Drone Aerial Herbicide Operation – Castlemaine Plantation

December 5, 2025

More info Q&A 5/12/2025

HVP Plantations has received a number of enquiries about our weed control operation coming up near Castlemaine. Following the operations update posted below and letters delivered to neighbours, we’ve prepared a Q&A to address questions raised by community stakeholders.

At this stage, the operation is likely to be undertaken in the week commencing Monday 8 December if conditions are suitable. To read more about how HVP is undertaking this operation in a way that is safe, contained and responsible, access the Q&A here or download from the right sidebar.

Operation notification 3/10/2025

HVP Plantations will be aerially applying herbicide by drone to parts of its Radiata Pine Castlemaine plantation to control woody weeds in the young, 2-3 year old stands over the months of October-December 2025.

The exact timing and length of the operation will depend upon suitable weather conditions and the availability on the Contractor. The herbicide used in the post plant aerial operations will include Clomac which contains Clopyralid as the active ingredient. Application will be done using a drone. Our contractor is an experienced operator in this type of work and the drone is equipped with state-of-the-art spreading and satellite guidance equipment to ensure accurate placement of herbicides. All flying operations will be confined to land managed by HVP Plantations. Buffer strips from features such as boundaries, native vegetation and water features are implemented excluding areas from the operation and strict operational control, particularly with respect to weather conditions, will be observed throughout the operation.

The use of herbicides in Victoria is in accordance with the Agriculture and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992 and Agriculture and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2017.  Further information can be found at https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/

Map showing the location of the planned operation is displayed below:

Safety

HVP takes safety seriously, please note the following:

The worksite shown on the map will be closed to all public access for the duration of the operations.

The worksite remains closed while workplace signage is in place. This includes vehicles, bikes and pedestrians.

Worksites are hazardous, and risk to peoples safety are not always obvious.

Thankyou for following the direction of all signage and forest operators.

For more information

For further information, to provide feedback, or to become a stakeholder, please:

• contact our Ballarat office: phone (03) 5339 0000;  or
• message HVP via our contact page.