report on the 2016-17 Forest Audit Program (PDF, 4.5 MB)
DELWP Response to 2016-17 Forest Audit Program (DOCX, 143.9 KB)
VicForests Response to 2016-17 Forests Audit Program (PDF, 857.2 KB)
2015/16 Audit Program
DELWP Response to 2015-16 Forest Audit Program (DOCX, 144.3 KB)
VicForests Response to 2015-16 Forest Audit program (PDF, 142.8 KB)
As part of its 2015/16 Forest Audit Program, three separate audits were commissioned of coupes that were harvested or that were proposed for harvest in 2014/15. Each audit focused on a different compliance priority:
- Construction and rehabilitation of waterway crossings
- Construction and maintenance of in-coupe roads
- Protection of mandatory exclusion areas from the impacts of timber harvesting
2014/15 Audit Program
This audit involved field examination of 24 coupes harvested or that were proposed for harvest in 2013/14 financial year and ten regenerated coupes.
Audit of Harvesting and Closure and Regeneration and Finalisation 2014 (PDF, 1.9 MB)
Audit of Harvesting and Closure and Regeneration and Finalisation 2014 (accessible version) (DOCX, 2.6 MB)
VicForests response to Audit of Harvesting and Closure and Regeneration and Finalisation 2014 (PDF, 1.0 MB)
VicForests response to Audit of Harvesting and Closure and Regeneration and Finalisation 2014 (accessible version) (DOCX, 99.3 KB)
DELWP (regulator's) response to Audit of Harvesting and Closure and Regeneration and Finalisation 2014 (PDF, 203.6 KB)
DELWP (regulator's) response to Audit of Harvesting and Closure and Regeneration and Finalisation 2014 (accessible version) (DOCX, 176.5 KB)
2013/14 Audit Program
This audit involved field examination of 26 regenerated coupes that were proposed for hand back by VicForests.
Audit of Coupe Regeneration and Finalisation 2012/13 (PDF, 2.3 MB)
Audit of Coupe Regeneration and Finalisation 2012/13 (accessible version) (DOCX, 2.5 MB)
VicForests response to audit of Coupe Regeneration and Finalisation 2012/13 (PDF, 983.2 KB)
VicForests response to audit of Coupe Regeneration and Finalisation 2012/13 (accessible version) (DOCX, 82.3 KB)
This audit involved field examination of 40 coupes that were harvested during the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons.
Audit of Harvesting and Coupe Closure 2012-13 (PDF, 3.4 MB)
Audit of Harvesting and Coupe Closure 2012-13 (accessible version) (DOCX, 2.5 MB)
VicForests Response to Audit of Harvesting and Coupe Closure 2012-13 (PDF, 983.2 KB)
VicForests Response to Audit of Harvesting and Coupe Closure 2012-13 (accessible version) (DOCX, 82.3 KB)
DEPI Response to Audit of Harvesting and Coupe Closure 2012-13 (PDF, 184.9 KB)
DEPI Response to Audit of Harvesting and Coupe Closure 2012-13 (accessible version) (DOC, 129.5 KB)
2012/13 Audit Program
This audit assessed the timber release plan development and approval process.
Tactical Planning August 2012 (PDF, 2.7 MB)
Tactical Planning August 2012 (accessible) (DOCX, 3.5 MB)
VicForests comments (PDF, 238.3 KB)
VicForests comments (accessible) (DOC, 168.8 KB)
This audit assessed conformance of 49 Forest Coupe Plans for coupes established during the 2010/11 harvesting season against regulatory requirements. Separate reports were prepared for each of the managing authorities (former DEPI (Western Victoria) and VicForests (Eastern Victoria)).
Operational Planning Audit of DSE 2012 (PDF, 2.6 MB)
Operational Planning Audit of DSE 2012 (accessible version) (DOC, 290.5 KB)
Operational Planning Audit of VicForests 2012 (PDF, 2.6 MB)
Operational Planning Audit of VicForests 2012 (accessible version) (DOC, 287.0 KB)
DEPI response to Operational Planning Audit of DSE 2012 (PDF, 232.2 KB)
DEPI response to Operational Planning Audit of DSE 2012 (accessible version) (DOC, 136.0 KB)
VicForests response to Operational Planning Audit of VicForests 2012 (PDF, 1.5 MB)
VicForests response to Operational Planning Audit of VicForests 2012 (accessible version) (DOCX, 120.8 KB)
This audit assessed the compliance of commercial timber harvesting operations conducted during 2009/10 and 2010/11 against various harvesting boundaries and cumulative harvest limits. This was a spatial audit of logging history against regulatory requirements.
Harvesting Performance August 2012 Report (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Harvesting Performance August 2012 (accessible) (DOC, 1.5 MB)
Harvesting Performance August 2012 Appendices (PDF, 9.2 MB)
VicForests response to Harvesting Performance August 2012 (PDF, 243.5 KB)
VicForests response to Harvesting Performance August 2012 (accessible) (DOC, 155.0 KB)
This audit assessed the compliance of coupes nominated for hand back by VicForests in 2011 against relevant regeneration standards.
Regeneration and Finalisation Audit - August 2012 (PDF, 3.8 MB)
Regeneration and Finalisation Audit - August 2012 (accessible) (DOCX, 2.5 MB)
VicForests response to Regeneration and Finalisation Audit - August 2012 (PDF, 302.8 KB)
VicForests response to Regeneration and Finalisation Audit - August 2012 (accessible) (DOC, 135.6 KB)
Use of aerial photography:
The potential use of aerial photography in regeneration audits June 2012 (PDF, 2.9 MB)
2011/12 Audit Program
This audit involved a desktop assessment of VicForests compliance with the annual and cumulative harvest limits in Melbourne's water catchments as well as compliance with the 2006-2011 and 2009-2014 Timber Release Plans during the 2008/09 harvest season. The former DEPI compliance with the Wood Utilisation Plan was also assessed.
Harvesting Performance 2011 (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Harvesting Performance 2011 (accessible) (DOC, 2.4 MB)
This audit involved field examination of compliance at 27 coupes harvested during the 2008/09 season.
Harvesting and Closure 2011 (PDF, 3.1 MB)
Harvesting and Closure 2011 (accessible) (DOC, 1.8 MB)
Page last updated: 07/07/22