Hugh Brennan

Working in DEECA’s Forestry Transition team undertaking planning of fuel management projects such as strategic fuel breaks, debris management and hazardous tree removal works with the Port Phillip region.

Achievements

• I have been responsible for planning multiple service requests which resulted in the successful delivery of forest management works in the Port Phillip region.
• Assisted colleagues with Operational planning through sharing my knowledge and experience, resulting in consistent planning outcomes.
• Application of technical knowledge gained from my experience in native forestry when completing site reconnaissance and other field work. Tasks include; operational feasibility assessments, values surveys, road maintenance inspections and contractor supervision.
• Assist district Forest Fire Management staff with bushfire suppression and delivery of planned burns.

Day to day work consisted of planning and assessing areas prior to harvest to ensure biodiversity values and environmental features are managed effectively in accordance with Regulatory requirements; supervision of forestry contractors within various forest types and operations to ensure OH&S and environmental compliance is to a high standard; and working with these contractors to achieve production and quality control requirements.

Achievements:

• Ongoing management of multiple harvesting contractors. Most notably I completed operational coupe planning, field reconnaissance and supervision for 4 harvesting contractors who produced a combined volume of 134,000m3 in 2021/22 financial year.
• Proactive completion of coupe reconnaissance, biodiversity values management plans and operational coupe plans to ensure contingency coupe options were available.
• Identification of Eucalyptus seed crops in various areas of the state. I successfully identified viable seed crops, utilising drone technology to allow for more targeted foot-based assessments to occur to worked with seed collection contractors to determine the most safe and effective way to undertake seed collection.
• Other work includes planning and undertaking regeneration burns, planning and management of mechanical disturbance operations, completing Eucalypt Stocking Surveys, assisting with nighttime fauna surveys and responding to bushfires over the summer months.

Seasonal Project Fire Fighter for Forest Fire Management Victoria located in Toolangi

• Work consisted of of forest infrastructure maintenance and recreation site construction/upkeep including; road maintenance, track clearing, off-siding heavy machinery, construction of recreation facilities (bridges and toilet blocks) and mowing/brush-cutting at recreation sites
• Regular response to brushfires. Completed multiple deployments within the state to assist other regions during a busy fire season
• Assisted with the preparation and delivery of planned burns.

• Seasonal Project Fire Fighter at Melbourne Water operating out of the Healesville depot in the Maroondah and Wallaby Creek catchments
• Work included; road clearing, aqueduct maintenance, working along size heavy machinery, maintenance of metropolitan water treatment plants and attending/responding to planned burns and bushfires.