The following is intended as advice to support landholders considering tracks through landholdings.
This planning process generally requires quite a bit of thought and knowledge of track construction/repair in sloping granite country/soil that many earthmoving contractors do not have. The following considerations are learnings from decades of observation and experience in track construction/repair/maintenance in granite country.
Observe water movement on/over/off tracks at times of different intensity rainfall events. This can identify high risk areas of erosion and type of mitigation interventions required.
Observe areas of erosion and identify locations on track (length of track) which are contributing to erosion.
First principle of constructing/repair of a vehicle track in granite country/soil: = slow the water down above high risk erosion sites. Greater water speed & quantity increases (energy) granite soil surface area friction which increases risk of dislodging granite soil particles and causing movement of soil downhill resulting in erosion and gullies etc. Therefore a couple of ways to mitigate this process are:- 1. Install humps across the road and 2. Install run-offs along the road, and both at strategic locations (humps require a gentle grade angle across tracks for granite soil). This has proved very successful by many landholders in the Black Range over many decades. BRLMG members may be able to assist in the planning of this process with an on-site assessment.
Earthmovers can assist with track grading & repair using a grader, installing run-offs (using a grader), but to slow the water down on gradients needs careful design and installation of track humps to ensure their effectiveness. With careful supervision/briefing of the contractor, the contractor could deposit gravel at the sites and install track humps with a backhoe and importantly for precision a the use of a hand shovel and compaction to ensure efficacy. Whether the contractor is prepared to do this with the extra labour cost, needs confirmation. Suggest view examples of what’s been done around the range & brief contractors on-site regarding the proven design and outcome of these track erosion mitigation installations.
Use of machinery such as graders and backhoes on tracks overgrown with low hanging tree branches may also require some extra work to trim limbs along these tracks in order to allow access for machinery to do the work. This also needs to be considered in any discussions, site meetings with contractors.
If possible, its preferable for contractor machinery to arrive onsite as clean and free of invasive weed seeds and pathogens from other work sites. Seeds can hitch a ride in mud/soil on machinery and in machinery nooks and crannies. Many weeds have been introduced and spread this way in the range. Its also good to avoid spreading weeds from the work site with machinery/vehicles.
Areas of high biodiversity value or vulnerable to soil erosion need to be considered when undertaking earthmoving works, so they are not damaged by vehicles and machinery. Ie: quarantining “no go” areas cordoned off with high vis tape as well as thorough work specifications, site briefings and site supervision.
There are several local earthmoving contractors in the Stawell district. Their contact details may be available from local soil/gravel suppliers, websites or Facebook etc, or visit their business depots. Some Black Range landholders may also have contact details.
